Exhibition game. Russia - South Korea - 8:1

Ahead of the 2018 Olympic Games, the national team from Russia took on tournament hosts South Korea. Head coach Oleg Znarok opted to keep Vasily Koshechkin between the pipes, while Matt Dalton was South Korea's starting goaltender.

Despite creating a number of chances, the Russians only managed to break the deadlock after sixteen minutes. Nikita Gusev was the scorer, shooting under the goalkeeper's blocker on the doorstep. Holding the initiative, Mikhial Grigorenko then doubled the team's advantage, sending a powerful one timer into the right corner. Nevertheless, South Korea's Brock Radunske got the hosts on the board from close range before the period ended.

Sergei Andronov made it 3:1 in the second frame, bundling the puck in at the second attempt. On the powerplay, Kirill Kaprizov increased the lead, wristing over the netminder's glove when alone on the crease. Vasily Koshechkin was practically a spectator in the Russian net, barely being forcred into any action.

In complete control of proceedings, the Russian team ran away with the match in the third period. Sergei Shirokov got his name on the scoresheet, lashing a strong effort into the left corner. Pavel Datsyuk, Yegor Yakovlev and Nikita Gusev all hit the jackpot on the slot in the latter stages, sealing the 8:1 victory against South Korea.

Match protocol:

Russia - South Korea - 8:1 (2:1, 2:0, 4:0)

Goals:

1:0 Gusev (Kaprizov), 15.01

2:0 Grigorenko (Datsyuk), 15.15

2:1 Radunske (Cho Min Ho), 18.56

3:1 Andronov (Grigorenko, Yakovlev), 23.09

4:1 Kaprizov (Gusev, Shipachyov), 33.33

5:1 Shirokov (Zub), 46.09

6:1 Datsyuk (Kovalchuk, Gavrikov), 49.59

7:1 Yakovlev (Grigorenko, Datsyuk), 53.31

8:1 Gusev (Marchenko), 56.07

Goalkeepers: Koshechkin - Dalton/Park

Penalty minutes: 6 - 4

10.02.2018.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation