To hell and back

One of the best Switzerland U20 generation has the legendary chance to stop the Russian train – with forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended - on the way to semifinal against Sweden in a well packed but not sold out Ufa Arena. Yaroslav Kosov raises the stand after two minute but his action ends on Melvin Nyffeler’s pads, Alessio Bertaggia replies one minute later but Andrei Vasilevski is ready for the deflection. As expected Russia take the lead and opens the score in the first power play after a capital chance wasted by Bertschy: Nail Yakupov assisted Aleksandr Khokhlachyov: his shot is powerful but the Nyffeler intervention is not perfect and the puck is in the net. The advantage shake the Russian team and the fans and Varnakov squad can double the score some minutes after but Nyffeler is reactive in blocking two shots. In the second power play situation, with Dario Simion in the sinbin, Christoph Bertschy successfully completed his previous failed try and equalizes the game with a personal initiative. Russian reaction is vehement but not dominant until the following power play when Switzerland has a miserable time of it and needs a couple of miracle saves by Nyffeler, an amazing one on Grigorenko, and some luck to survive. Switzerland has finally a power play situation on its favor and shows to Russia they have the potential to aspire at semifinal: Vasilievski can thank the Sven Andrighetto’ s imprecision when he doesn’t finalize a very smart assist by Lino Martschini. Also Christian Marti has a good chance but Vasilievski blocked the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defender’s shot. On the other side Grigorenko has a chance deflected by Nyffler to close a very balanced period.

Second period opens with fireworks: Martschini doesn’t arrive for inches to deflect a great assist by Simion and Grigorenko has a double chance to score but Nyffler blocked the first and he misses the second. Russia has the first power play but is able to produce just a dangerous chance with Anton Slepyshev. Mirco Muller on the other side sees his shot blocked by Vasilievski in a move that give to Switzerland almost one minute of 5vs3 not really well played by Swiss. Russia double the score taking advantage of a not perfect Swiss line change: the substitute for Simion isn’t fast to reach the action and Grigorenko can wait for Nyffeler to move and beats him. But again Russia isn’t cynic enough to close the game and suffers the second Swiss goal: Vasilievski isn’t perfect in rebounding a Dario Simion shot conceding the rebound to Sven Andrighetto that place the puck under the bar. Russia has an immediate chance to recover the advantage with a power play but forwards waste any possible chance while Switzerland has a great opportunity but Andrighetto’s shot hits the bar. Period ends with a controversial penalty called for Nikita Nesterov that leaves Russia with almost 2 minutes to play in the third without two men. The central part demonstrate again the power of Swiss team but also the not perfect state of Russia that has some of its star players as Nail Yakupov not in good mood.

A big chance by Simion opens third period but it represent also the only scoring chance for Switzerland during the Power Play 2 situation, while Grigorenko continues to be the most dangerous weapon for Russia: the Quebec Remparts forward calls Nyffler to a difficult save seconds before another dangerous Swiss power play, but Vasilievski is concentrate on Guerra and Andrighetto shots. But if Russia attack is not up to standards, defense and especially penalty killing unit plays very well opposing to the very dangerous Swiss forwards. The arena falls silent at 48:57 when Sven Andrighetto wins a rebound on his first shot and beat Vasilievski with a sharp angled shot under the bar, giving to Swiss an unexpected but not undeserved advantage. Seconds after Yaroslav Kosov isn’t able to finalize a good pass and quickly ties the game. Grigorenko again try to awake the Russian team, but Vasilevski has the tougher work on Guerra and Marti while the crowd begin to hiss anxious. A personal move by Vladimir Tkachyov stopped by Nyffler raises the roar “Russia, Russia” but with 3 minutes to play the optimism begin to abandon the Ufa Arena stands: the shot by Khokhlachyov deflected by the skates of his teammate Andrei Sigarev can well resume a night where nothing works for Russia: with 2 minutes to play a goal by Slepyshev wasn’t conceded because clearly the gate was moved and the Russian complaints are more for desperation then for certaintly.

A penalty called to Samuel Guerra gives Russia the last gasp, and this time the gods of hockey concede their favor to Russia: a shot by Grigorenko is deflected by some Swiss stick until plane on Nikita Kucherov’s one; the shot is more with angry then class but the results counts and Russia ties game with 01:20 to play. And the destiny plays again with fans’ heart: with three seconds to play a shot is touched by Nyffler and gently touch the bar while the final siren sounds. In the overtime the Russian typhoon runs over Switzerland in the first minutes. Christian Marti sacrifices to avoid a sure goal by Yakupov giving a capital power play to Russia pushing by a now convinced crowd that raises the hand when a sure hit by Tkachyov is stopped by Nyffler. Vasilievski is superb deflecting a long range shot by Eliot Antonietti and then on a Bertaggia move. But score remains equal despite a Russian final pressure and game is decided on shootouts. Switzerland begins the series with Guelph Storm’s Tanner Richard but his shot is out. Mikhail Grigorenko opens the series for Russia but Nyffler deflects. Bartschy passes over Vasilievski but his shot is on external net. Yakupov and Andrighetto see their shots deflected by the goalies and same fate for Kucherov. Second Grigorenko stint seems the decisive, he scores, but also Alessio Bertaggia finds the net. Also Nikita Kucherov scores his second try, while in a ocean of whistles Alessio Bertaggia misses his shot and the Ufa Arena can release its shout, Russia is in the semifinal!! MVP: Grigorenko - Andrighetto

It was a great game, the best in the tournament so far, very well played by both teams and decided by singles episodes. Switzerland really deserves the tribute given by the Russian fans but probably missed an unique opportunity to enter in the history of hockey. Russia, finally, does its expected duty, but in a very different way than the one probably imagined

After the game Swiss goalie Melvin Nyffeler is in tears: “It hurts, hurts so much. We played a great tournament at same level with all hockey top nations and so we did tonight with Russia. We have to be very very proud of us, the team is fantastic, there is a great atmosphere between players and staff and we know we are a good team. Tonight what missed was just a bit of lucky.”

Also Russian forward Aleksandr Khokhlachyov pays tribute to the opponent: “They are really a strong team, when people think about a World Championship quarter final normally consider a game like this easy, but they demonstrate to totally deserve to compete for top level.”

 

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