Malkin Scores Hat-Trick as Russia Thrashes Sweden

© RIA Novosti . Alexey Filippov / Go to the mediabankRussia tops Group B as the only unbeaten team
Russia tops Group B as the only unbeaten team  - Sputnik International
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Center Evgeni Malkin claimed three goals and two assists as Russia demolished Sweden 7-3 in the Swedish capital Stockholm at the world ice hockey championships Friday

Center Evgeni Malkin claimed three goals and two assists as Russia demolished Sweden 7-3 in the Swedish capital Stockholm at the world ice hockey championships Friday.

Russia came back from 3-1 down before Malkin scored his first on 36 minutes to score six unanswered goals that mean Russia tops Group B as the only unbeaten team with three games remaining, and extends a streak of six wins in its last seven games against Sweden at the world championships.

Passions boiled over in the third period at 5-3 when a Swedish shooting chance ended when Dmitry Kalinin seemed to hit Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen in the face with the handle of his stick. Franzen collapsed, his face bleeding onto the ice as Kalinin received a five plus 20 minute penalty.

Russia held on during the extended Swedish power play before adding a further two goals to seal a dominant win.

The hosts started brightly in the first period and, with Ilya Nikulin off the ice for interference, Sweden took advantage of the power play to open the scoring after six minutes. Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson cut in from the boards to finish off a move that began with Nikita Nikitin losing the puck near his own goal.

Soon after, Malkin charged past Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman near the boards and bore down on goal, but saw his shot saved by Viktor Fasth.

Russia equalized on 10 minutes as Alexander Perezhogin stole the puck for Johan Larsson and played in Malkin, who left Alexander Popov to finish from close range.

Sweden struck back soon after, Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg finishing on the rebound from Daniel Alfredsson’s long shot. During the celebrations, Alexei Emelin and Franzen exchanged words before Yemelin struck Franzen in the crotch with his stick, earning a penalty for roughing.

Russia came close to an equalizer at the start of the second period, but Fasth saved Sergei Shirokov’s breakaway effort with his left pad.

Sweden pulled clear at 3-1 30 seconds before the halfway point, Loui Eriksson playing the puck between two Russian defensemen for Franzen, in plenty of space, to score.

Malkin scored his first goal on 36 minutes, collecting Evgeny Biryukov’s pass from Evgeny Kuznetsov’s rebounded shot before burying the puck is Fasth’s net from a narrow angle.

With two minutes left before the second break, a mass brawl broke out with Franzen and Nikulin pciking up penalties after disagreement sparked by shoving in the Swedish goalmouth as Popov came close to converting a chance.

Alexei Emelin leveled the scores 30 seconds after the match restarted after the brawl with a big slap shot, after being supplied by Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk.

Russia then took the lead for the first time in the third period, Alexander Perezhogin from a tight angle 30 seconds into the period when Evgeny Medvedev’s long shot ricocheted off Fasth’s helmet for 4-3.

Malkin then scored his second goal and tenth tournament point from a tight angle off Popov’s assist, the puck squirming between Fasth’s legs and landing over the line.

Russia was then forced onto the defensive by the five-minute Swedish power play resulting from Kalinin’s actions, but responded with force as soon as the team was back to full strength.

Malkin teamed up with Popov for his third, the two exchanging the puck as they bore down on the Swedish goal before Malkin flicked the puck over Fasth.

In the last minute, Malkin set up Denis Denisov, who provided the coup de grace with a slap shot.

In Friday’s earlier games, a high-profile clashe ended with Canada beating reigning champion Finland 5-3, while the United States needed overtime to beat a battling Kazakhstan team 3-2, and the Czech Republic thrashed Italy 6-0.

Russia will play the Czechs on Sunday before taking on Italy a day later.

 

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