Tag: Zakhar Bardakov

WJC Quarterfinals: Russia defeats Germany 2-1 to advance

It didn’t come easy for Russia. After finishing second in the ultra competitive Group B that saw USA overtake them for first by shutting out Sweden 4-0, they drew Germany in the first of four quarterfinal games at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Given how improved Germany was due to Senators third pick Tim Stutzle along with Sabres second round pick John Peterka, it figured to be an interesting match-up. Deutschland also had gotten good goaltending from Florian Bugl and strong tournaments from center Florian Elias along with defenseman Mario Zimmerman. The latter three all undrafted.

It wasn’t a surprise that Russia got a game from the upstart Germans. Making their first ever appearance in the knockout stage, they gave the favorite Russians all they could handle. However, Predators future netminder Yaroslav Askarov made two goals from Vasily Ponomaryov (Hurricanes) and Danil Bashkirov stand up. Despite a strong push in the third period, Russia defeated Germany 2-1 to advance to the semifinals at the World Junior Championship. Finland and Sweden face-off next. The semifinals reseed depending on the results.

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Russia didn’t play a perfect game. They took too many undisciplined penalties. At one point, they handed Germany five straight power plays. But it was the second ranked Russian penalty kill that got the job done on the match. They went five-for-five and even got a shorthanded goal from Ponomaryov. Following a clean face-off win in the defensive zone, Zakhar Bardakov and Semyon Chistyakov combined to get the puck to a wide open Ponomaryov at center ice. Behind the five man German power play unit, the Canes prospect opened the scoring at 9:06 by scoring on a beautiful forehand deke move to beat Bugl on a breakaway.

The game remained 1-0 after the ever dangerous Stutzle fired a low sinking shot under the arm of Askarov off the goalpost. He has a quick release. Even though he didn’t hit the score sheet in his final game of the WJC, it wasn’t due to lack of chances. The soon to be Ottawa Senator finished the tournament with five goals and five assists for 10 points. He was named one of Germany’s three best players along with Bugl and Zimmerman.

After successfully killing off a pair of penalties, Russia went to work to get the all important second goal. On a good forecheck that started behind the net, Arseni Gritsyuk worked the puck down low to Yegor Afanasiev. He had enough time to center for Bashkirov, who beat Bugl through a small hole. The puck hopped off him and in for a 2-0 Russia lead at 8:27 of the second period.

The Russians continued to get into penalty trouble. But their strong kill kept bailing them out. Germany only totaled one shot on five power plays. That has been a team strength coming in. However, they lost the battle of special teams. It proved to be the difference. Even with Bugl doing his best to keep his team in the game, they could only beat Askarov once.

In particular, Elias had chances. He was stopped by Askarov on one opportunity and had another one off a redirection go off the crossbar. Stutzle was also thwarted twice. It wasn’t until a broken play that Elias finally beat Askarov with 16:36 left in the third. After losing control of the puck, he regained it and fired a quick wrist shot that surprised Askarov to cut the deficit to 2-1. He had a great tournament and surely opened some eyes. Maybe an NHL team calls his name next draft. He doesn’t turn 19 until August 7. Elias finished with nine points (4-5-9).

With the Germans pressing the action, they came close to tying it twice. First, a good cycle nearly drew a penalty shot. But Yegor Spiridonov closed his hand on the puck outside the crease for a German power play. They were unable to do anything. Following a Russian clear, Peterka took an offensive zone minor for interference to even it up. It was four-on-four before an abbreviated Russian power play.

Still trailing by one, it was a rushing Elias who retrieved a puck and was one-on-one with Askarov. But the cool Russian starter gloved his backhand with over three minutes left. That was the final chance Germany had. Russia did a good job protecting the lead with an aggressive cycle and smart defensive play in the neutral zone.

After one final draw in the German zone, they celebrated a hard fought victory.

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The third game is at 7 EST/5 Edmonton time between heavily favored Canada against the Czech Republic. USA doesn’t play until 10:30 EST in the fourth and final quarter against Slovakia.

USA loses to Russia 5-3 in Preliminary Action

It wasn’t an ideal start for Team USA. In an uneven performance due to bad goaltending and lackadaisical defense, USA lost to Russia 5-3 in the preliminary round at Edmonton on Christmas Night. Following Group A play which saw Slovakia shutout Switzerland 1-0 and Finland hold off Germany 5-3, USA and Russia reunited their rivalry to begin Group B.

In a battle of hyped goaltenders, it never developed. Spencer Knight struggled mightily in his first start for the Americans. He was pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots. Some of it self inflicted with the Panthers ’19 first round pick having two giveaways that led to Russian goals. The second of which was a back breaker in which Knight made a huge mistake by aggressively coming out of his net and clearing the puck right to Ilya Safonov, who intercepted it and fired it into a vacated net for a 4-1 Russia lead. That ended Knight’s night. He was replaced by Dustin Wolf.

At the opposite end stood 2020 first round pick Yaroslav Askarov. The Nashville top pick plays a very aggressive game by challenging shooters and relying on his athleticism to make key saves. Aside from an iffy tying goal to USA defenseman Cam York with Matthew Boldy providing traffic in front, Askarov was solid throughout to finish with 23 saves. That included a quick sliding pad save on a juicy rebound which he covered up. He was adventurous eerily reminding of Dominik Hasek in style.

Despite falling behind 1-0 on a great deflection by Hurricanes prospect Vasili Ponomaryov at 8:07 of the first period, a strong forecheck from Boldy and Cole Caufield led to York’s left point shot squeaking off Askarov and in for a 1-1 score at 14:01. Replays indicated that Boldy might’ve tipped it. However, after they changed it to Boldy, it was again credited to York, who was easily the Americans’ best defenseman. In 22:49, he picked up a goal and an assist to earn Top Player honors for USA.

After a slow start due to how the more detail oriented Russians were defending under hockey legend Igor Larionov, the Americans worked their way back in the game to stay even after a period. However, they committed too many mistakes in a flat second which proved costly. Following a near miss by forward Bobby Brink on one end, Maxim Groshev hit Zakhar Bardakov in stride for a breakaway. Even with York providing back pressure, Bardakov was able to snap home a high wrist shot past Knight glove side to give Russia a 2-1 lead 3:12 into the period.

It wasn’t that USA didn’t get chances. Caufield created a few with his speed by skating into open space. He had a nice move to the backhand hit the side if the net and later saw Askarov get across to get a glove on a good shot short side. The Russian netminder had to contend with the gritty Boldy in front while also warding off a pair of good Arthur Kaliyev testers from sharp angles. If there was one area that let down USA, it was their power play. They didn’t get much done on some early ones due to a disciplined Russian penalty kill. Alex Turcotte was a non-factor and until he scored on a late six-on-four advantage with Wolf off for an extra attacker, Trevor Zegras was quiet. Both must be factors for USA to have success.

The roof caved in when Russia took full advantage of two big mistakes from Knight and company to triple the margin from one to three. First, Knight tried a backhand reverse behind his net that didn’t work. The problem was his teammates were not paying attention to an opportunistic Ponomaryov. He was able to send a wrist shot top shelf past the glove of Knight for a 3-1 lead at 11:08. It was just 67 seconds later that Knight had an awful giveaway that resulted in Safonov accepting a Christmas present for a 4-1 lead. As it turned out, that was the game-winner.

After Wolf replaced Knight, USA picked up their play. As often happens when you change goalies, the team refocuses. They started to crash Askarov’s crease more and were more physical. Russian captain Vasili Podkolzin took a tough hit. He was okay and didn’t miss a shift. The ’19 Canucks first round pick had a quiet night. He did log the most ice time among Russian forwards with 20:21. At the conclusion of the second, you had the frustrated Americans in a scrum with the Russians. It was a message that the game wasn’t over.

Like most great rivalries, USA fought back in a more inspired third. Some hustle from Brink and grit from Rangers prospect Brett Berard led to John Farinacci finding a Drew Helleson rebound and beating a distracted Askarov for his first of the tournament to cut the deficit to 4-2 with 10:03 left in regulation. It was some good work by Berard, who played a hard-nosed game in 9:52. Patrick Moynihan also mixed it up in his 8:48.

Trailing by two, Jackson Lacombe got caught flat-footed at the Russia blueline trying to keep a puck in. It wound up being a breakaway. However, a poised Wolf got the knob of the goal stick on it to keep his team afloat. That kind of decision making by USA players was a big reason they lost. They didn’t always play together while for the most part, the Larionov coached Russians played like a five man unit.

A couple of foolish penalties by Russia almost got them in trouble. Both came in the offensive zone including an unnecessary Safonov tripping minor with 3:05 remaining with his team still ahead by a pair. That allowed USA to lift Wolf for an extra attacker and eventually York worked the puck over to Zegras, whose shot went through a maze of players including a screening Boldy to give him his first ever goal at the World Junior Championship. The goal pulled USA within 4-3 with still 2:18 to go.

Had they not handled the puck like a grenade following the Zegras power play tally, maybe the Americans could’ve gotten enough forecheck pressure to tie it. But they made some bad passes that were picked off by Russia, who wasted precious seconds. They finally were able to pull Wolf again with 1:01 left. Forty seconds later, a good defensive play by Russia allowed Yegor Chinakhov to score the empty netter that sealed the Russian victory. With two goals, Vasili Ponomaryov earned Top Player honors for Russia.

On Day Two, there are three games including defending champion Canada hosting shorthanded Germany. Sweden takes on Czech Republic in Group B play this afternoon (10 AM Edmonton Time). USA will be back in action facing a must win against Austria at 9:30 EST tonight.