Russia vs United States liveblog
Liveblog of Russia vs the United States, PostFinance Arena, Bern. 08.05.2009
To participate in our next liveblog, message @swiss_slapshot. Your tweets will appear on our hockey dossier.
4:13 PM: swiss_slapshot FYI journalists. #IIHF wants you to get a pass in addition to your press pass to get into the playoff games. Huh? #hockey
4:14 PM: swiss_slapshot About a minute before USA face Russia at #IIHF semifinals #hockey
4:16 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia and USA underway #iihf USA taking it early into Russian end. Lots of prime empty seats saved for IIHF delegates that didn’t show
4:18 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia almost beats Esche. Looking dangerous. #hockey
4:20 PM: swiss_slapshot Not too much action in USA end. Russia controlling pretty well.
4:23 PM: swiss_slapshot US getting a few long shots on Bryzgalov. Nothing dangerous so far. About 5 minutes through the first period. #hockey #iihf
4:24 PM: swiss_slapshot Foligno of USA dives to stop Russian 2-on-1 chance. Successful.
4:28 PM: swiss_slapshot Stempniak of #USA would have had nice shot on Russia from the left side. But he missed the puck about 10 feet out of the net. #iihf
4:34 PM: swiss_slapshot Esche seeing a bit more action now. #Russia fans starting to get loud. More chances. No goals. #iihf
4:38 PM: swiss_slapshot Less than five minutes left in #USA vs #Russia. More pressure coming from Russia. No penalties so far. #iihf
4:40 PM: swiss_slapshot Russian player loses stick. Demonstrates football (soccer) skills #iihf #hockey
4:41 PM: swiss_slapshot First penalty of the game called. USA’s Okposo gets 2 for slashing #iihf
4:42 PM: swiss_slapshot Last minute in first period, #USA vs #Russia. Probably going to end scoreless.
4:43 PM: swiss_slapshot Kovalchuck wanted a tripping call. Made sure the refs saw it. No luck. First period over. #iihf #hockey
4:44 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia had 7 shots on goal in the first period, USA 6.
4:56 PM: swiss_slapshot Tournament organisers showcasing Swiss bands. They’re not actually playing live.
4:59 PM: swiss_slapshot Wondering how to write a story about a game with very little action. Ideas appreciated. #iihf #hockey. Hopefull both teams will step it up
5:00 PM: swiss_slapshot Second period underway. USA now at even strength
5:01 PM: swiss_slapshot Saprykin fires a bullet at Esche’s chest
5:02 PM: swiss_slapshot Esche puts blocker hand in Russian player’s face. Russian falls.
5:06 PM: swiss_slapshot USA gets on the board.
5:06 PM: swiss_slapshot Brown steals puck from Russia, fancy stickwork, puts it past the glove side of Bryzgalov
5:08 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia waking up a bit now. Can’t actually sleep through entire game if you want to win. #iihf #hockey
5:11 PM: swiss_slapshot Refs called something. Bern arena not so much on fire as earlier in tournament. Some loud Russian fans though.
5:12 PM: swiss_slapshot Esche covers up. First little scuffle between #Russia and #USA. Nobody heading to the box for this one.
5:13 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia now applying some pressure in USA end, #USA managing to clear.
5:15 PM: swiss_slapshot Backes puts high wrister on blocker side. Russians clear, USA takes it back. Boo birds coming out in PostFinance Arena.
5:16 PM: swiss_slapshot Dustin Brown delivers nice open ice hit. Clean. #iihf #hockey
5:18 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia score. Russian fans come alive.
5:20 PM: swiss_slapshot Kovalchuck took nice little pass off face-off from Zinoviev. Wristed it past Esche’s blocker side. #iihf #hockey
5:24 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia score second goal
5:26 PM: swiss_slapshot Kovalchuk is good. Danced down left side, crossed over, puts it past Esche’s blocker side, off the post. Unassisted. #iihf #hockey
5:27 PM: swiss_slapshot Kovalchuk clearly going for hat trick. Throws massive hit. Tereschenko heading to the box. #iihf #hockey
5:27 PM: swiss_slapshot Kovalchuk is good. Danced down left side, crossed over, puts it past Esche’s blocker side, off the post. Unassisted. #iihf #hockey
5:29 PM: swiss_slapshot #USA able to apply a bit of pressure on power play. Blake hacking at Bryzgalov before getting mowed down. Looks hurt.
5:31 PM: swiss_slapshot USA even game. 2-2
5:32 PM: swiss_slapshot Turns out Frolov tipped in Kovalchuk’s shot. So goal to Frolov, not to Kovalchuk
5:33 PM: swiss_slapshot Okposo got goal for US, little wrister on the glove side. 48 seconds remaining in second period #iihf #hockey
5:34 PM: swiss_slapshot Second period done done #iihf #hockey Score is 2-2 #Russia #USA Shots on goal Russia 5, USA 8
5:47 PM: swiss_slapshot Same story. Some fans exponentially more interested in the “Euro Dancer”. People are actually taping this.
5:48 PM: swiss_slapshot Euro Dancers: Living proof that some people still get lower back tattoos.
5:50 PM: swiss_slapshot Seconds before #USA and #Russia face off for third period. Let’s hope for a shootout #iihf #hockey
5:52 PM: swiss_slapshot Russian 2-on-1. Tereschenko opts to drop puck to player who doesn’t exist rather than Kovalchuk.
5:53 PM: swiss_slapshot #USA’s Okposo gets 2 for slashing.
5:55 PM: swiss_slapshot Radulov’ wearing Christmas colours – green gloves on red uniform #iihf #hockey
5:58 PM: swiss_slapshot #USA clears puck after lots of pressure from #Russia. Proshkin gets 2 for slashing
5:59 PM: swiss_slapshot USA sets up nice tic-tac-toe. Not successful
6:04 PM: swiss_slapshot Esche continuing to feel the Russian heat. Ten minutes left, #USA vs #Russia at #iihf championship
6:05 PM: swiss_slapshot Tereschenko gets 2 for hooking. Russia get good short handed opportunity.
6:07 PM: swiss_slapshot 11,057 people at the game. That’s about 2k short of sell-out
6:12 PM: swiss_slapshot Just a bit over 5 remaining the third period. Game looking like it could go to OT. Russians not happy after Morozov slid into boards. #iihf
6:14 PM: swiss_slapshot Bit of excitement in USA end. Esche leaves net open for a couple of seconds but nobody there for #Russia on the wrap-around.
6:15 PM: swiss_slapshot TJ Oshie gets two for hooking. Three minutes left. #hockey #iihf
6:16 PM: swiss_slapshot Russia score
6:17 PM: swiss_slapshot 3-2 for Russia with less than two minutes left in #iihf semifinal vs #USA
6:20 PM: swiss_slapshot #Russia defeat #USA 3-2
6:20 PM: swiss_slapshot Gaaaaaaaaaaaame over.
6:20 PM: swiss_slapshot I’ve memorised the Russian national anthem. It’s a nice tune.
The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship runs from April 24 to May 12 in the cities of Bern and Zurich.
700 million people are expected to watch on television on at least 70 television channels in over 100 countries.
Each match will be followed by over 20 cameras.
The budget is over SFr31 million.
446,440 tickets are available. 303,000 have been sold.
10,000 students have registered for seats for the games.
150 coaches will gather for a symposium in Kloten.
Organisers will hand out 17,000 fruit to players in dressing rooms and hotels.
In Zurich, Slovakia beat Hungary 4-3.
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.