Wow! What a game!

Organizers, players and hockey fans could not have wished for a better ending: a fantastic final in a crowded and chanting arena and, of course, the title back in Canada after six long years. Canada and Russia played one of the most thrilling final in the WJC history, very similar to the one in Buffalo 2011 but with a different final, fortunately for the Canadians fans!

The curtain falls on WJC 2015 with one of the greatest rivalry ever in the hockey: Canada and Russia cross the sticks in the final for the ninth time (not counting the Soviet era), with a balance of four victories each. In the last confrontation, at Buffalo in 2011, Russia staged one of the most incredible come-back in the history of hockey, recovering from 0-3, scoring five goals in a fabulous third period that fans from both side never forget. Buffalo 2011 was also the last final played by Canada: the hockey nation missed the last three final, grabbing a bronze in the last home tournament, in 2012 in the Calgary/Edmonton edition. Russia missed the podium just once in the last 10 years, in 2010, taking home a gold medal, four silver and four bronze, the last two consecutives, always beating Canada.

With Zach Fucale and Igor Shestyorkin in the net, the game has the best start possible for Canada, pushed by a red-and-white tide: after 23 seconds Duclair finds the net well served by Max Domi. The Air Canada explodes again at 02:32 when Nick Paul deflects a pass from Braydon Point. After  02 minutes and half the final of Igor Shestyorkin is over; coach Valery Bragin changes him with Ilya Sorokin and the newcomer is called to a great save on Duclair few seconds after he takes the ice. Fucale has the first save after five minutes deflecting with the leg a dangerous shot by Goldobin right in front of him. At minute 10 Russia after suffering 10 minutes of total Canadian assault, it’s Dmitri Yudin to find the net with a nice diagonal shot and then Fucale is decisive closing the cage on Rinat Valiev. At 19 Fucale concedes the rebound on a Fishenko shot but Valiev isn’t ready to take advantage. A shot by Duclair ends the first period, Russia has a nightmarish start but dominates the central part of the period, showing to have what it takes to compete for the rest of the game.

A superb combination between the attacking line ends in a shot by Kamenev blocked by Fucale at the begin of the second period seems to foreshadow the same plot, but a mistake in a line chage by Russia leaves Connor McDavid alone in the wing, Josh Morrisey pass is accurate and the most awaited star can’t miss the opportunity: 3-1 Canada at 25:08. Another mistake by Russian defense gives the pass for the fourth goal: Toronto-born Max Domi takes the puck in the neutral zone and flies to Sorokin with Russian defenders more worried to secure the players in the middle, so Domi comes close the net and beats the goalie. At 31 on power play Leshenko misses a capital chance in front of Fucale before Sorokin packs an unexpected gift letting out a harmless puck shot by Reinhart.  In the middle of celebration Russia scores twice in 30 seconds: Ivan Barbashyov scores on power play netting a Zach Fucale rebound on Pavel Buchnevich shot and then with its best weapon, a speedy combination between the forwards for the final shot of Sergei Tolchinski. Fucale stops a shot by Fishenko  next before another power play for Russia, testifying the difficulty of Canada when attacked with quick combinations. Russia scores also the fourth goal with Nikolai Goldobin stubbornly taking the rebound after another inaccurate save by Fucale. All Air Canada Center trembles when Pavel Buchnevich skates towards Fucale and misses the net for inches suffering a fault that allows Russia to spend a power play at the begin of third period. But the superiority produces only a penetration by Bryukvin, stopped by Fucale. Canadian goalie is reactive on a shot from the blue by Rafikov and ready to deflect over the bar a insidious tentative by Fishenko. Another mistake in lines’ chance almost produces a copy of third Canadian goal, but now Sorokin stops Duclair. A mistake by Heatherington gives a chance from long distance for Cherepanov, Fucale deflects over the bar. The game is now spectacular with Russia producing the maximum effort and the Canada trying to use the counter-attack. Sorokin makes a great save on Lazar keeping Russia in the quest. A shot from the blue by Bowey breaks a period of Russian superiority. But the last minutes are a siege by Bragin team, without the goalie for the last seconds, really using any possible way to score. But a whole nation closes the net of Zach Fuccale and the triumph comes in the best way, with dedication suffering and sacrifice. Buffalo is revenged and the gold medal is back to the hockey nation. But Russia was an important part of this success because really tests for the first time in the tournament the hosts. Bragin’s boys can be proud of this silver medal. The WJC in the country of hockey could not have had a better ending of this.  

Game is over for Russians.....

........and Canadians

In a crowded mixed zone one of most wanted is local boy Max Domi: "You have this opportunity a once in a lifetime and we took advantage of it" said Domi before to go to celebrate.

As usual captain Curtis Lazar loves to speak with journalists: "Everyone did their part, no one stood out any further than others” said Lazar, paying tribute to the opponents: "They know how to put the puck in the net with their firepower, Russia has a skilled program”, then added smiling: ”and they normally love spoiling Canada's parade and beating us every which way."

Vladislav Gavrikov, voted as best defender of the tournament, used very harsh words: "I think this is the most humiliating defeat for Russia. The individual prize I received doesn't mean anything, everything is meaningless without a collective victory. - said Gavrikov, trying to explain what happened on the ice: "At the the beginning and somewhere in the second period we lost concentration, and immediately we were punished. It was a cold shower, but we knew it was the final game and would have to be reversed. We believed and continue to work but unfortunately we missed the last goal"

President of the Federation Vladislav Tretiak made just a brief comment about the future of coach Valeri Bragin: "Our plan is Bragin will continue to work with the Junior team, if a club doesn't pick up him. It's a great coach and knows how to work with young players". Tretiak refers to Bragin's words after the game, when the coach said he is uncertain if will continue as coach of Junior team.

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MVP:  Ivan Barbashyov – Darnell Nurse

Three best players for Russia: Igor Shestyorkin – Vladislav Gavrikov – Aleksander Sharov

Three best players for Canada:  Sam Reinhart – Max Domi – Darnell Nurse

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