Russia and Sweden win Channel One Cup openers

Russia  -  Finland 2 - 0 (1-0, 0-0, 1-0) 

Yegeny Medvedev and Sergei Plotnikov scored for Russia when they beat an ineffective Finland 2-0 in Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi. Medvedev took a shot from the blue line with a minute to go of the first period to beat Atte Engren for 1-0. Plotnikov's goal was scored 17 seconds before the end of the game when Finland had pulled Engren.

"We lost beacuse we were ineffective", says Finland's Sami Lepistö who was very close to tie the game in the third period to Hufvudstadsbladet. "There was absolutely nothing wrong with the work ethic, but that is not what counts in the end".

Czech Republic  -  Sweden 4 - 6 (2-0, 2-3, 0-3)  

Sweden beat Czech Republic after an amazing comeback. The Czechs had a 3-0 lead at half the game on goals by Jan Kovar, Michal Birner and Roman Cervenka. Then the Swedes scored three goals in 74 seconds. First Patrik Hersley twice in 16 seconds and shortly after that Johan Fransson tied the game. Ondrej Nemec took the Czechs ahead again at 35:21 on a 2-man advantage. In the third period Johan Fransson, Mattias Janmark-Nylén and the debutant Andreas Johnson scored unanswered goals to give Sweden the 6-4 win.

Channel One Cup continues on Saturday with the games Sweden - Russia and Finland - Czech Republic.

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