If you missed the Russia vs. Switzerland quarter finals game this morning, you missed a classic grudge match! This nail biter won't soon be forgotten in Russia, as the host squad faced the sobering chance to be eliminated from the medal round. This was a win to stay in game. It wasn't easy, but in the end. russia prevailed due in large part to the heroics of Grigorenko.
Russia wins it 4-3, in the shootout. They will host Sweden on Thursday night. Canada will face USA.
Sabres super sniper prospect, Mikhail Grigorenko was the best player on the ice, and he earned player of the game honors for his heroics.
On December 23, Russia played a sloppy pre-WJC exhibition game against the Swiss. They scored a 7-5 win. The Russians needed that scare in entering the tourney so that it could get its defense and goaltending in shape for the rigors of the WJCs.
On Wednesday in Ufa, both teams battoned down the hatches and played an inspired brand of team-first defense. each goaltender was sensational.
Grigo scored the shootout winner against the pesky Swiss. Grigo also scored his first goal of the WJCs (four assists), which gave Russia the 2-1. Grigo also set up Nikita Kucherov's game tying goal with 1:39 remaining in regulation play. moments before, Grigorenko had scored what appeared to be the game tying goal by driving the puck down the right wing wall, then hard-cutting on his inside edges to the blue ice where he collided with Swiss goalie Nyffeler. The puck crossed the goal line, however, the play play was reviewed and it was found that the net had been knocked off its pegs before the puck had crossed the goal line. Russia powerplay. Grigo beauty pass to Kucherov. Game tying goal. A thing of despeartion and beauty.
Kucherov, Grigorenko, and Alexander Khokhlachyov scored for the Russians in regulation. Christoph Bertschy, Martin Ness and Sven Andrighetto scored for Switzerland, and Samuel Guerra had two assists.
Russia’s Andrei Vasilevski and Switzerland’s Melvin Nyffeler performed admirably in a classic goalie battle, which saw shots on goal favor the Swiss 44-37.
I'm expecting sabres prospect, Andrey Makarov, to get the net for Russia vs. Sweden on Thursday night as Mikhail Varnakov has been rotating evenly his two goalies.
Is there a better, more complete hockey player in the world right now than Grigorenko?
Grigo spoke with Russian media in the post game scrum. Here's the Google translation:
What is felt when two minutes before the bell, Switzerland was ahead 3-2?
- Nervous, but two minutes in hockey can do a lot. Besides, we had the most, and we were able to score.
- Now, before Sweden. What you can see the secret of success in the semi-finals? - It is hard to judge, because I'm in the tournament this team has ever seen. Analysis of its game scheduled for tomorrow after a morning workout. But in any case, it is necessary to avoid gross errors in defense, which cost us a lot today.
- The advantage of a rival ice complicate the task?
- I think so. All the teams that had to play with us in the championship, had problems.
- At the last World Youth Championship in Sweden lost to Russia twice, including in the finals ...
When you play with fire, you’re going to get burned.
The Czechs have second degree burns as a result of the five PPGs that the Americans scored on them in the lopsided 7-0 USA drubbing of the Czechs on Wednesday morning. Team USA scored four PPGs in their 9-3 win over Slovakia on Monday. Nine PPGs in past two games?
Memo to Team Canada: Stay out of the penalty box, or else!
Captain Jake McCabe and Team USA made short work of the Czechs in the quarter finals. It was an easy tune-up match for tomorrow’s clash of the titans between USA and Canada, which beat the USA 2-1 in the preliminary round. Canada won Group B to earn a bye into the semifinals.
John Gaudreau scored the hat trick and was named the U.S. player of the game. He has five goals during his past two games after going scoreless in the first three preliminary round contests.
Riley Barber scored twice, Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba each had four assists and goalie John Gibson made 31 saves in the triumph.
U.S. coach Phil Housley has tinkered with his PP and has found a winning formula by combining Gaudreau with Trocheck and Miller.
Sabres prospect and team USA captain, Jake McCabe told the IIF after the game that we ain’t seen nothin’ yet:
“We played the game we needed to play tonight. You haven't seen our best hockey
"The team that wins the tournament is the team that gets better every game. You have to improve every game. Playing Canada is going to be emotional again. We're going to be ready for it."
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