Predictably, the gambit didn’t pay off, as Canada prevailed 5-3.
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Russia’s lack of defensive depth will be their undoing against Canada; the Canadian offence is too well-balanced and aggressive for the sub-par Russian blueline corps.
Brad Marchand scored his second goal of the game a little over a minute into the third.
But when the best player in the world, Sidney Crosby, is playing at the level he is right now, there is no beating Team Canada. “I’m still trying to take in everything, and it’s been a blast so far”. There should be no shortage of teams lining up looking to acquire his rights. Four years later, with a chance at redemption at the Winter Olympics in Russia, Ovechkin couldn’t do enough to help his team get past the quarterfinals while Crosby and the Canadians earned gold again. The shot total after one was 17-7 in favor of Canada, and Sergei Bobrovsky was the only reason they didn’t lead by more than 1-0. None of Russia’s extra-man chances were as good as any of those three shorthanded bids from Canada.
In 211 career games Trouba has scored 23 goals and added 49 assists.
Bobrovsky and the Russian penalty killers then kept their team within a goal with some strong work late in the frame during a span in which the Russians were whistled for three minor penalties in a span of just five minutes and 24 seconds.
The second period started out as pure domination for Canada.
Just after the first television timeout of the period, the game took a surprising turn. Their goalie Carey Price, meanwhile, made 31 saves.
Kucherov’s shot on goal was the first for Russian Federation in a span of 10 minutes and 44 seconds. But Evgeny Kuznetsov was right there to knock home the rebound from mid-air for the 2-1 lead.
Nikita Kucherov made it 1-all midway through the first and Evgeny Kuznetsov put Russian Federation ahead 2-1 with 3:36 left in the second.
Ah, but leads over Canada have been short-lived in this tournament, and this one was no exception.
Canada held a vast territorial edge in the play – at one point almost midway through the game, the shots were 24-7 in their favour – but it was a nail biter until the early stages of the third period, thanks to the inspired play of Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
“He played phenomenal tonight”, says Marchand of Bobrovsky.
It wasn’t easy, but then it never is, when Canada plays Russian Federation in a best-of-best hockey competition – and really, who would want it be? Russia’s top offensive weapon – winger Alex Ovechkin – had hardly touched the puck all night, and had yet to as much as attempt a shot on net.
And then the third period happened. Seconds after Bobrovsky robbed him on a tip-in try from in tight, Marchand scored from the left circle at 1:16, restoring Canada’s lead at 3-2.
Crosby opened the scoring, assisted on two Brad Marchand goals and led Team Canada to a 5-3 win over Russian Federation to advance to the World Cup finals. “So they’ve been able to skate on the puck and work together properly, and it’s been nice to watch”.
Corey Perry gave Canada a two-goal cushion at 5:48 of the third and John Tavares made it 4-2 midway through the period.
Canada will await the victor of Sunday’s game between Sweden and Team Europe.
“It was big just because we felt like we were controlling the play and doing a lot of good things and we were down 2-1”, said Crosby, who finished the game with three points and leads the tournament with seven. “As long as our systems stay tight and we keep getting better, we’re going to be all right”.
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There were moments in this World Cup of Hockey semifinal game when it looked like Russian Federation was writing the right script to eliminate powerhouse Team Canada.
