Kovalchuk, Kaprizov Lead the Way in 8-2 Russian Win Over Slovenia

The Russians were dominant in the first period, controlling the shot total 14-5 in a one-sided performance. But it would take until the 18:23 part of the opening frame for the Russians to score their first goal of the game. Sergei Mozyakin, a 36-year-old veteran of over 100 games international games with Russia, scored just his first Olympic goal ever with a wicked slap-shot past Luca Gracnar, taking the feed from Pavel Datsyuk for the icebreaker.

22 seconds after that, the Russians scored again. Ilya Kovalchuk would make it 2-0 after sending a wrist shot from the blue line that looked like it wasn't going in, but Slovenia's Jan Urbas tipped the puck over Gracnar and in to give the Russians the 2-0 lead heading into the opening intermission.

Things got worse for Slovenia in the second period, with the team trailing 5-0 after 30 minutes of play. At 26:00, Alexander Barabanov made it 3-0 after Sergei Kalinin, who was stopped on a chance just a few minutes prior, found Barabanov alone in front with a cross-ice pass to extend Russia's lead. Then, 1:48 after that, Ivan Kablukov scored following missed penalty shot attempt after Kovalchuk skated around three Slovenian skaters before moving around the net. The former NHL star found Kablukov all alone, sniping one above Gracnar to make it 4-0.

At 10:02, one of Russia's rising young stars pushed his nation even further into the lead. Kirill Kaprizov would be the beneficiary of a Nikita Gusev pass, tapping the puck in to the left of Gracnar to make it 5-0 Russia.

With Anze Kopitar unable to participate at the Olympics, Slovenia was relying on Jan Mursak to pick up the slack. After the former Detroit Red Wings forward scored twice in the opening victory over the United States for Slovenia, Mursak ended Vasili Koshechkin's shutout at 13:31 after taking a feed from Miha Velic behind the net, one-timing it pats the Russian netminder to make it 5-1.

Kovalchuk wasn't done his exploits, though. Russia regained their five-goal lead at 17:16 after Andronov and Kalinin made some tremendous passes before Kovalchuk touched the puck, with #71 sending a blister of a shot over the glove of Gracnar to make it 6-1 in a dominant effort for the Russians.

Kaprizov was one of Russia's key players at the 2017 World Juniors in Toronto, and he has been one of the top players at the Olympics this year, his first major men's hockey tournament. He would grab two goals before the third period was half over to complete the hat-trick, extending Russia's lead to 8-1. Ziga Pance would score one in the final minute of the third, but Russia would hold to complete the game and slot themselves in a favourable position in Group B.

Russia has a chance to win the group if they can beat the United States on Saturday evening, assuming Slovakia doesn't win their final game. Their final round-robin match happens to be against Slovenia, who hopes to gain some of their momentum back before the qualification round begins.

Follow me on Twitter, @StevenEllisNHL.