Sweden2 – Finland 2:3 (1:2 after SO) | Russia – Czech Republic 6:0 (end)
final
Russia
6:0 (4:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Czech Republic
Saturday 03.05.2014, 16:00 • Ericsson Globe, Stockholm, Sweden • Euro Hockey Tour
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 16:00.
     
    Warm welcome everyone! It's the Oddset Hockey Games, the Swedish part of the EuroHockeyTour for 2013/14 campaign. Day 2 features Russia versus the Czech Republic.
     
    The Czechs are on a four-game unbeaten run in EHT, while the Russians are facing fourth consecutive loss if they lose today. This the final test for both teams before the IIHF World Championship set to start in a few days.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Russia: Vasilevski (Khudobin) – Nikulin, Orlov, Plotnikov, Shipachyov, Ovechkin – Belov, Yakovlev, Kuznetsov, Loktionov, Tikhonov – Zaitsev, Kutuzov, Kulyomin, Burmistrov, Shirokov – Chudinov, Zubarev, Kalinin, Zubov, Dadonov

    Czech Republic: Kovar (Francouz) – Mojzis, Kolar, Rolinek, Hudler, Jagr – Vitasek, Zamorsky, Vondrka, Klepis, Petruzalek – Jank, Mozik, Buchtele, Kousal, Radil – Krejcik, Jordan, Zatovic, Nosek, Gulas

    Referees: Bjork, Sjoqvist – Dahmen, Yletyien.
     
    The national anthems of both teams have been intonated and the opening faceoff is moments away.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:25
    The Russians win the opener and after some combining in their own zone go on the attack right away, but the shot from the slot gets blocked by Kovar.
     
    01:09
    Alexander Burmistorv has a go on the deflection in the slot, but Jakub Kovar makes two quick saves to keep the net intact.
     
    01:22
    A faceoff win for the Czechs in the neutral zone, so they'll get the feeling of the puck.
     
    01:29
    Offside as the Czechs get into the zone.
     
    01:47
    Jakub Kovar covers up and holds on as the puck slowly slid towards him with Viktor Tikhonov chasing it, he ends up a few centimeters shy.
     
    02:03
    Vasilevsky is forced to deflect the puck with his chest, first save of the game for the Russian netminder.
     
    02:59
    Russian first line is doing great job in the attacking zone and keep the puck in at the blueline, only they can hardly get any shots on net.
     
    03:51
    The Czechs can't organize in the offensive zone and just hand the puck over to their counterpart.
     
    04:45
    First big intervention by Vasilevsky as Jordan goes for the wrap around and fires a backhander from the left post, Nosek can't pick up the deflection.
     
    05:02
    CZECHS HIT THE POST! A shot from the left wing gets chipped in the air and the puck deflects out from the bar.
     
    05:16
    Michal Jordan (CZE) gets called to the box for interference on Viktor Tikhonov.
     
    05:47
    Goal for Team Russia!
    Right away on the powerplay the Russians get on the board. VIKTOR TIKHONOV is the scorer as he got a smooth feed from the left by Shipachyov, tipped it into the post but on the ricochet sends it to the back of the net. Powerplay goal.

    Assist: Vadim Shipachyov.
     
    06:43
    Icing team Russia. Technical timeout and it seems the Czechs will be shorthanded.
     
    06:43
    Tomas Nosek (CZE) gets called for charging against Evgeny Dadonov.
     
    06:54
    Goal for Team Russia!
    Russian powerplay now goes 2 for 2 as SERGEI PLOTNIKOV scores on a one-timer fed from behind the net on a centering pass from Vadim Shipachyov. Powerplay goal.

    Assists: Vadim Shipachyov, Viktor Tikhonov.
     
    07:59
    Two Russian powerplay goals mark the problems for the Czechs on the penalty kill. Meanwhile they now take the puck into the zone looking for an answer.
     
    09:12
    Jan Buchtele fires wide from the right post as he closed down from the right wing and a pass from Robert Kousal.
     
    10:01
    Icing Russia – Sergei Plotnikov sent the puck down the ice too hard.
     
    10:18
    Tomas Nosek on the wrap around exitting on the right, Vasilevski deflects the puck aside.
     
    11:17
    Another icing by the Russians.
     
    11:27
    The Czechs win the faceoff and will build on another attack, but Jakub Klepis loses possesion.
     
    11:45
    Goal for Team Russia!
    A quick breakaway 2-on-1 by the Russians leaves ANDREI LOKTIONOV unguarded in the slot, Evgeny Kuznetsov slides him the puck leaving him all the time and space he needs to extend the margin.

    Assist: Evgeny Kuznetsov.
     
    12:21
    This is becoming to look like a drubbing if the Czechs don't show up for the game.
     
    12:57
    Another shot by the Russians from the high slot, deflect wide into the glass by Vasilevsky.
     
    13:11
    Alexander Ovechkin (RUS) gets called to the box for slashing.
     
    Shots are 7-5 in favor of Russia, but they have 3 goals in the back of the Czech net.
     
    13:17
    The Russians win the draw and clear away immediately.
     
    13:32
    Another clearance as the Czechs had regrouped.
     
    14:11
    A minute gone by on the powerplay, the Czechs haven't been able to organize anything in the zone, let alone get a shot on goal.
     
    15:07
    Finally a few shots fired at Vasilevsky, but he boldly deflects them all.
     
    15:11
    Alexander Ovechkin skates back on the ice meaning the Russians are complete.
     
    16:04
    After a clash for the puck on the boards, the Russians finally get to clear it away and would like to go for a line change.
     
    16:40
    A break chance for Russia, but the surprise shot from the right of the slot turns out not to be such a surprse for Jakub Kovar.
     
    17:30
    Czech third line now on the ice, Buchtele sends a pass in front for Lukas Radil who can't score from the left post, Vasilevsky in place to stop the attempt.
     
    18:30
    Goal for Team Russia!
    I was just about to write how well positioned the Russians are in the zone as YEGOR YAKOVLEV strikes a blast from the blue line beating Kovar through traffic in front in the slot.

    Unassisted.
     
    18:41
    Alexander Ovechkin now hits the steelwork and sees the puck ricochet out to the left side, the Russians are on fire.
     
    19:00
    One minute left in this first period.
     
    19:29
    Jakub Petruzalek tries his luck from the right, Andrei Vasilevsky is ready for that and holds on.
     
    19:52
    Nikita Zaitsev (RUS) tripps Michal Vondrka in the slot and will ride the box for the next two minutes because of that.
     
    19:59
    Jiri Hudler tries a shot after a centering pass from behind the net, the shot goes way over the net.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    Russia gave the Czech Republic a drubbing in the first period, two powerplay goals and another on the breakaway perfectly mark the Czech biggest flaw – transition and man-down offense. Team Russia are great on the offense, position well and are accurate when it comes to shooting.
     
    Shots on goal: RUS 10, CZE 11
    Faceoffs: RUS 13, CZE 8
    Powerplay: RUS 2/2, CZE 0/2
    Possession: RUS 08:40, CZE 11:20.

    Second period coming up at approx. 17:05.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:28
    Team Russia are still shorthanded but that didn't deprive them from taking the first shot on net, Tomas Mojzis answers on the other end.
     
    21:23
    A lot of pucks for the Czechs go over the right wing and mainly the shots come from the blue.
     
    21:42
    The Russians have now gone on their second shorthanded attack, before Jaromir Jagr intercepted the pass in their zone.
     
    21:52
    Team is back to full strength as Zaistev gets back onto the ice.
     
    22:21
    The Czechs force a draw in the Russian zone after having put Vasilevsky to another test.
     
    23:28
    Alexander Ovechkin fires from the right closing down on net, Jakub Kovar in place to save and hold on.
     
    Jaromir Jagr leaves the bench for the locker room, he didn't show any sign of being injured on the ice, so we'll see what comes out of it.
     
    25:05
    Icing against team Czech Republic, the faceoff will come in their zone.
     
    25:46
    Goal for Team Russia!
    Another 2-on-1 break for the Russians, Kutuzov took the puck into the zone over the right, waited enough to get ANDREI lOKTIONOV in open space on the left post who tipped the puck behind Jakub Kovar.

    Assist: Alexander Kutuzov.
     
    26:19
    Michal Jordan (CZE) gets the call for boarding.
     
    27:04
    The Czechs clear the zone. The Russians regroup from deep back in their own zone.
     
    27:26
    And yet another clearance from the Czechs.
     
    28:05
    Maxim Chudinov (RUS) gets called for tripping Michal Vondrka who stole the puck and tried to lead a break.
     
    28:13
    The Russians win the draw and get to clear the zone.
     
    28:19
    The Czechs are back at full strength.
     
    28:44
    Czech Repulic can't organize an offense in the zone.
     
    29:14
    Now they do and even get a shot on net from the right post, Vasilevsky deflects it wide.
     
    30:05
    Team Russia is complete.
     
    31:06
    The Czechs clear the zone over open ice, get to it first in the Russian zone, but couldn't organize and get a shot on net.
     
    31:26
    Icing Russia.
     
    31:49
    Now the Czechs ice the puck.
     
    32:37
    A fine attempt the center the pass spinning with the defender on the back by Russians, but the Czechs close them successfully.
     
    33:10
    Milan Gulas (CZE) called to the box for holding the stick.
     
    33:28
    Ovechkin fires a hard slapper on a centering pass from the right, Kovar is there in place to handle it.
     
    34:38
    A great pass in the slot, but Alexander Ovechkin couldn't get a good grip on the puck to send it in, and then on the rebound the Russians couldn't handle it and keep possession.
     
    36:14
    The play in this period has calmed down a bit, Russia with a huge lead and the Czechs seem out of gas and hardly waiting for the end.
     
    37:13
    Andrei Vasilevsky makes a pad deflection from the right, nothing to jeopardize the Russian lead.
     
    37:45
    The Russians took the puck theo ther way, but the Czechs successfully defend on two occasions.
     
    37:59
    Vadim Shipachyov (RUS) gets called to the box for slashing.
     
    38:18
    After a bit of circling the zone, team Russia clear the puck away.
     
    39:00
    One minute left in the second period.
     
    39:03
    The play is stopped with the Czechs in possession, but it seems they were offside.
     
    39:18
    A scramble before Andrei Vasilevsky, though he manages somehow to cover the puck with his glove and force another draw.
     
    39:47
    The Czech shot from the left misses the net wide and it will be the end of the second frame.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Team Russia continued much in the same manner in the second period. They're tough, solid on defense, and play high forecheck. The Czechs can't find a way to break through them, and it seems they've lost Jagr for today's game. We'll see if he'll make a return in the final 20 minutes.
     
    Shots on goal: RUS 7 (17), CZE 10 (21)
    Faceoffs: RUS 13 (26), CZE 3 (11)
    Penalties: RUS 4 (8), CZE 4 (8)
    Powerplay: RUS 2/4, CZE 0/4
    Possession: RUS 21:36, CZE 18:24.

    Third period coming up at around 17:50.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:29
    The Czechs are on the first atack in the Russian zone in the third period. This should only be a formality for team Russia who are close to breaking their losing streak.
     
    41:56
    So far no shots on goal, the Czechs keep possession but the Russian keep them at bay so they can't jeopardize their lead.
     
    42:44
    Team Czech Republic go offside, Jakub Krejcik was too quick over the blueline.
     
    43:39
    Neither team is able to organize an attack in the zone and finish it off with a shot.
     
    44:27
    Nikolai Kulyomin finally sent a shot towards Jakub Kovar, he deflects it wide into the boards behind.
     
    45:06
    After a scramble on the boards, the Russians come out victorious holding the puck.
     
    45:36
    A shot comes wide of the left post by the Czechs and ricochetes off the endboards, Russia pick it up.
     
    46:26
    Tomas Mojzis strikes a wrister from the blue, wide of the left post.
     
    47:18
    Team Czech Republic can't retain possession in the zone, the Russians are quick to take it away.
     
    47:31
    Ondrej Vitasek (CZE) gets called for high-sticking.
     
    47:47
    Alexander Ovechkin found a lot of space on the blueline and wanted to blast a one-timer but in the waning moments before the shot slipped and fell on the ice sending the puck wide into the boards.
     
    48:43
    Another shot by Russia from the slot, wide to the left.
     
    48:52
    Goal for Team Russia!
    Third powerplay goal of the night, second for VIKTOR TIKHONOV – Ovechkin found Orlov on the right side on the blue, he sent a diagonal pass towards Tikhonov on the left post and he slid the puck in the back of the net with ease. Powerplay goal.

    Assists: Alexander Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov.
     
    50:04
    The Czechs seem helpless both ways, they can't organize now and probably wish the game was over right now.
     
    51:24
    Andrei Vasilevsky deflects a hard slapper from the blue, the defense picks it up to help their goalie out.
     
    53:06
    A great combination from the Russians before the net, Alexander Burmistrov doing most of the work behind the net and centering the pass to the slot for Kuznetsov, though he couldn't score as Jakub Kovar made a great save.
     
    53:17
    Team Czech Republic win the draw in their zone and just clear it away. Teams exchange possessions now before the Russian offside gets whistled down.
     
    53:46
    Offside Czech Republic entering the zone over the right alley.
     
    54:04
    The Russians building on the attack within the zone, the puck slips away and then the Czechs get it back in to regroup.
     
    54:15
    Icing against team Czech Republic.
     
    54:22
    Maxim Chudinov fired a shot from the right wing at the blue, Kovar made the save but was obstructed so the faceoff will come into the neutral zone.
     
    55:30
    Vadim Shipachyov (RUS) gets called to the box for cross-checking. Is it time for the Czechs to get their consolidation goal?
     
    55:51
    The Russians clear away. Twice.
     
    56:30
    A minute gone by on the Czech powerplay, and we've seen a whole bunch of nothing from them so far.
     
    57:30
    Team Russia are back at full strength.
     
    57:43
    A dangerous shot from the high slot by the Russians, Kovar makes the deflection.
     
    57:56
    OVECHKIN HITS THE BAR! Alexander Ovechkin closes down on the goal and fires from the left side, hits the bar and the puck ricochetes away, saving the Czechs from concedeing another one.
     
    58:00
    Two minutes to go in the third period, and obviously, in the hockey game.
     
    59:07
    The final minute has begun to count, everyone just waits for the end of the game.
     
    59:25
    The puck deflects into the netting after a Czech shot, draw in the Russian zone.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    The game is over, the Russians finally break their three-game losing streak in EHT with a high, 6-0 shutout win over the Czechs. Russians were great both ways, while the Czechs looked stunned from early on. Tomorrow is the final day of the Oddset Hockey Games.
     
    Shots on goal: RUS 4 (21), CZE 7 (28)
    Faceoffs: RUS 8 (35), CZE 6 (19)
    Penalties: RUS 2 (10), CZE 2 (10)
    Powerplay: RUS 3/5, CZE 0/5
    Possession: RUS 28:20, CZE 31:40.
     
    Thank you for following the game with us today, until next time, goodbye! (18:26:36)
    Commentary by

    Alan Ilijic

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 6. Tikhonov (Shipachyov), 7. Plotnikov (Shipachyov, Tikhonov), 12. Loktionov (Kuznetsov), 19. Yakovlev, 26. Loktionov (Kutuzov), 49. Tikhonov (Ovechkin, Orlov)

    Russia: Vasilevski (Khudobin) – Nikulin, Orlov, Plotnikov, Shipachyov, Ovechkin – Belov, Yakovlev, Kuznetsov, Loktionov, Tikhonov – Zaitsev, Kutuzov, Kulyomin, Burmistrov, Shirokov – Chudinov, Zubarev, Kalinin, Zubov, Dadonov
    Czech Republic: Kovar (Francouz) – Mojzis, Kolar, Rolinek, Hudler, Jagr – Vitasek, Zamorsky, Vondrka, Klepis, Petruzalek – Jank, Mozik, Buchtele, Kousal, Radil – Krejcik, Jordan, Zatovic, Nosek, Gulas
    Referees: Bjork, Sjoqvist – Dahmen, Yletyien
    Attendance: n/a