Comfortable Czech win over Russia
Czech Republic hosts Russia for two Euro Hockey Tour games this week, while Sweden and Finland play twice in Sweden. The first game, in Karlovy Vary, was won by the Czechs 3-0.
With the new EHT format all games aren't part of the four tournaments featuring all four teams. Instead there are three weekends of double headers added to the Karjala Tournament in Finland and Channel One Cup in Russia. The first of those weekends is here now.
The Czech's got a great start when Petr Koukal took them ahead already in the third minute. He got the puck from Milan Gulas in the right corner and put the shot high behind Alexander Sharychenkov from the left hash marks.
Thirty minutes later we saw another Czech goal - almost a copy of the first goal, but this time Dominik Simon scored on a pass from Martin Rucinsky. The Czechs, through Michal Vondrka, added a third goal after another two minutes and the game was won. Russia chased goals in the third period, but without most of their star players they could never beat Alexander Salak in the Czech net who made 20 saves and was named best Czech player of the game. In Russia Alexander Popov was named best player.
Next game between the two will be on Saturday in O2 Arena in Prague. Sweden play Finland today and on Sunday.