International Ice Hockey Federation

Russia rides PP to win

Russia rides PP to win

Shipachyov, Panarin guide offence

Published 08.05.2017 19:44 GMT+2 | Author John Sanful
Russia rides PP to win
COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 8: Russia's Nikita Gusev #97 celebrates with Vadim Shipachyov #87, Yevgeni Dadonov #63, Anton Belov #77 and Artemi Panarin #72 after scoring a second period goal against Germany during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)
Russia continued to roll with a 6-3 win over home favourite Germany.

Vadim Shipachyov had two goals and Artemi Panarin added four assists as Russia picked up its third win of the tournament.

Germany knew it would have its hands full with Russia's many talented skaters. If Germany had any chance to contain Russia it would mean extra attention to defence but also staying as disciplined as possible so that the Russian power play, already dangerous in the tournament, would not have time to set up.

Coming into this contest, Russia scored six power play goals on eight attempts.

But in a five minute stretch of the first period Germany lost one of its best players who they rely upon to score and found themselves three goals down and the game seemingly out of reach.

Vadim Shipachyov scored 1:04 into the game that gave Russia a very early lead. The thirty-year-old Shipachyov recently signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, the latest expansion team to join the NHL.

Germany tried leveling things when Panarin was called for hooking. They would get some chances with the man advantage, including Tobias Rieder attempting to get a backhand shot off in the crease but unable to do so.

Then at 13:27 Patrick Hager was called for slew footing Sergei Mozyakin down to the ice. Mozyakin was slow in getting up and had to be helped off the ice. He would not return.

"I didn’t think the Germans were a dirty team, it’s hockey." Nikita Gusev said. "We had a couple of unfortunate moments and obviously Mozyakin’s injury was a blow."

Hager was given a five minute major and game misconduct. As Germany’s leading scorer in the tournament, this would be a huge loss.

Russia used the five minute advantage to score two goals by moving the puck well and getting quality shots. Shipachyov would get his second at 17:10 and Sergei Plotnikov another at 18:15 to make it 3-0.

In the second, Gusev would get on the scoreboard at 11:10 and nearly had another a few minutes later when he zipped past the defenders on a breakaway. 

Thomas Greiss was there to stop the shot but at 15:16 he couldn’t hold off Nikita Kucherov who would convert on his breakaway chance. The puck was misplayed by Yannic Seidenberg and went through his legs. Kucherov anticipated where the puck was going and caught it in the neutral zone and off on a break.

The Russian machine was on again and executing with deadly accuracy.

Rieder was also hurt in the game and would not return; another important cog in the German offense. 

Germany would give the home fans something to cheer when Brooks Macek scored in the third period. Macek slipped a rebound between the pads of Andrei Vasilevski to break get his team on the board. 

Then with a two-man advantage, Germany added a second goal as the second penalty was expiring. Philip Gogulla redirected the puck through Vasilevski.

Not to be outdone, Russia would get a sixth goal as Kucherov would add his second of the game.

Finally, youngster Frederik Tiffels added Germany's third goal with assists going to Marcus Kink and Dennis Seidenberg.

If there was any consolation for the Germans is that their third period was markedly better than the first two and something they can carry into their next game against Slovakia on Wednesday.

"We took some bad penalties that put us behind and we couldn’t recover." Marco Sturm said. "We have three points against three really good teams. Playing against good, and better players, you learn a lot and we know we cannot afford some of the mistakes in the upcoming games."

They also had captain Christian Ehrhoff back in the lineup. Ehrhoff had been out with an injury to start the tournament.

Russia, on the other hand, was not as strong or as sharp in the third as they were over the first forty minutes but still undefeated and standing atop the group here in Cologne.

"We picked up a few unnecessary penalties in the third, that left a bit more space on the ice and they took advantage of that." Kucherov said. "It’s good to play in front of big crowds, almost like home crowds. It’s a big help for us, especially when our fans are making more noise than the Germans. We’re playing some decent hockey and hopefully the fans are enjoying it."

 

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