CSKA - Russian Olympic team - 1:2 SO

The Sochi Hockey Open began today with a match between the Russian Olympic team and HC CSKA Moscow. Russian head coach Oleg Bratash included lots of new players in his line-up, and with this being a chance for them to impress their clubs and the main national side, the squad had real motivation.

Russia began with purpose, and made the breakthrough within minutes - a neat combination play was made deep inside CSKA's zone, and Yegor Korshkov finished it off at point blank range. Our players had confidence, however on the powerplay, they let CSKA back into it - forward Igor Makarov made his breakaway chance count. 

Heading into the second period, the initiative was well and truly with CSKA, and Russia had to rely on goaltender Igor Shestyorkin to make some big saves. At times he was playing CSKA on his own, and he did tremendously well to keep the score level.

Surprisingly, CSKA sat back in the third stanza, and it was now Ilya Sorokin between their pipes being worked the most. His efforts took the game all the way to penalty shots, and that was where the Russian Olympic team finally broke through - Alexander Barabanov scored the only goal, and Russia begin the Sochi Hockey Open with a win!

Match protocol:

CSKA - Russian Olympic team - 1:2 SO (1:1, 0:0, 0:0, 0:0 - 0:1)

Goals:

0:1 Korshkov (Kraskovsky, Polunin), 01.06

1:1 Makarov, 13.59

1:2 Barabanov, 65.00

Goalkeepers: Sorokin - Shestyorkin

03.08.2016. Bolshoi Arena, Sochi.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation