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Men's Ice Hockey World Cup of Hockey 2016


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Tre Kronor defeats Russia, 2-1

Markstrom nearly perfect in surprise start

Air Canada Centre Toronto ON Canada

Gabriel Landeskog (left) and Erik Karlsson celebrate a second-period goal as Sweden skated to victory over Russia this afternoon.

 

Open ice was harder to find than a camel on Yonge St. this afternoon at the Air Canada Centre, but Tre Kronor managed a brace of quick goals in the second period to defeat the Russians, 2-1.

It was the first World Cup meeting between these hockey giants. It was also their first game at the highest level since the 2006 Olympics, when Russia won, 5-0 (although Sweden got the last laugh, winning gold). The teams never played at the 2010 or 2014 Olympics, or even the 1996 and 2004 World Cup.

Indeed, even at the World Championship it was 12 years ago that Sweden last beat Russia, a winless run of ten games.

"They didn't do anything wrong in the first two periods," Alex Ovechkin said, "and we let them play their way. We didn't have the speed through the neutral zone, and we didn't have the support. That's not going to work against them."

Jacob Markstorm was a surprise starter in goal for the Swedes, replacing Henrik Lundqvist, but he was rock solid, stopping 27 of 28 shots. "We know what kind of a goalie he is," said captain Henrik Sedin, "and we were very comfortable with him back there. The way he performed was unbelievable."

The first period saw only one bona fide scoring chance, that courtesy of bad luck in front of the Russian goal. Andrei Markov fired a pass from his slot up ice, but his stick snapped and the puck rolled onto the more reliable blade of Mikael Backlund. Backlund, however, didn’t test Bobrovsky with a particularly challenging shot.

The best Russian chance didn’t come until the second period, also on a giveaway in front. Erik Karlsson lost the puck in front of Markstrom but Nikolai Kulemin couldn’t tuck the puck in.

"You look at their lineup, and they have four skilled lines," Sedin added. "For us, it was about being close to them, eliminate them from the puck, skate with them, create turnovers. That was the game plan."

The best scoring chance created by skill came when Patric Hornqvist took a torpedo pass up the middle and went in alone on Bobrovsky, but he couldn’t beat the goalie either.

Sweden finally broke the scoreless tie at 10:41 of the middle period, striking just four seconds after young Vadim Shipachyov was called for a sneaky little hook. Nicklas Backstrom won the ensuing faceoff, and Gabriel Landeskog ripped a shot past Bobrovsky to make it 1-0.

Two minutes later, the Swedes struck again when Carl Hagelin made a nice pass to Victor Hedman at the top of the circle. Hedman didn’t waste any time snapping a one-timer under Bobrovsky’s glove to make it 2-0.

"That was our best period," Sedin said. "Everyone played so hard, but we played a good game overall."

The Swedes played a perfect third period for all but the final half minute. No team can kill the clock like Tre Kronor, but with exactly 33 seconds left and Bobrovsky on the bench for an extra attacker, Alex Ovechkin snapped a quick shot through traffic that fooled Marksktrom.

The drama didn't end there. Ovechkin felt that he tied the game with seven seconds left, but video review determined he gloved the puck towards the goal. It may or may not have hit a stick in front after the glove, but no matter. The impetus of the puck was directed by the glove.

"It doesn't matter any more," a disconsolate Ovechkin said after. "It's over now, so we have to move on. We stared to play well in the third period and create open space, and that's what we have to do."

Sweden next plays Tuesday against geographic rivals Finland, in the afternoon. The Russians are right back at it tomorrow night, playing the hybrid Team North America in what is now a very important game.

 

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:FIN

 

Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Sebastian Aho
Mikael Granlund - Mikko Koivu - Joonas Donskoi
Jussi Jokinen - Valtteri Filppula - Leo Komarov
Jori Lehterä - Erik Haula - Lauri Korpikoski

Esa Lindell- Rasmus Ristolainen
Olli Määttä - Sami Vatanen
Sami Lepistö - Ville Pokka


Pekka Rinne (Tuukka Rask)

 

Scratched: Koskinen, Jokipakka, Teräväinen

 

 

:WHTTeam North America

 

Matthews :USA - McDavid :CAN - Scheifele :CAN 
Gaudreau :USA - Eichel  :USA - Larkin :USA
Drouin :CAN - Nugent-Hopkins :CAN - MacKinnon :CAN 
Trocheck :USA - Couturier  :CAN - Saad :USA 

 

 

Ekblad :CAN - Rielly :CAN 

R. Murray :CAN - Jones :USA

Gostisbehere :USA - Parayko :CAN


 

M.Murray :CAN (Gibson :USA


 

Scratched: Miller :USA , Trouba  :USA , Hellebuyck :USA
 

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