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Russia rebounds 3-2
Panarin's OT heroics win it
OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 10: Slovakia's Julius Hudacek #88 makes a save with Vladimir Dravecky #22 and Russia's Vadim Shipachyov #87 in front during preliminary round action at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/HHOF-IIHF Images)
A late goal by Marian Gaborik forced the game to overtime before Artemi Panarin’s overtime tally gave Russia the win. Panarin's offensive exploits have been sublime. He now has four goals in the tournament.
"It was hard but it seems to me that basically we played well today," Ilya Kovalchuk said. "We created plenty of chances, had a lot of the puck and we need to keep preparing for the future."
Russia bore down in the first period to generate early chances. Panarin was active from the outset with two strong shots in the period. His wrist shot on net was saved midway through. He had another great opportunity with six minutes left in the first.
Not to be outdone, Slovakia had a couple of good looks. Milan Bartovic fought off checks behind the Russian next to shake loose and get a shot.
Slovakia struck first with a flukey goal by Tomas Kopecky. Kopecky sent a sharp angle shot on goal that went through Sergei Bobrovski’s pads. Bobrovski appeared unaware of what happened and was fooled with the shot. Richard Panik got the assist.
"Bob had a great game despite that weird goal," Kovalchuk said. "I don't think anyone would blame him for a second. Things like that just happen sometimes."
Russia outshot Slovakia 12-5 with 11 different Russian skaters registering a shot on goal. Julius Hudacek made the start in goal for the Slovaks and was up for the task. It was Hudacek’s first start of the tournament. Jan Laco had started all five previous games for Slovakia.
Continue readingRussia continued to apply pressure and kept play in the Slovakia zone. Their relentless attack led to a cross checking penalty on Milan Jurcina.
With that, Russia’s lethal power play got its second chance of the game to even things up. Russia has the top rated power play in the tournament and has scored seven power play goals. They would use the man advantage to get back in the game.
Sergei Mozyakin provided the equalizer. Maxim Chudinov took the puck at the blueline and moved laterally across the line then fired a pass to Mozyakin who netted his third goal of the World Championships and first on the power play.
Russia once again controlled the action in the period. After being outshot 10-2 in the period Slovakia managed to comeback and generate offence and turned things around and getting seven of the next eight shots in the second.
Two of Slovakia’s best chances were another turnaround shot by Kopecky but Bobrovski was there to make the stop. He wouldn’t be fooled again. Gaborik also had a chance that was deflected by Bobrovski.
At exactly 1:50 Russia pulled ahead when Vladimir Tarasenko went down the wing and cut inside on goal and let loose a shot that beat Hudacek.
Gaborik would even the contest with a goal at 7:05 that nearly raised the roof of the arena. His shot beat Bobrovski glove side. At 2-2, this was a new game and both teams would have to bear down. Momentum was swinging in Slovakia’s direction.
They were active in shooting the puck on Bobrovski and had a few quality chances. The game became a fast paced end-to-end affair but with no more goals scored in regulation, the capacity crowd at CEZ Arena would be treated to overtime.
In overtime, Russia managed three shots with Yvgeni Malkin getting two of them. But it would be the third and last that would matter most.
At 2:06 Panarin took control of the puck in the neutral zone and skated into the Slovakia zone. Using the defenseman as a screen, Panarin scored to give Russia the overtime win.
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