RUS 3:1 1SW | Russia - Sweden2 (World Championship)

World Championship

Inline Hockey Masters World Cup

Russia – Sweden2

3:1 (end)

Czech Republic – Finland

0:3 (end)

final

Russia

3:1 (2:1, 1:0, 0:0)

Sweden2

Saturday 24.05.2014, 13:45 • Minsk-Arena, Minsk, Belarus • World Championship

		Welcome. Game starts at 13:45.
		Welcome to the semifinals. Number-one seed from Group B meets number-two from Group A. It will be Sweden or Russia. One of these European powerhouses will advance to the gold-medal game, the other will have to fight for the bronze.
		The Russians have been as strong as they could be here in front of what could be called a home-ice atmosphere for them. They haven't lost a game yet, their overall score is 34-7 and they have both the leading goalie and the leading point-scorer of the event on their roster.
		In quarterfinals, Russia edged France 3-0 with Sergei Bobrovsky getting another shutout and Evgeni Malkin registering two points. Alex Ovechkin is playing again after the injury and the leading scorer Viktor Tikhonov is just a beast for the Russians.
		The Swedes lost only one game all tournament and it was in overtime against Canada. Besides that, they have been flawless and only lost one points in a shootout victory over the Czechs, another semifinalist. In the quarterfinals, Swedes beat the hosts from Belarus even though they trailed in the game.
		Sweden will need their goaltender Anders Nilsson to deliver his A game again on Saturday in the semis. Facing the likes of Malkin and Ovechkin won't be easy, but he managed to backstop his team, led by NHL defenseman Mattias Ekholm and breakout forward Joakim Lindstrom, to seven wins already.
		The last time these teams met was in 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden, were the Russians beat the hosting country 7-3 in the preliminary round. Semyon Varlamov made 43 saves and Evgeni Malkin scored a hattrick and added two assists in the game.
		Starting lineups: Russia: Bobrovski (Vasilevski) – Denisov, Chudinov, Kutuzov, Medvedev, Yakovlev, Belov, Zubarev – Ovechkin "C", Plotnikov, Shipachyov – Tikhonov, Malkin, Kulyomin "A" – Zaripov "A", Anisimov, Shirokov – Dadonov, Burmistrov, Kuznetsov – S. Kalinin. Sweden: Nilsson (J. Eriksson) – Fransson, Ekholm, Erixon, Gustafsson, Burstrom, Andersen, Nygren – Lindstrom, Moller, Backlund "A" – Jarnkrok, Nyquist, Klasen – S. Hjalmarsson, Sjogren, J. Ericsson "A" – J. Lundqvist "C", D. Axelsson, Danielsson – Rasmussen. Referees: Kaval (USA), Šindler (CZE) – Suominen (FIN), Valach (SVK)..
		Less than fifteen minutes left before the first semifinal game begins.
		The Swedes are entering the ice and the fans don't like them much.
		Now the Russians are making their way onto the ice and of course, the fans love that.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:01	We're underway and the Russians win the opening draw.
	00:19	Goal for Team Sweden! Wow, that's a stunner! The Swedes open the scoring just nine seconds into the game! Nobody covered OSCAR MOLLER in the neutral zone and he received a great pass from Lindstrom, carried the puck in and found Bobrovski's five-hole after a good deke in front! What a start to the game by Tre Kronor! Assisted by Joakim Lindstrom and Mikael Backlund.
	00:51	Jimmier Ericsson carried the puck in over the blue line, but Russians regain possession quickly.
	01:10	Big shot from the blue line with Tikhonov and Malkin in front, but the Swedes resist.
	01:29	And now a powerplay is coming up for Sweden, Yevgeni Medvedev (RUS) is going to the penalty box for interference.
	01:52	Nygren fired one with Backlund screening, but it doesn't get through, but the Russians can't clear.
	02:07	Long shot by Lindstrom deflected up into the air without Bobrovski catching a piece of it, faceoff in the neutral zone.
	02:15	Ekholm has the puck in his own end.
	02:28	Now Russians had possession and Plotnikov was able to cut some time off the Swedish powerplay.
	02:46	Ekholm fires from the blue line, but it ends up missing the net and he clearly doesn't like that outcome.
	03:15	Swedes have possession, but seems like they don't want to fire the puck.
	03:31	Medvedev reenters the ice, penalty killed off.
	03:58	The puck is in the Russian zone, but the Russians have it.
	04:14	Shot by Kalinin from the right side deflected aside by Nilsson, rebound by Yakovlev is sent wide of the net.
	04:20	Joel Lundqvist (SWE) gets two minutes for hooking, first Russian PP coming up.
	04:43	One-timer by Kutuzov is stopped and hung on to by Nilsson.
	04:50	Kutuzov with a shot through traffic, deflected wide.
	05:01	Another shot by Kutuzov with Kulyomin tipping it in front, Nilsson makes another stop.
	05:23	Plotnikov carried the puck in deep, but his pass missed the recipient.
	05:46	Chudinov fans on a one-timer from the blue line.
	05:58	Ovechkin throws the puck on goal, Nilsson doesn't give up a rebound with Plotnikov right there looking for it.
	06:05	Faceoff in the neutral zone.
	06:33	Bad-angle shot by Anisimov with Lundqvist back on the ice, Nilsson makes a glove save and so the Swedes still have the one-goal lead.
	06:48	Zubarev threw one on goal, but he missed it.
	07:19	Medvedev wins a battle in the corner, but the Russians can't get over the Swedish blue line.
	07:49	Low backhander by Moller misses the net.
	08:24	Moller fires one through screen, but it's deflected wide.
	08:40	Russians lose it one the Swedish blue line again.
	09:22	Shot by Tikhonov on a delayed call is deflected up into the netting by Gustafsson.
	09:22	Linus Klasen (SWE) gets called for hooking.
	09:48	Ovechkin looked to set up Shipachyov in front of the wide-open net, but the pass avoided the intended recipient's stick.
	10:10	Ovechkin causing more trouble on the Swedish doorstep, but Nilsson didn't have to face a shot on goal.
	11:08	Malkin looked to deal out a big pass aftr a shot by Medvedev was blocked, but nobody can get a piece of it.
	11:30	Malkin on the doorstep with Klasen returning to the ice, but he shoves it wide.
	12:02	Anisimov fires one from the right side, blocked by Burstrom.
	12:18	Nyquist carried the puck in and fired a long shot that went wide of the net.
	12:57	High dump-in by Fransson gloved and returned to play by Bobrovski.
	13:17	Offside called against Team Russia.
	13:25	Goal for Team Russia! The Russians tie the score and this place is going nuts! SERGEI PLOTNIKOV was at the right place in the right circle at the right time and the rebound of Medvedev's shot went right his way with Nilsson out of position and even though he hesitated for a bit, he fired one right into the back of the wide-open net. We're all tied here at the Minsk-Arena. Assisted by Yevgeni Medvedev and Vadim Shipachyov.
	14:41	Center-ice faceoff.
	14:57	Dadonov carried the puck in and then he fired one, but it missed the net.
	16:09	The Russians have the puck in the Swedish zone, but their shots are getting blocked often in front of Nilsson.
	16:31	Tikhonov is stopped as he went offside.
	16:46	Ekholm dumps it in and Bobrovski holds on to it.
	17:38	Not much happening, but it looks like Sweden is getting some of the momentum back.
	18:00	Goal for Team Russia! What a goal by Russia and the de facto home team takes the lead for the first time in the game! Blitzkrieg-like action by SERGEI SHIROKOV to get the goal as the third-liner just sped over the blue line and fired one hard and it went off the glove of Nilsson and in. What a shot to beat the great Swedish goaltender! Assisted by Danis Zaripov and Yevgeni Medvedev.
	18:18	Another big shot, this time by Dadonov, Nilsson makes a good stop.
	18:44	Anton Belov (RUS) gets two minutes for holding.
	18:49	Nygren sends the puck on goal and Bobrovski has it, Ericsson was looking for it and now he and Medvedev are having words.
	19:08	Another good Swedish shot from the blue line, this time by Moller. It's deflected in front, but not on goal.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		The Swedes had a great start into the first period, opening the score early and having momentum for the opening couple of minutes. A Russian powerplay was, however, able to turn that around and things started going the Russian way. Nilsson had to face 11 shots, while only 6 went on Bobrovski.
		Tune back in for the second period which start at 3:34 PM EET.
		Maxim Chudinov and Mattias Ekholm lead their respective teams in ice-time.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:01	Sweden wins the faceoff to open the second period.
	20:24	Cleared by Plotnikov and great forecheck by Shipachyov in the Swedish zone.
	20:49	Big blast from the blue line by Nygren with Belov leaving the box, the shot is fired wide.
	21:09	Kutuzov and Klasen apparently don't like each other while the puck is tipped up into the protective netting.
	21:15	Hjalmarsson with a shot through traffic, Bobrovski makes a stop even though he wasn't sure of it.
	21:33	Second consecutive icing against Russia.
	22:32	Handpass called after Dadonov touches the puck after it was handpassed.
	22:50	Good block by Shipachyov on a shot by Klasen.
	23:07	Icing called against Sweden.
	24:00	Swedes have the puck in their own end.
	24:25	The puck deflected to Zaripov in front who tried to backhand it on goal, but it was tipped aside.
	25:16	Good hard shot by Ekholm and a huge shoulder save by Bobrovski.
	25:25	Bobrovski was down, but not out as he makes an incredible glove save on Moller!
	25:51	Russians have the puck in their own zone, but will look to carry it out.
	26:18	Bad hit by Chudinov on Nyquist and the Swedish forward looks shaken up. Will that be a penalty or not?
	26:18	Calle Jarnkrok (SWE) gets called for tripping, but the brutal hit on Nyquist is unpunished.
	26:48	Nilsson covers up after Tikhonov gets it on net.
	26:59	Shot by Medvedev is blocked and then the puck is cleared.
	27:15	Backhander on goal by Kulyomin, great stop by Nilsson.
	27:34	Beautiful tic-tac-toe with Chudinov at the end of it, but he fires it wide.
	28:11	Hard shot by Ovechkin goes over the crossbar and out of play.
	28:21	Ovechkin set up for a one-timer by Zubarev, but Nilsson got over in time and deflected it aside with Jarnkrok leaving the penalty box.
	28:47	Gustav Nyquist (SWE) gets two minutes for slashing.
	29:04	Kulyomin looked to pass the puck rinkwide, but it's deflected out of the Swedish zone.
	29:34	Shot by Kutuzov deflected up into the netting.
	30:02	Ekholm clears it down the ice, good PK so far for Sweden.
	30:44	Ovechkin fans on a one-timer with Nyquist just about ready to return.
	31:02	Goal for Team Russia! Fed by the momentum from the powerplays, the Russians get a two-goal lead midway through the second period! A lose puck in the Swedish zone deflected to ANTON BELOV who wasted no time and just blasted one and it would end up going off Nilsson and into the top corner to make it 3-1 Russia with nine minutes left in the second. Assisted by Danis Zaripov and Alexander Ovechkin.
	31:40	Wrister by Backlund blocked in front by Chudinov.
	32:39	Nilsson's net dislodged as one of the Russians came down and crashed into it, commercial break coming up.
	32:39	14,521 are in attendance today.
	33:02	Tikhonov battling hard around Nilsson and the Russians are able to keep the puck in the zone.
	33:23	Shot by Medvedev is deflected in front, but ends up going out of play.
	34:07	Icing called against Russia.
	34:48	Big hit by Kalinin on Fransson after the Swedish defenseman played the puck into the Russian zone.
	35:21	Swedes have possession and look to carry it out of their own zone.
	36:12	Gustafsson threw the puck on goal on a delayed call with Erixon right there on the doorstep, ends up going wide.
	36:13	Maxim Chudinov (RUS) gets a minor penalty for hooking.
	36:42	Moller fires one with screen in front, but it goes wide.
	37:04	Lindstrom with a shot on goal, blocked in front and then covered by Bobrovski.
	37:28	Danielsson fires one with Sjogren in front, but it's blocked and then Bobrovski covers up again.
	37:38	Good-looking shot by Klasen missed the net.
	38:01	Danielsson fires one off the side of the net.
	38:18	Nyquist has his shot blocked with Chudinov leaving the sin bin.
	38:39	Malkin can't find Ovechkin in front in what looked like a sure goal in front of Nilsson.
	39:01	Ovechkin has his shot deflected up into the netting with Malkin in front.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Shipachyov had a chance in front, but couldn't bury it and now Mattias Ekholm (SWE) gets two minutes for cross-checking.
		The Russians had another great period, but again, the Swedes started out well, but ended up getting outshot 13-8 by Russia. And as defenseman Anton Belov added another goal past Nilsson who is not having a good game today, the Russian lead is big going into the third, but not too big to get erased.
		Stay tuned as the third period starts at 4:23 PM EET.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	41:03	Malkin passed the puck to Ovechkin who fired one on goal, good stop by Nilsson.
	41:29	Tikhonov and Ovechkin tried a couple of bad-angle shots, but they don't get it to Nilsson.
	41:47	Another wrister by Ovechkin goes wide.
	42:00	Ekholm returns to the ice.
	43:08	The Swedes get the puck into the Russian zone, but make nothing happen.
	43:36	Dump-in by Fransson gloved and hung on to by Bobrovski.
	43:49	Ekholm looked to get it on net, but instead gives it to Russians for a counter-attack.
	44:21	Lot of neutral ice action here early in the third.
	45:06	A shot by Kutuzov was tipped in front and Nilsson had troubles getting to it. Shirokov looked for the rebound and no Swede likes it so a little altercation ensues.
	45:36	The Swedes have most of the momentum early in the third, but Russians have been defending very well.
	46:23	Bobrovski makes a save on Ekholm and Jarnkrok engages in some pushing and shoving in front.
	46:49	Long shot by Fransson blocked in front.
	47:40	Nygren fires one through traffic and there is some action in front, but it stays out.
	47:45	Sergei Bobrovski (RUS) gets called for tripping and Danis Zaripov will serve the penalty.
	47:58	Another big shot by Nygren with Swedes in front, but again, Bobrovski keeps it out.
	48:15	Cleared down the ice by Russia.
	48:22	Jimmie Ericsson (SWE) gets two minutes for interference.
	48:50	Pad save by Nilsson on a fast shot by Ovechkin.
	49:23	Huge one-timer by Fransson and a better save made by Bobrovski.
	50:17	Kutuzov with a centering attempt, intercepted by Fransson.
	50:43	Not much happening here midway through the third.
	51:20	Good save by Bobrovski on Backlund and Moller has some words for Kalinin and vice versa.
	51:30	Big one-timed blast by Plotnikov from the right side, Nilsson makes a good stop.
	52:35	Again not much going on with Swedes on the puck, but the Russians look to have it figured out and are not letting them in.
	52:54	Now Nyquist almost got in, but they just closed all gaps he could use to get there.
	53:19	Now a couple of shots by Russians, but Nilsson stays perfect in this period.
	53:55	Bad angle shot by Kalinin doesn't go on goal after all.
	54:16	Fransson fires one wide from the blue line.
	55:10	Icing called against Sweden.
	55:59	Big hit by Kulyomin and Moller and now the Russians can go ahead.
	56:46	Shirokov has the puck and takes a couple of hits on his way through.
	57:22	Hjalmarsson dumps the puck on net, glove save by Bobrovski.
	57:22	Timeout for Team Sweden.
	57:22	Empty net for the Swedes!
	57:54	Neutral ice faceoff with Backlund playing the puck out of play.
	58:20	Moller got the puck on net and a wild scramble ensued in which Jarnkrok scored, but it can't be a good goal as the net was dislodged.
	58:20	Denis Denisov (RUS) gets two minutes for interference.
	58:20	The referees checked the situation in the goal crease again, but say it was no goal after all.
	58:43	Kulyomin carried the puck into the offensive zone, but couldn't get a shot away.
	59:06	Now Kulyomin dumped the puck on goal, but just missed it.
	59:35	Big one-timer by Moller blocked by Plotnikov.
	59:45	Another Russian shot misses the net.
	59:49	Now there was a bad hit on a Russian player who seems clearly shaken up and Medvedev was so mad that it looked like he wrestled a ref down to the ice.
	59:49	It was Plotnikov, but now he's on the bench and it looks like he's going to be okay.
	59:49	Mikael Backlund (SWE) gets five minutes and a game misconduct for charging.
	59:49	Nilsson is back in the net with the faceoff in the Swedish zone.
	60:00	Game over.
		It's game over and the Russians advance to the finals as they are still unbeaten here in Minsk! What a journey it has been and it will conclude tomorrow right here. Sweden will play in the bronze medal game, but they have been great here as well.
		Oscar Moller (SWE) and Artyom Anisimov (RUS) are named players of the game.
		The Russian anthem will follow, come back later today for the second semifinal game here at Eurolivescores! (16:05:24)

Commentary by

Radoslav Vavřina

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 14. Plotnikov (Medvedev, Shipachyov), 18. Shirokov (Zaripov, Medvedev), 32. Belov (Zaripov, Ovechkin) – 1. Moller (Lindstrom, Backlund)

Russia: Bobrovski (Vasilevski) – Denisov, Chudinov, Kutuzov, Medvedev, Yakovlev, Belov, Zubarev – Ovechkin "C", Plotnikov, Shipachyov – Tikhonov, Malkin, Kulyomin "A" – Zaripov "A", Anisimov, Shirokov – Dadonov, Burmistrov, Kuznetsov – S. Kalinin.

Sweden2: Nilsson (J. Eriksson) – Fransson, Ekholm, Erixon, Gustafsson, Burstrom, Andersen, Nygren – Lindstrom, Moller, Backlund "A" – Jarnkrok, Nyquist, Klasen – S. Hjalmarsson, Sjogren, J. Ericsson "A" – J. Lundqvist "C", D. Axelsson, Danielsson – Rasmussen.

Referees: Kaval (USA), Šindler (CZE) – Suominen (FIN), Valach (SVK).

Attendance: 14,521

Australia – Germany2	9:19 (end)	\|	Czech Republic B – xxx	5:4 (end)	\|	France2 – Slovakia2	7:3 (end)
Czech Republic – Italy veterans	3:1 (end)

1st period
	00:19
	01:29
	04:20
	09:22
	13:25
	18:00
	18:44
1st intermission
2nd period
	26:18
	28:47
	31:02
	36:13
2nd intermission

3rd period
	47:45
	48:22
	58:20
	59:49
Final