Channel One Cup day 1

Russia was the stronger team and defeated Sweden 5-3 after having 35-27 in shots on goal. Sergei Mozyakin scored the only goal of the first period. If the first period was quite event less the second would see much more action.

The second period started with a goal explosion with four goals in the first 2:41. Niklas Persson tied the game with easy backhand shot on a power play after just 25 seconds. 83 seconds later Maksim Afinogenev gave Russia the lead again with a great wrist shot. And less than a minute later two more goals was scored, first 1-3 by Morozov and later 2-3 by Fernholm.

Sweden had some problems with their power play during the game but still managed to score two goals with the man advantage. Sebastian Erixon tied the game halfway through the last period. But Russia retook the lead once again when Nikolai Belov scored what turned out to be the game winner at 54:51. With only three seconds left to play Zaripov added the insurance goal when he scored on the empty net.

In the other game of the opening day Czech Republic won away to Finland after penalty shots. Marek Kvapil scored on the Czechs first shot while Petteri Wirtanen missed for Finland. Kvapil also scored the first goal of the game and was the big hero for the Czechs.

Finland shot 37 on goals while the Czechs only had 26 attempts on goal. The goalie Jakub Stepanek also had a big part in the win making 35 saves. He almost kept his goal clean for two periods but Leo Komarov tied the game with only 20 seconds left of the second period.

The Czechs took the lead at 52:43 when Martin Lojek found the net behind Iiro Tarkki in the Finnish net. Tarkki had an assist when Finland tied the game 1:27 later. Mikko Lehtonen was the goal scorer but the goal was only enough for one point.

 

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