Russia – Germany. Russian national team’s marks

Vyacheslav Bykov’s players have been knocking on the gate guarded by Dennis Endras for an hour, but he never opened. Meanwhile, Russian defenders have turned out to be more hospitable to the opponents. Sports.ru and «ŠKODA on WC-2011» blog have been watching closely the actions of our hockey players in the tournament’s starting game.

Goaltender

Nabokov – 5.5

Even if the goalkeeper has something to do with the final result, there’s only an indirect connection between them. During the first two periods Nabokov was reliable, having scared us only once when he let out the puck from his catch glove. In the first goal episode he was unable to react properly and the puck did get inside the goal. He also failed to perform when Reimer went one-on-one with him. Several times he helped out his partners whose defence play this evening was hideous. However, it seemed like they finally had believed in Nabokov, but forgot to help him in response. As a result, the game gave no answer about his current form.

Defenders

Nikulin – Belov – 4.0

The best pair of Euro Hockey Tour has made a sea change at the World Championship – and that wasn’t a change to the better. That evening Nikulin and Belov have been allowing Germans too much, and with their hospitality the opponents regularly had long periods of possession in the Russian zone. Both defenders were very slow when setting up an attack and their moves into the opponents’ zone sometimes ended up with speedy home returns in chase of the runaway opponent. Nikulin failed to catch Reimer when the latter was going to meet Nabokov head to head.

Atyushov – Tyutin – 4.0

It’s hard to tell what these men were doing during the first goal episode: while Tyutin was at least holding the opponent player at the far post, Atyushov has been absolutely perplexed in the moment, which resulted to the goal scored past Nabokov. After a while they could have well caused one more, this time during power play. Atyushov tried to compensate his defensive error with long-range shots, but none of them proved successful.

Kalinin – Korneyev – 4.5

This is the only pair not involved in any goals conceded. However, it does not do them any particular credit: just like all other Russian defenders, Kalinin and Korneyev did not shine out that night. Both have had some good moments going forward, but their shots had either met the opponent, or the protective glass. In general they were the best defensive pair of the evening – if you had to choose the lesser of evils.

Kulikov – Yemelin – 4.0

The Germany’s second goalscoring attack has begun with an error from Kulikov. The young defender has been waiting the coming puck with his head down and hasn’t noticed the approaching Frank Hordler. As result, Reimer went one on one with the goalkeeper. Alexey Yemelin’s game record consisted of a traditional two-minute sending-off and an overally unimpressive performance.

Forwards

Morozov – Kaigorodov – Kovalchuk – 3.5

All three have not shown even 30 percent of what they are capable, having emerged as the most badly co-ordinated trio of the night. This line’s power play game reminded of a Russian fable named «Quartet», where the four characters fail to get on with each other and play anything. Kaigorodov’s sluggishness in the end of the game allowed the German forward pick up the puck and run away to Nabokov’s goal. The trio could stay in Endras’s zone for minutes, but without any effect.

Afinogenov – Tereshchenko – Artyukhin – 4.5

The most active line of this match and the most co-ordinated – you could reasonably expect that after the Euro Hockey Tour. They have been quite good in passing and individually, and in the third period Afinogenov ran away from everybody and beat the goalkeeper, but failed to lift the puck up and send it into the net. Artyukhin also failed to convert his one-on-one rendezvous with the goalie in the first period. Tereshchenko has been substituting Kaigorodov during power plays, however, that did not give us any particular dividends.

Zaripov – Zinoviev – Radulov – 4.5

This trio has been watching the first foal from the ice. In that episode they has covered all the oppnents, but forgot about Greilinger. Having had excellent moments to be rehabilitate themselves, they overcomplicated things in the end.

Kulyomin – Gorovikov – Tarasenko – 4.0

Perhaps, 70 percent of this mark should go to Vladimir Tarasenko. Being a debutant at a senior World Championship, he did not take a back seat and went forward ahead of everybody. Tarasenko was not afraid to take the initiative, shooted dangerously for several times, but still did not manage to score. Gorovikov and Kulyomin have resorted to backup roles, but most time they just did not interfere.

by Anton Rudnev