Russia make a positive start to the Liga Stavok National Team Tour

The 2025 Liga Stavok National Team Tour started in positive fashion for Russia, as the national team comfortably defeated Kazakhstan 4:1 in Astana.

The Russians - coached by SKA boss Roman Rotenberg - quickly took charge of proceedings, netting twice in the opening stanza thanks to pinpoint wristers from Danil Aimurzin and Dmitry Samorukov.

Calmly controlling the flow of the match, Russia then subsequently increased their lead to four in the second frame, with SKA Saint Petersburg pair Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Vorobyov hitting the jackpot.

The Kazakh hosts did claw one back in the 47th minute, but it made little difference to the outcome.

Russia will now prepare to face Belarus in the same city tomorrow. Puck-drop is scheduled for 14:00 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

Kazakhstan - Russia - 1:4 (0:2, 0:2, 1:0)

Goals:

0:1 Aimurzin (Iskhakov), 11.37
0:2 Samorukov (Sorkin, Iskhakov), 17.33
0:3 Khairullin (Vorobyov), 25.54
0:4 Vorobyov (Aimurzin), 28.52
1:4 Asetov (Likhotniov, Gaitamirov), 46.15

Goalkeepers: Kudryavtsev - Mishurov

Shots on target: 16 - 32

Faceoffs: 24 - 24

Blocked shots: 7 - 9

Penalty minutes: 8 - 2

01.05.2025.