No Oshie in Slovakia

With the flames of controversy for the disallowed Tyutin goal in the game against USA-Russia still burns, Russia ends its preliminary group campaign against Slovakia, perhaps the most disappointing team until now. As announced Semyon Varlamov is back in the net for Bilyaletdinov team, while Jan Laco debuts in Slovakia that lost, after Marcinko, also forward Tomas Kopecky, injured

Slovakia begins the game finally more determined, has immediately a power play opportunity and Varlamov has to made a great save on Miklik. Same Slovan Bratislava forward has another great chance at 6 min. after a Bartovic shot, but Varlamov denies the goal with another great save. Malkin calls Laco to a difficult pad save at 10 min., following by a long-range shot by Tereshenko. Russia gains ground, a missile by Kovalchuk hisses near Laco post and Slovakia gradually holed up in his defensive zone: Malkin and Syomin try to open the score but Laco still protect the gate despite the “shaibu shaibu” (goal,goal) from the stands. Meszaros breaks the siege with 3 minutes to play but is shot landed in Varlamov catch. Second periods opens again with Russian tries, but Malkin deflection on an Ovechkin pass ends on Laco. Marian Hossa tries to trouble Varlamov but is Russia to lead the game. At 12.54 an interference was called to Jan Laco, served by Tatar, but consequent power play was played very bad by Russia. At 31 Kovalchuk leaves the ice after falling in a contrast with Panik leaving all the arena (and maybe the nation) apprehensive. Marian Hossa again tests Varlamov alertness before a penalty called to Yemelin to give some additional work to Varlamov. Malkin continues his personal duel with Laco at 38, but Slovakian goalie again is the winner. A minute after it’s on Varlamov to show his ability in denied the goal twice at Hossa stretching on the rebound. The arena explodes when Kovalchuk get out from the tunnel, apparently healty, for the third period, opened by a initiative from Radulov, always dangerous, well blocked by Laco. Russia has some luck at 43 when a Radivojevic shot comes out from Varlamov pad and passes very close to the post. On the other side Alexander Popov misses a good chance before another power play when Medvedev succeeds in hitting the post and the bar in the same shot. Slovakia dangerously amasses penalties increasing the Russian pressure and Malkin hits the post. Another penalty for Slovakia, another chances wasted by Malkin and Ovechkin and a great save by Laco on Radulov leads the game to overtime where Ovechkin has a great chance taking a rebound but Meszaros stops the without-fail shot diving on the ice. Slovakia pokes Varlamov just with long-range shots, by Meszaros and Miklik waiting for the SO.

Handzus is the first: his shot misses the net. Radulov scores his try. Tatar has his shot saved by Varlamov while also Kovalchuk scores giving Russia a hard-earned victory

Alexander Ovechkin as usual is the most wanted player in the mixed zone:  "We had great chances, but their goalie played well. They played a defensive style of hockey, and we know they're going to do what they can. Of course we have chances, we have been close to scoring, but luck was not on our side. I hope in the future we're going to have luck. Our power play sputtered in third period but Slovakia did a pretty good job. We're going to watch the video, and we're going to talk about what we have to do better. I'm pretty sure we're going to do some changes. Until now we've played well. Everybody wants to beat Russia at home. Again, it's the Olympic Games; nobody wants to make mistakes. We take what we take, and we're going to play in the future."

Slovakia captain Zdeno Chara: "It was a very tough game but I thought that we handled it well. We obviously played hard. Too bad we lost in a shootout, it was a close game. Whoever we play, we've got to do our best. There's nothing special about it, it's just a do or die thing."

Radulov scoring his shoot-out

Ilya Kovalchuk scoring the decisive penalty

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