Russia edge Sweden with OT win
Russia edged Sweden 6-5 in overtime on Thursday afternoon in their first game of the qualifying round at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland.
Russia’s Dimitri Kalinin scored the game’s decisive goal more than four minutes into extra time but the game, which featured back-and-forth scoring between the two sides, was anything but certain.
It was the fourth time Russia heard their national anthem at the world tournament.
Sweden’s Rickard Wallin opened the scoring early, with an even-handed goal against Russia at 2:53 in the first period.
After Sweden’s Johan Akerman was called for tripping just over ten minutes into the first third, Ilya Nikulin evened the score for Russia. His goal came at 11:56.
Russia’s Oleg Saprykin put his team ahead at the 14:10 mark, assisted by Nikulin and Alexander Radulov. Sweden’s Anton Stralman managed to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining in the first.
Each team scored in the second period and with less than three minutes remaining in the game, Russia’s Vitaliu Proshkin appeared to seal the game for his team. Sweden, pressing hard, evened the score at 58:46, forcing the game to overtime.
Marcus Nilson was named player of the game for Sweden Oleg Saprykin won the honours for Russia.
Russia next play the United States on Saturday evening. Sweden play Switzerland on Sunday afternoon in Bern.
Belarus come back
In Zurich, ninth-ranked Belarus overcame a two-goal deficit to top tenth-ranked Norway 3-2 in overtime.
Norway started with a two goal lead: Patrick Thoresen struck at 6:15 in the first period followed by teammate Mats Trygg, who added a goal in the first minute of the second period.
Belarus’s Alexi Ugarov pulled his team closer at the 22:45 mark and Mikhail Grabovski scored early into the third period to tie the game, sending the game into overtime.
Ruslan Salei of Belarus scored the game winning goal 4:35 into extra time.
Belarus, who have now won three of four games at the tournament, play Finland on Saturday. Norway play Canada on Sunday in Zurich.
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