8 replies to this topic

[Erik C.]

December 31, 2012
9:00 AM Eastern
Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia

Television:

Absent a formal gave preview, I’m including with the team rosters the NHL.com preview written for each team.

Coach: Mikhail Varnakov

Team Roster

#	Player Name	Pos.	NHL Rights
27	Kirill Dyakov	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
28	Yaroslav Dyblenko	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
25	Mikhail Grigorenko	Forward	Buffalo Sabres
21	Kirill Kapustin	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
19	Alexander Khokhlachev	Forward	Boston Bruins
29	Pavel Koledov	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
18	Yaroslav Kosov	Forward	Florida Panthers
16	Nikita Kucherov	Forward	Tampa Bay Lightning
20	Andrei Makarov	Goalie	Buffalo Sabres
22	Andrei Mironov	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
11	Yevgeni Mozer	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
9	Nikita Nesterov	Defense	Tampa Bay Lightning
15	Valeri Nichushkin	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
7	Artyom Sergeyev	Defense	Tampa Bay Lightning
8	Maxim Shalunov	Forward	Chicago Blackhawks
12	Andrei Sigaryov	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
17	Anton Slepyshev	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
14	Vladimir Tkachyov	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
1	Igor Ustinski	Goalie	2013 Draft Eligible
30	Andrei Vasilevski	Goalie	Tampa Bay Lightning
10	Nail Yakupov	Forward	Edmonton Oilers
5	Albert Yarullin	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
26	Danil Zharkov	Forward	Edmonton Oilers

Last year: After an emotional victory over Canada in the semifinals of the medal round, Russia dropped that 1-0 decision to Sweden in the final. The Russians rallied for three straight medal-round victories against Finland, Sweden and Canada but couldn't solve Swedish goalie Johan Gustafsson, who stopped all 17 shots in his direction in the final. Russia finished second in Group A with three victories and a 4-3 overtime loss to Sweden, outscoring its foes, 23-5.

2013 NHL Draft watch: A number of top prospects will be featured, including forward Valeri Nichushkin. Nichushkin, a 6-foot-4, 196-pound right wing, is rated No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's preliminary ranking of Russian draft-eligible skaters.

"[Nichushkin] is a big, strong two-way winger," Central Scouting Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com. "He's tough to stop when driving to the net from either wing -- a defenseman's nightmare in one-on-one situations when at top speed. He handles the puck well in traffic, makes good decisions in those situations. [He] has a high overall skill level and moves well for a big guy, smooth hands, good playmaker."

Schedule: Dec. 26, Slovakia, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 28, United States, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 29, Germany, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 31, Canada, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US).

Outlook: Edmonton Oilers prospect Nail Yakupov has a strong supporting cast around him with Mikhail Grigorenko (Buffalo Sabres), Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Alexander Khokhlachev (Boston Bruins). Offensive-defenseman Nikita Nesterov and goalie Andrei Vasilevski, highly regarded prospects of the Lightning, should play vital roles for the host country. Russia also has goalie Andrei Makarov (Buffalo Sabres) returning between the pipes. The star-studded lineup on home ice makes Russia the odds-on favorite to finish first in Group B.

"Russia is always strong and this year's team is as strong as the gold medal-winning group two years ago," Stubb said. "The goaltending is better now."

Coach: Steve Spott

Team Roster

#	Player Name	Pos.	NHL Rights
31	Jordan Binnington	Goalie	St. Louis Blues
15	Anthony Camara	Forward	Boston Bruins
21	Phillip Danault	Forward	Chicago Blackhawks
27	Dougie Hamilton	Defense	Boston Bruins
6	Scott Harrington	Defense	Pittsburgh Penguins
11	Jonathan Huberdeau	Forward	Florida Panthers
22	Boone Jenner	Forward	Columbus Blue Jackets
17	J.C. Lipon	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
23	Nathan MacKinnon	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
24	Mark McNeill	Forward	Chicago Blackhawks
14	Ryan Murphy	Defense	Carolina Hurricanes
9	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	Forward	Edmonton Oilers
16	Xavier Ouelett	Defense	Detroit Red Wings
1	Jake Paterson	Goalie	Detroit Red Wings
8	Ty Rattie	Forward	St. Louis Blues
28	Griffin Reinhart	Defense	New York Islanders
4	Morgan Rielly	Defense	Toronto Maple Leafs
20	Brett Ritchie	Forward	Dallas Stars
19	Mark Scheifele	Forward	Winnipeg Jets
30	Malcolm Subban	Goalie	Boston Bruins
18	Ryan Strome	Forward	New York Islanders
26	Tyler Wotherspoon	Defense	Calgary Flames

Last year: Canada opened the scoring in every game of preliminary-round play en route to earning the top seed in Group B. In four victories, it outscored the opposition, 26-5, but was defeated by Russia in its first game of the medal round, 6-5. Canada earned the bronze medal by defeating Finland.

2013 NHL Draft watch: There are three draft-eligible players on the roster, which is a first for the Canadian National Junior Team. Linemates Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League are first-year eligible, and J.C. Lipon of the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League is in his final year of eligibility after being passed over in the past two drafts. MacKinnon and Drouin are rated No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, among skaters in the QMJHL on Central Scouting's preliminary league list.

Schedule: Dec. 26, Germany, 4:30 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 28, Slovakia, 4:30 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 30, United States, 4:30 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 31, Russia, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US).

Outlook: The NHL work stoppage has enabled Canada to stockpile some exceptional assets. Take, for instance, the addition of Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who will serve as captain. In addition to the 2012 Calder Trophy runner-up, there's Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers), Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets), Ryan Strome (New York Islanders), Dougie Hamilton (Boston Bruins) and Scott Harrington (Pittsburgh Penguins). Forward Mark McNeill (Chicago Blackhawks) was a late addition when Charles Hudon (Montreal Canadiens) suffered an injury. Unlike last year's team, the Canadians are solid up the middle, but as has been the case in recent tournaments, goaltending -- Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues); Jake Paterson (Detroit Red Wings); Malcolm Subban (Boston Bruins) -- will make or break the team. Look for Canada to finish third in Group B.

[Munchausen]

Anybody else watching this? Very decent hockey. Good discipline on both sides. I just don't think the Russians are fighting as hard for the bye as they would for the medal. Fatigue could play against them but, with all due respect to the Swiss, the Russians could establish some much needed momentum with a lopsided win going into the medal rounds.

[Steelwool]

Canada beats Russia 4-1.
Best game by the Canadians so far. Both teams played with some jump, but scoring twice on the major penalty set the tone, and allowed the Canadians to play a hard forecheck and tight defensive game.
Boone Jenner's return to the lineup made a big difference to the chemistry of all the forward lines, and the 17 year old Drouin's promotion to the top line with RNH and Schiefle paid off.
Wotherspoon was hit from behind by Nichushkin, resulting in a 5 and game. Originally called a 2 minute crosscheck, it was changed to a major upon review. That was the right call, and look for a 1 game suspension for Nichushkin. Hamilton scored with a bomb from the point and Schiefle showed good hands, tucking in a rebound to make it 2-0. Both goals came on the major.
Kucherov made it 2-1 late in the first, but that was the closest the Russian could get.
Nail Yakupov was basically invisible.
Canada earns the bye into the semi's with Russia playing the Swiss.

[Craig Simpson]

It was a fairly dominant performance for Canada. Russia just couldn't get much sustained pressure in the Canadian zone. I think I counted three times where the Russians controlled the puck in the Canada zone for more than 20 seconds during the whole game, including the powerplay. Their goal was about the only mistake Canada made all game and Subban is just getting better. I think the Russians will have more game for them next time, if they meet up again, but it seems the Russian bench could be part of the problem. Mass confusion with line changes and who they wanted on the ice in the last couple minutes of the game made the coaches look pretty silly.

[damned]

So far so good for the boys!

[Erik C.]

Canada struck for two goals on a major penalty in the first, added another in the second, and finished with an empty netter in the third to beat Russia 4-1 and claim the semi-final bye from Group B.

It was a great team effort by the Canadians, and although anyone could have been awarded the black hero's cape this evening, coach Steve Spott elected to give it to Boone Jenner, playing his first game of the tournament after serving a three-game suspension incurred during an exhibiton game.

Jenner played a great two-way game and was a star penalty killer, notably in the second period. Four players scored for Canada, and captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the leading scorer, picked up three assists.

Russia will now play in the quarter-finals on January 2 against Switzerland while Canada will play the next day against the winner of the United States-Czech Republic game.

"It was a fun game with a lot of emotion and passion," said Canadian defenceman Scott Harrington. "We're pretty happy how it turned out. Right from our first line to goalie, we got the job done."

From the IIHF site

[Munchausen]

Are we in a position for a nice tidy playoff tree yet?

[Erik C.]

I can provide something similar in a separate thread, yeah.

[Bubba83]

Yakupov was non-existent in the U.S. game too, I wonder if he's a bit injured or something.