2017 World Championship. Group stage. Russia - Denmark - 3:0

In Cologne, the senior Russian national team played Denmark for the fourth 2017 World Championship group stage match. Head coach Oleg Znarok was forced into the one change, leaving the injured Sergei Mozyakin out of the line-up. Andrei Vasilevskiy and George Sorensen were the starting netminders.

Despite being huge favourites for this game, Russia made a slow start against the Danes. Our players registered only nine shots on target during the first period, failing to carve open the stubborn Danish defence. Vladislav Namestnikov had the best Russian chance, tipping wide with the goal at his mercy. Denmark had a few opportunities on the break, with Nikolaj Ehlers forcing Andrei Vasilevskiy into a handful of smart saves.

The Russians improved in the second stanza, slowly putting the pressure on the weakening Danish back line. George Sorensen was proving a difficult man to break down, as Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeny Dadonov both somehow failed to score at point blank range. However, with the period drawing to a close, Russia burst into life. Bogdan Kiselevich opened the floodgates, whacking in a firm wrister. Sergei Plotnikov made it two immediately with a cute backhand, before Nikita Gusev took advantage of a juicy rebound for a third goal.

Holding a comfortable advantage, our players calmly played out the rest of the match. Several chances came and went, but Denmark's George Sorensen refused to concede any more goals. Andrei Vasilevskiy kept his shutout intact, sealing a confident 3:0 Russian victory!

Match protocol:

Russia - Denmark - 3:0 (0:0, 3:0, 0:0)

Goals:

1:0 Kiselevich (Panarin, Kucherov), 35.36

2:0 Plotnikov (Andronov, Telegin), 35.54

3:0 Gusev (Shipachyov, Dadonov), 36.46

Goalkeepers: Vasilevskiy - Sorensen

Shots on target: 33 - 21 

Penalty minutes: 2 - 4 

11.05.2017. Cologne, Germany.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation