Euro Hockey Challenge. Slovakia - Russia - 0:6

The second stage of the Euro Hockey Tour began against Slovakia. Russian head coach Oleg Znarok included SKA Saint Petersburg’s players for this match, and young Igor Shestyorkin was handed his debut between the pipes.

Both teams begun at a high pace in Slovakia, and it was the hosts who looked the more dangerous. Their counterattacks were causing real problems for Russia, and goaltender Igor Shestyorkin had to be alert. He made a number of solid body saves, and he did a great job of not giving away any rebounds. Russia weren’t getting a lot going in the opponent’s zone, and our first real chance came at the end of the period – Vladislav Kartaev raced on to a loose puck, slapped hard, and the Slovakian goalkeeper kicked it away.

That late opportunity gave Russia confidence, and we made a fantastic part to the second frame. The puck was spending long periods inside Slovakia’s zone, and we managed to make the breakthrough. Vyacheslav Voynov powered into the away end, spread to the puck to Maxim Shalunov on the right faceoff circle, and the latter hit the target. That gave Russia liftoff, and minutes later it was two. We set the play back to the blue line, and Vyacheslav Voynov added to his earlier assist with a thumping slap shot. Slovakia were deflated, and during the period’s latter stages, they were picking the puck out of their net for the third time. Yegor Averin had space at the high slot, and he launched a rocket into the right corner. The hosts did have a five on three moments afterwards, but Igor Shestyorkin made some solid stops to keep them off the board.

Russia continued dominating in the third period, and with the Slovakians falling apart, we turned the screw. Yegor Averin netted from a tight angle to the right, Sergei Shumakov finished off a stunning tic-tac-toe play with a man’s advantage, and Maxim Karpov dinked the puck over the goaltender when clean through. The Slovakian fans were losing their patience with their team, and the hosts completed the match under a chorus of boos. 6:0 it finished, and Russia take a thumping win in Slovakia alongside Igor Shestyorkin’s first shutout for the national side!

Match protocol:

Slovakia – Russia – 0:6 (0:0, 0:3, 0:3)

Goals:

0:1 Shalunov (Averin, Voynov), 27.45

0:2 Voynov (Shipachyov, Gusev), 28.58

0:3 Averin (Apalkov), 36.26

0:4 Averin (Yakovlev), 45.08

0:5 Shumakov (Yakovlev, Lyubushkin), 52.42

0:6 Karpov (Dyblenko, Voynov), 58.20

Goalkeepers: Hudacek – Shestyorkin

Shots on target: 33 - 38 

Penalty minutes: 12 – 12

14.04.2016. Slovakia.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation