World Championship semi-final. Finland - Russia - 3:1

The Russian national team took on Finland in the 2016 World Championship semi-final. One change was made by head coach Oleg Znarok – Sergei Plotnikov replaced Alexander Burmistrov in the fourth line. Sergei Bobrovsky was in our net, while SKA Saint Petersburg goaltender Mikko Koskinen was his opposite number.

There was huge anticipation before puck drop, and Russia made a perfect start – Sergei Shirokov was left alone on the slot, he took up his own rebound, and fired into the right corner. Finland didn’t look prepared for such a Russian onslaught, and we had chances for a second. Vadim Shipachyov wristed into the glove on a breakaway, and Evgeny Kuznetsov was twice denied from promising postions. Finland were relying on counterattacks, and towards the end of the frame, they created some chances. Sergei Bobrovsky made a stunning right pad stop against Aleksander Barkov, and Mikko Koivu threatened on the powerplay.

We began the second stanza on the front foot, however after Alexander Ovechkin failed to score when one on one, Finland came back into the game out of nowhere – Sebastian Aho took aim from the middle of the zone, and he lashed under Sergei Bobrovsky‘s glove. Russia were rattled, and before the team had a chance to recover, the Finns took their first lead of the match. A neat passing play fell to Jussi Jokinen by the right post, and he hit the target with ease. Finland had smelt blood, and with the game under control, Sebastian Aho grabbed his second of the game. Incidentally, two of Finland’s goals came on the man advantage.

Russia had to pull something out of the bag, and predictably the opponents shut up shop. The Finnish back line was proving a tough wall to break down, and to our dismay, our players were failing to get any traction going inside Finland’s zone. Mikko Koskinen in Finland’s net didn’t have too many saves to make, and despite some late powerplays, we couldn’t mount a dramatic comeback. 1:3 today, and we will now compete in the World Championship bronze medal match tomorrow.

Match protocol:

Finland – Russia – 3:1 (0:1, 3:0, 0:0)

Goals:

0:1 Shirokov (Telegin, Marchenko), 02.52

1:1 Aho (Granlund, Lindell), 25.34

2:1 Jokinen (Laine), 35.50

3:1 Aho (Koskiranta, Koivu), 38.15

Goalkeepers: Koskinen - Bobrovsky 

Shots on target: 16 – 29

Penalty minutes: 10 – 8

Faceoffs: 32 – 28

21.05.2016. Ice Palace, Moscow.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation