Russian victory in EHT opener

The Swedes started well and Robert Nilsson used a power play to score an opener. \\\"I got the puck at the half roll and I know we had a couple players around the net. I wanted to find someone there and it went in,\\\" said Nilsson.

The sleepy Russians woke up and Denis Kulyash equalized the score with a shot from between the circles. Russia cleaned up their act and created more chances, but Sweden regained the lead just before the buzzer went off. Niklas Nordgren hit the upper bar and the puck deflected into the net.

The second period was full of chances as well. An audience of more than 6000 people could watch beautiful ice hockey with many chances. A big mistake in the Swedish power play led to a goal from Alexander Popov who used his breakaway.

Popov scoring the 2nd Russian goal

A few moments later unsure Biryukov made a mistake, and Björn Melin rebounded the puck into an empty net. The Russian team appeared strong, but the Swedish players played what they needed. \\\"The deciding point was definitely power plays and penalty killing. We scored three goals in power plays and did not allow any during PK. If that happens, you usually win,\\\"said Robert Nilsson.

In the third period Sweden showed an excellent defense and did not grant their opponent many chances. Perezhogin and Kuryanov had the greatest, but Liv made good saves. The Russians tried to play without a goalie for about a minute, but did not create any chances.

Vyacheslav Bykov (head coach of Russia): \\\"We did not play our game, intense hockey, combinations with short passes. Anyway, the ice hockey we can see on the international ice, is quite different from the one we can see in CHL. We played better than against the Fins, but the Swedes skated much better\\\".

Pär Mårts (head coach of Sweden): \\\"I think it was a good game. There was a lot of chances and that is the way we wanted to play the game because we have a lot of players with great individual skills. The Russians were little bit confused and tried to change their gameplan. We had a lot of shots and traffic in front of a Russian goalie. I am satisfied\\\".

Sweden - Russia 3:2 (2:1, 1:1, 0:0)

Goals and assists: 3. Nilsson (Johansson), 20. Nordgren (Erixon), 29. Melin (Persson, Johansson) - 8. Kulyash (Saprykin, Gorovikov), 28. Popov. Referee: Partanen, Leppäalho - Vikman, Puolakka. Penalties: 6:10. Used power plays: 2:0. Shorthanded goals: 0:1. Audience: 6374.

Shots on goal: 49:50. Course of the game: 1:0, 1:1, 2:1, 2:2, 3:2.

Sweden: Liv - Fernholm, Petrasek, Ekholm, Johansson, Erixon, Rundblad, Arlbrandt, Fälth - Nilsson, Persson, Melin - Thörnberg, Sjögren, Jämtin - Lindström, Warg, Nordgren - Silfverberg, Krüger, Olausson.

Russia: Biryukov (29. Koshechkin) - Belov, Nikulin, Grebeshkov, Korneev, Emelin, Kulyash, Birjukov, Guskov - Mozjakin, Svitov, Morozov - Saprykin, Gorovikov, Afinogenov - Popov, Kuryanov, Perezhogin - Knyazev, Churilov, Platonov.

 

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