USA W - Russia W - 8:0

The final match of the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship took place today against the USA. Following the crushing 1:8 defeat against Canada on Tuesday, head coach Mikhail Chekanov opted for Maria Sorokina in net.

America were overwhelming favourites coming into this match, and they made their intentions clear from the off. Kendall Coyle wristed into the net for an excellent solo effort, and Monique Lamoureux made it two after our goaltender got caught out. That proved to be Maria Sorokina’s final piece of the action, as she was pulled for Nadezhda Morozova. Nevertheless that move didn’t have the desired effect, and minutes later Megan Keller scored with a low wrister from the right faceoff circle.

Our girls were in real trouble, and to their credit they regrouped in the second. The Americans were being held at bay, and we made their goaltender work with a few testing shots from up close. America seemed to have slipped out of first gear, however with the stanza drawing to its close they had a few big opportunities. Nadezhda Morozova made two superb glove stops at point blank range, and on another occasion she somehow managed to get a right skate on to the puck as it looked sure to cross the line.

Unfortunately, those missed opportunities had kicked the Americans back into action. They were ruthless in the third period, and ripped Russia apart at will. Our players had no answer, and conceded a further five goals. The best came from Monique Lamoureux, who tricked her way past our entire defence before sliding into the right corner. 0:8 today, and Russia will now prepare for the quarter-finals.

Russian head coach Mikhail Chekanov:

- There were positive moments in this game. Nadezhda Morozova played well after I sent her in net. We did well in the second period, we didn't concede and tactically performed cleverly. In the third we tried to score ourselves, and the Americans took advantage of that and of our penalties. In order to progress, we need to play against North Americans on a more regular basis.

After group B's matches had finished, it has been confirmed that Russia will play Sweden in the quarter-final stage. The game will take place at 01:30 Moscow time on the 2nd of April. 

Match protocol:

USA – Russia – 8:0 (3:0, 0:0, 5:0)

Goals:

1:0 Coyne (Pankowski), 05.07

2:0 Lamoureux (Darkangelo, Skarupa), 06.29

3:0 Keller (Skarupa, Carpenter), 14.19

4:0 Lamoureux (Decker), 44.54

5:0 Darkangelo (Lamoureux-Davidson), 46.19

6:0 Knight (Coyne), 49.10

7:0 Knight (Coyne, Decker), 56.17

8:0 Pankowski (Lamoureux-Davidson), 57.14

Goalkeepers: Hensley – Sorokina/Morozova

Shots on target: 39 – 16

Penalty minutes: 4 – 14

31.03.2016. Kamloops, Canada.

Russian Ice Hockey Federation