SVK 2:5 RUS | Slovakia - Russia (Hlinka Gretzky Cup)

Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Canada – Sweden	4:1 (end)	\|	Finland – Switzerland	4:3 (end)	\|	Slovakia – Russia	2:5 (end)
Czech Republic – USA	2:4 (end)

final

Slovakia

2:5 (0:0, 1:1, 1:4)

Russia

Wednesday 10.08.2016, 17:30 • Hlinka Gretzky Cup • Group B

		Welcome. This game starts at 17:30 CET, 18:30 MSK.
		Starting lineups: Slovakia: Sklenár (Ovečka) – Korenčík, Ivan, Kupec, Žiak, Boldižár, Marguš, Demo, Verbický – Ružička (C), Roman, Krivošík – Hrehorčák, Havrila, Liška (A) – Kelemen, Kövér (A), Fafrák – Eliáš, Kukľa, Stacho. Russia: Melnikov (Rajko) – Samorukov, Ljachov, Galeňuk, Rubinčik (A), Alexejev (A), Baranov, Anochovskij, Kalabuškin – Svečnikov, Lipanov, Čechovič – Kostin (C), Bicadze, Alexejev – Toropčenko, Demin, Muranov – Šaškov, Marušev, Lobanov. Referees: Baluška, Stano – Výleta, Stanzel..
		The national anthems for the Russian Federation and the Slovak Republic have been played at the game will start shortly. Slovakia is the home team and is wearing white uniforms with blue and red trim. Russia is the visiting team and is wearing red uniforms with white and blue trim.
		Russia needs a win, either in regulation or extra time, to finish 2nd in the group and advance to the semi-finals. Slovakia have no chance but if they win, they will allow Canada to finish 2nd and advance. Either of these teams could also finish either 3rd or 4th in the group.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:30	Russia with an early chance, Svechnikov shoots wide from in close.
	01:39	Offside Russia.
	02:25	Long shot by Chekhovich goes off the end boards and Sklenar covers.
	03:18	Hand pass Slovakia in the attacking zone, faceoff outside.
	03:27	Icing Slovakia.
	04:05	Icing Russia.
	04:15	Wrister from Toropchenko, blocker save Sklenar.
	05:04	Penalty for Russia (A. Alexeyev – 2 min., delay of game / shooting the puck out of play).
	05:40	Slovaks trying to get things going on the powre play, shots from Roman and Korencik stopped by Melnikov.
	07:15	Russia back at full strength, Alexander Alexeyev comes out of the box and tries to beat Sklenar with a forehand deke but runs out of room.
	07:52	Icing Slovakia.
	08:30	Pressure from Slovakia again. Shot whistles wide and Melnikov covers after the puck bounces off the end boards.
	09:25	Hrehorcak with the dump-in, Melnikov juggled it.
	09:25	Penalty for Russia (Bitsadze – 2 min., holding).
	10:28	Puck out of play, faceoff in the Russian zone with :57 left in the penalty.
	10:48	Korencik and Krovosik each with shots from the point, both stopped by Melnikov.
	11:06	Offside Slovakia with :19 left in the power play.
	11:30	At the tail end of the penalty kill Lipanov beats a man to the outside and cuts in on Sklenar but can't stuff it in the short side.
	11:59	Penalty for Slovakia (Boldizar – 2 min., kneeing).
	12:45	Big slapper from Rubinchik blocked by Kelemen.
	13:13	Another shot from Rubinchik stopped by Sklenar, Slovaks clear.
	14:05	Shot by Samorukov as the penalty ends, turned aside by Sklenar.
	14:40	Wrister from the point by Kalabushkin, pad save Sklenar.
	15:35	Low wrister from Lobanov kicked out by Sklenar.
	15:50	Good chance for Slovaks, Ruzicka's shot hit a screened Melnikov, Havrila puts the rebound just wide.
	16:48	They continue to buzz, Hrehorcak attempts a wraparound, Melnikov covers.
	17:00	Chekhovich leads a Russian rush, poke-checked by Sklenar.
	17:49	Offside Russia.
	18:39	Icing Russia.
	18:46	Penalty for Slovakia (Ziak – 2 min., tripping).
	19:35	Offside Russia.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		The first period is dominated by Russia but Juraj Sklenar is showing the same form he did against Canada on Monday. Artyom Melnikov also sharp when tested. Shots on goal in the 1st period: SVK 5, RUS 14. 2nd period begins at 18:15 CET, 19:15 MSK.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:30	Liakov fires a shot from the point that hits the goalpost.
	21:06	Penalty for Slovakia (Ruzicka – 2 min., tripping). Just after killing one penalty, the Slovaks are back to the PK.
21:06 Ružička (SVK)
	21:47	Goal for Team Russia! Rubinchik's low wrister from the point is tipped in front by DANIL GALENIUK and in. Power-play goal. Assist: Mark Rubinchik.
21:47 Danila Galeňuk (RUS) - 0:1
	22:55	Russia back to the attack, Marushev's backhander in close denied by Sklenar.
	23:50	Ruzicka leads a Slovak rush, tries to hit the trailer Roman but missed with the pass.
	24:50	Low wrister from Alexeyev, turned to the corner by Sklenar.
	25:41	Icing Russia.
	26:01	Penalty for Russia (Kostin – 2 min., charging).
	26:16	Penalty for Russia (Galeniuk – 2 min., holding). 2-man advantage for 1:45, a golden chance for Slovakia.
	27:07	Offside Slovakia, :54 left in the 5 on 3.
	27:15	Icing Slovakia with :46 left in the 2-man advantage.
	27:48	Slapper from Kupec blocked by Chekhovich.
	28:10	Another drive from Kupec, save Melnikov, Russia 1 man down.
	28:30	Russians back to full strength, drive into the Slovak zone.
	28:55	Toropchenko tries to feed the trailer Muranov, doesn't connect.
	29:40	Low wrister from Kover deflects wide.
	30:00	Shashkov comes out from the boards and fires a shot right into Sklenar, who holds it.
30:00
	30:42	Slapper from Liakov, stick save Sklenar and the puck ends up out of play. Faceoff inside.
	30:53	Backhander from Havrila, low blocker save by Melnikov.
	31:50	Penalty for Russia (Demin – 2 min., tripping).
	31:58	Ruzicka's shot from the point sails over the crossbar.
	32:50	Slapper from Korencik sails wide.
	33:05	Offside Slovakia with :45 left in the power play. Russian PK has looked very good this game.
33:05
	33:20	Hrehorcak in front to Havrila and Melnikov robs him from point blank.
	34:02	Russia back to full strength and they get a flurry of chances, Toropchenko drove to the net, and then Moranov's shot is finally caught and held by Sklenar.
	34:27	Icing Russia on a close race, the Russian bench doesn't agree with the call.
	34:38	Lobanov leads a rush, his wrister is caught and held by Sklenar.
	34:54	The puck goes into the Russian bench, faceoff outside the Slovak blueline.
	36:09	Wrister from Kostin, held by Sklenar.
	36:28	Slapper from Boldizar, caught and held by Melnikov.
	36:49	Goal for team Slovakia! From the left wing boards, JAKUB KOVER walked in and teed up a slapper that found the top corner just inside the post and crossbar. It may have grazed a Russian stick along the way. Unassisted.
36:49 Jakub Kövér (SVK) - 1:1
	38:07	Penalty for Slovakia (Bench – 2 min., too many men).
	39:10	Rubinchik's shot is blocked and the Slovaks clear.
	39:35	The puck goes into the Slovak bench, faceoff outside the Russian blueline.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Once again Russia held the edge in play that period but the teams exchanged goals and the game's tied 1-1 after 2. Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): SVK 7 (12), RUS 13 (27). 3rd period begins at 19:02 CET, 20:02 MSK.
		The teams are on the ice and the 3rd period will begin soon. :07 remains in the Slovak penalty.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:27	The puck slides down the ice to Melnikov, who covers. Slovaks back at full strength.
	40:31	Milos Roman with a chance off the draw, tries to beat Melnikov wide but the Russian goalie gives him nothing.
	40:44	The Russians score but it's waved off due to a penalty for charging the goalie.
	40:44	Penalty for Russia (Kostin – 2 min., charging).
	41:32	Backhander from Ruzicka, Melnikov holds it.
	42:02	Ruzicka again, cuts in front but Melnikov kicks it away.
	42:30	And Liska nearly has a breakaway but can't handle the pass, Melnikov ultimately stops a slapper from the point and covers.
	42:50	Russia back at full strength and they go to the attack.
	43:14	Wrister from Kostin, held by Sklenar.
	44:01	Goal for Team Russia! Chekhovich gets the puck in the corner and feeds it in front to ANDREI SVECHNIKOV for the one timer and he blows it past Sklenar for the go-ahead goal. Assists: Ivan Chekhovich, Alexei Lipanov.
44:01 Andrej Svečnikov (RUS) - 1:2
	44:30	Penalty for Russia (Marushin – 2 min., holding).
	45:40	Ovecka tries to shoot from the side of the net but is denied.
	46:30	Liska tries a centring pass but it doesn't find anybody, Russia back at full strength.
46:30
	47:40	Shashkov leads a rush but doesn't get a shot, Liakov from the point does, save Sklenar.
	48:53	Icing Russia.
	49:30	Kalabushkin's shot from the point hits Sklenar and lies dangerously in the crease for a while before finally cleared away.
	50:27	Long wrister from Demin is held by Sklenar.
	51:37	Goal for Team Russia! Chekhovich's pass from behind the net finds ANDREI SVECHNIKOV, as this pair hooks up for the second time this game to give Russia a 2-goal lead. Assist: Ivan Chekhovich.
51:37 Andrej Svečnikov (RUS) - 1:3
	53:31	Icing Russia.
	54:30	Wrister from Fafrak, blocker save Melnikov.
	55:10	Offside Russia.
	56:29	Puck deflects out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside.
	56:29	Timeout Slovakia.
	56:53	Offside Slovakia.
	57:10	Slovakia has pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.
	57:19	Goal for team Slovakia! Roman crossed the blueline and fed FILIP KRIVOSIK heading to the net and he fired it upstairs under the crossbar. Sklenar comes back into the net but maybe not for long. Assist: Milos Roman.
57:19 Filip Krivošík (SVK) - 2:3
	57:52	Offside Russia.
	58:04	Icing Slovakia.
	58:47	Goal for Team Russia! KLIM KOSTIN made a beautiful move cutting in from the right wing and beating Sklenar with a forehand deke to probably put this game away. Assist: Yaroslav Alexeyev.
58:47 Klim Kostin (RUS) - 2:4
	59:00	The Slovak net is empty again.
	59:59	Goal for Team Russia! YAROSLAV ALEXEYEV secures Russia's spot in the semi-finals with an uncontested empty net goal with 0.3 seconds on the clock. Assist: Alexei Lipanov.
59:59 Alexejev (RUS) - 2:5
		Game over.
		Russia wins the game to finish 2nd in the Bratislava Group and advance to the semi-finals. Canada finishes 3rd and Slovakia finishes 4th. (19:38:16)

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 37. Kover, 58. Krivosik (Roman) – 22. Galeniuk (Rubinchik), 45. Svechnikov (Chekhovich, Lipanov), 52. Svechnikov (Chekhovich), 59. Kostin (Y. Alexeyev), 60. Y. Alexeyev (Lipanov)

Slovakia: Sklenár (Ovečka) – Korenčík, Ivan, Kupec, Žiak, Boldižár, Marguš, Demo, Verbický – Ružička (C), Roman, Krivošík – Hrehorčák, Havrila, Liška (A) – Kelemen, Kövér (A), Fafrák – Eliáš, Kukľa, Stacho.

Russia: Melnikov (Rajko) – Samorukov, Ljachov, Galeňuk, Rubinčik (A), Alexejev (A), Baranov, Anochovskij, Kalabuškin – Svečnikov, Lipanov, Čechovič – Kostin (C), Bicadze, Alexejev – Toropčenko, Demin, Muranov – Šaškov, Marušev, Lobanov.

Referees: Baluška, Stano – Výleta, Stanzel.

1st period
	05:04	SVK	2	A. Alexeyev, delay of game / shooting or throwing the puck out
	09:25	RUS	2	Bitsadze, holding
	11:59	SVK	2	Boldizar
	18:46	SVK	2	Ziak, tripping
1st intermission
2nd period
	21:06	SVK	2	Ruzicka, roughing
	21:47	RUS	0:1	Galeniuk (Rubinchik)
	26:01	RUS	2	Kostin, charging
	26:16	RUS	2	Galeniuk
	31:50	RUS	2	Demin, tripping
	36:49	SVK	1:1	Kover
	38:07	SVK	2	Bench, too many men
2nd intermission
3rd period
	40:44	RUS	2	Kostin, charging
	44:01	RUS	1:2	Svechnikov (Chekhovich, Lipanov)
	44:30	RUS	2	Marushin, holding
	51:37	RUS	1:3	Svechnikov (Chekhovich)
	57:19	SVK	2:3	Krivosik (Roman)
	58:47	RUS	2:4	Kostin (Y. Alexeyev)
	59:59	RUS	2:5	Y. Alexeyev (Lipanov)
Final