Russia earns a mandatory victory over Norway

Team Russia was absolutely dominant during the first period. Ninety-four seconds after the opening faceoff, Andreas Martinsen of Norway made his team play shorthanded. However in one and half minute, Martinsen was back on the ice again, as Vadim Shipachyov put his stick to a slapshot by Ilya Kovalchuk to change the pucks direction out of Lars Volden`s reach.

Right after the next faceoff, Russians made a quick combination. Kovalchuk sent Artyom Anisimov to a breakaway which Anisimov used to make it 2-0. No further goals were seen for the next twelve minutes, until Viktor Tikhonov started a good-looking combination with Sergei Mozyakin and Danis Zaripov. The last named forward finished it by a one-timer shot on the uncovered Norway net.

Yet this was not the end of the first period`s scoring list. One more goal was scred by Tikhonov. On beginning of his scoring situation there was an exceptional offensive action of Norway, but a quick transition of the play to the other end of the rink by Zaripov and Medvedev resulted in Tikhonov`s wristshot from a spot in between the circles.

Surprisingly, Norway opened the second period with two goals in Russia net. Two similar actions were finished by Patrick Thoresen when using two perfect assistances by Mathis Olimb. Olimb twice penetrated Russian defending zone and offered Thoresen perfect scoring opportunities.

However less than three minutes later Maxim Chudinov executed a brisk stop to Norwegian scoring appetite. He made it 5-2 by a shot from an ideal spot on top of circles. The score difference could be just two goals big two minutes later, but Mats Olsen Rosselli did not use his breakaway in which he appeared when skated behind opponent`s defending line straight from the penalty box.

As Norwegians did not score, Russians handed over the duty to themselves. Artemi Panarin got the speed with puck on his stick and shot it over Volden`s shoulder. Thus he got back Russia to a four-goal lead after forty minutes.

The third period was calm. No more goals, neither big scoring chances. The most exciting part of the period was during the last two minutes of play when Norway earned a 4 on 3 powerplay, which later transformed to a five-on-three. Roy Johansen, head coach of Nordic team called a time out and drawed down a special signal for last tens of seconds. The Norses settled in the attacking zone, but did not extract more than just a couple of shots on the net.

After all, Russia takes this "mandatory" victory over a weaker opponent, but the way to the win was not easy at all.

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