USA W - Russia W - 9:0

The semi-final of the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship took place today against the USA. Head coach Mikhail Chekanov made one change after the win over Sweden, with Anna Prugova getting the nod in net over Nadezhda Morozova.

America were overwhelming favourites coming into this one, however it was Russia who had the best chance early on – Lyudmila Belyakova tricked her way beyond the back line, and was denied by a reaction stop by the goaltender. That was the only chance that Russia would have in the period, and sadly the USA proved to be the more clinical in front of goal. Kelli Stack netted the opener from the doorstep, and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson made it two with a brilliant individual effort. Our girls were finding it tough going, and conceded a further two goals from Megan Bozek and Hilary Knight. That signalled the end of Anna Prugova’s game, and she was replaced by Nadezhda Morozova. That seemed to settle our team down slightly, but with the period coming to an end, again the USA struck – Anna Schukina inadvertently deflected Joceylne Lamoureux-Davidson’s cross into her own net.

Our women had their backs up against the wall, and unfortunately, things didn’t get any better in the second period. The Americans were showing no mercy, and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored another on the crease. Russia had no answer to America’s advances, and were struggling to move the play out of their own zone. The opponents kept on coming, and Brianna Decker and Kelli Stack made it eight at the high slot. Despite all of those goals, Russia’s worst moment came when Elena Dergachyova picked up a nasty looking knee injury.

The USA were hungry for more goals, and Hilary Knight wristed into the far right corner at the start of the stanza for their ninth. Russia really didn’t want to concede ten, and with some heroic defending, the girls managed to prevent the Americans from scoring any more. We even had a couple of openings at the other end, as Alevtina Shtaryova fired wide on a breakaway, and Lyudmila Belyakova smacked the woodwork. They was the last events of note, and Russia have fallen to America 0:9. The team will now play for bronze against Finland tomorrow.

Match protocol:

USA – Russia – 9:0 (5:0, 3:0, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Stack (Lamoureux, Bellamy), 06.59

2:0 Lamoureux-Davidson (Darkangelo, Bozek), 07.36

3:0 Bozek (Pankowski), 10.31

4:0 Knight (Bellamy, Lamoureux), 11.20

5:0 Duggan (Lamoureux-Davidson), Bozek), 19.44

6:0 Lamoureux-Davidson (Knight, Lamoureux), 25.01

7:0 Decker (Knight), 37.36

8:0 Stack (Skarupa, Carpenter), 39.35

9:0 Knight (Decker, Stecklein), 41.23

Goalkeepers: Rigsby – Prugova/Morozova

Shots on target: 40 – 17

Penalty minutes: 4 – 8

04.04.2016. Kamloops, Canada.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation