Karjala Cup. Russia - Finland - 5:1

Today on the 3rd of October, the senior Russian national team took on hosts Finland in the opening match of the Karjala Cup. Head coach Oleg Znarok opted for CSKA goaltender llya Sorokin in net, while SKA Saint Petersburg partnership Nikita Gusev, Nikolai Prokhorkin and Alexander Barabanov made up the first line. SKA teammate Mikko Koskinen was Finland's goalkeeper.

It was a slow start in Helsinki, with both teams not willing to take risks early on. It was Finland looking the more dangerous, as their odd man rushes made Ilya Sorokin work. Nevertheless, as time rolled on, Russia settled into the match, and eventually took a lead thirteen minutes in. Anatoly Golyshev sneaked down the left flank, wristed weakly and the puck squeezed between Mikko Koskinen's pads.

However, in the second stanza, Finland came back at Russia. A powerplay gave them the perfect opportunity to put the pressure on, and unfortunately, they got back on level terms - Miro Aaltonen whacked home into the gaping right corner. Goalkeeper Mikko Koskinen was then forced off with an injury though, and Vityaz representative Harri Sateri took his place.

It was all to play for in the third frame, and Russia proved to be the more clinical in front of goal. Andrei Svetlakov and Anatoly Golyshev finished off indentical counterattacks, and after Nikita Gusev hit the empty net, Vladimir Tkachyov put the icing on the cake in the final seconds. 5:1, Russia begin their Karjala Cup campaign with a thumping win!

Match protocol:

Russia - Finland - 5:1 (1:0, 0:1, 4:0)

Goals: 

1:0 Golyshev (Nichushkin, Kiselevich) 13.21

1:1 Aaltonen (Salminen, Joensuu), 31.12

2:1 Svetlakov (Kiselevich, Nichushkin), 49.51

3:1 Golyshev (Nichushkin), 53.05

4:1 Gusev (Barabanov), 58.58

5:1 Tkachyov, 59.46

Goalkeepers: Sorokin - Koskinen/Sateri

Shots on target: 33 - 23 

Penalty minutes: 4 - 6 

03.11.2016. Helsinki, Finland.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation