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25 times Russia!!
- Davide Tuniz from Bern
A wonderful goal by Alexander Radulov keeps title in Moscow after a great final
24 titles each, main actors in some of greatest hockey moments during the year, Canada and Russia are again on ice to decide the supremacy. Russia comes to final act with a perfect record in the tournament, while Canadian march to Bern's last game was stained by the defeat at penalties with Finland, but who cares now, these are the finalists.
Obviously no-one on ice and in the standing forgot last year final in Quebec, the incredible Russian comeback and the Ilya Kovalchuk cannonball for final 5-4.
"It really doesn't matter who you play against, you are in the final in the biggest game of the season for Europeans so it doesn't matter who you play, you just want to win,” said Russia's hero Ilya Kovalchuk. "It's always first of all, a big honour to play for the national team and you see all the fans in the stands, you have to play for them.”
Among Canadians someone looking for a revenge, as Jason Spezza - "When you lose when you have a lead like that, it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and we have been looking forward to the opportunity to play these guys and it's going to be a real good game, we have to be ready,” - and Dany Heatley - "Obviously we want a little bit of revenge from last year, it was a good game last year and they came out in overtime where anything can happen. They are playing well here and so are we, it should be a good game,” - others are more concentrated to capture gold whatever the opponent, as Buffalo forward Derek Roy: "We came here to win the gold medal, we didn't come here to beat Russia and get revenge on them.But they're in our way right now."
The game is also a confrontation between the top scorers: Ilya Kovalchuk (5 goals, almost all decisive) and Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos (7 goals, one in each game played), and the two best teams in terms of scoring.
Game begins in a great atmosphere: arena crowded and fans - large majority russian - chanting and cheering. Kovalchuk and St.Louis are the fans' favourite.
As game starts it's immediately clear will be a very physical one: after 5 minutes Russia has first powerplay and Dwayne Roloson is fantastic on Oleg Tverdovsky and Alexander Perezhogin close shots, but when Canada returns full strengh bites: at 05:37 Jason Spezza beats Bryzgalov with a perfect and precise shot. Russia has soon a chance with Vitali Proshkin but Roloson rebounds. Canadian goalie is secure also on a Gorovikov's slapshot. Russia needs some minutes to pass the shock and Canada has some chances but with second powerplay the red machine ties game with Oleg Saprykin at 12:59, deflecting a pass from Atyushov. Russia can score again some seconds after but Roloson is great deflecting a Sergei Zinoviev's shot after a superb Kovalchuk move. A fast and spectacular period ends with a Roloson save on Tverdovsky.
First chances of second period belongs to Canada, but Heatley and Doan miss them, while Bryzgalov is ready to deflect over the bar a Stamkos tentative. Canada keeps the pressure on Russia in first minutes with extra work for Bryzgalov, superb on St.Louis Hamhuis twice and phillips. Russia suffers a lot and has its first shot after 8 minutes of Canadian siege. Russia completely resurface after minute 30, when Kovalchuk,Tereschenko and Kalinin have serious chances to score. It needs a special move to move the score: 34:30 fans go into raptures: Alexander Radulov passes two defenders, passes the goalie, takes aim and scores a wonderful goal
Last period offers immediately a great chance to Marc-Edouard Vlasic but Bryzgalov is superb to close the cage. Again Canada starts very well, with much pressure on Russia, Bryzgalov says no to Roy and Zajac, while Russia has a great chane with Kovalchuk,well launched by Radulov but Roloson rebounds. Canada has two chances around mid-period, both with Dany Heatley: a deflection out very close to post and a capital one, with his onetimer superbely deflected by Bryzgalov. These are the real last chances, the period and the world championship ends with a last Canada's assault and the same last year's happy end for Russia.
Russia - Canada 2-1 (1-1,1-0,0-0)
0-1 05:37 Jason Spezza (Shane Doan,Shea Weber)
1-1 12:59 Oleg Saprykin (Vitali Atyushov,Dmitri Kalinin)PP
2-1 34:30 Alexander Radulov (Konstantin Gorovikov,Oleg Saprykin)
PIM: 2x2 - 3x2 SOG: 17-38Att: 11.454
MVP: Ilya Brizgalov - Drew Doughty
Awards
Media All Stars:
Goalkeeper: Andrei Mezin (BLR)
Defenceman: Shea Weber (CAN)
Defenceman: Kenny Jonsson (SWE)
Forward: Marty St.Louis (CAN)
Forward: Steve Stamkos (CAN)
Forward: Ilya Kovalchuk (RUS)
Best Players Selected by the Directorate:
Goalkeeper: Andrei Mezin (BLR)
Defenceman: Shea Weber (CAN)
Forward: Ilya Kovalchuk (RUS)
IHWC MVP: Ilya Kovalchuk (RUS)
Story added on 10th May 2009 at 21:04 GMT
Story submitted by: Davide Tuniz.
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