Russian National Hockey Team News

Feb202010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Team Russia latest news: Fedorov misses practice, Kovalchuk out of Malkin’s line, Nabokov to start against Czechs

Team Russia latest news: Fedorov misses practice, Kovalchuk out of Malkin's line, Nabokov to start against Czechs (Photo © Shaun Best, Reuters) Here is the latest news from the Russian team at the Olympic Games 2010 in Vancouver. Evgeny Nabokov will start in the game against the Czech Republic Igor Zakharkin, Russian coach to Pavel Lysenkov of SovSport: "We think that with Nabokov in the net our players feel more confident." Sergei Fedorov missed a practice Zakharkin: "Fedorov has an individual program. But he's alright, there is no injury." New lines in the game against the Czech Republic Zakharkin: "Maybe we are going to swap the center forwards. We think that Kovalchuk's efficiency should be higher. We remember what chemistry Malkin and Kovalchuk had at the World Championship 2008, but ...

Feb192010 by Gary Laws4 Comments

Vyacheslav Bykov: “All games at the Olympics should be played with passion”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Vyacheslav Bykov: "All games at the Olympics should be played with passion" (Photo © sportbox.ru) Russian coach Vyacheslav Bykov talked about the reasons of the loss to Slovakia, stated that not all players had passion, explained why Alexander Ovechkin had three shootout attempts and talked about power play units in an interview to the Russian site gazeta.ru. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation. - Do you agree that only the Zaripov-Zinoviev-Morozov line displayed some teamwork? Bykov: "You are not far from being right. We will try and find out why it happened. I don't think that our players didn't want it. It's just that the opponent didn't give us many opportunities. But I also should notice that a lot of players lacked passion and thirst for game. At the same time I agree that...

Feb192010 by Gary Laws11 Comments

World Championship – Russia loses to Slovakia in shootout, 1-2

Russian National Hockey Team News

Russia loses to Slovakia in shootout, 1-2 (Photo © AP Photo) A shootout goal by Pavol Demitra gave Slovakia the edge over Team Russia in the Olympic Hockey tournament's round robin. In the Group B standings Russia retains the lead with 4 points, but with one game more than Czech Republic, who beaten team Slovakia yesterday. Bykov's team had some chances at the start, especially with a shot from the high slot by Alexander Ovechkin, but Jaroslav Halak saved all the 10 opponents' attempts. 8 saves so far for Ilya Bryzgalov. In the second period Alexei Morozov scored the 1-0 goal with a good one time from the right circle after another bad powerplay show by Team Russia. Bykov's team controlled most of the play in the middle stanza and got twice near to the second goalie, first with Maxim Afino...

Feb182010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Olympics » 2010 Olympics: Russia – Slovakia preview

Russian National Hockey Team News

2010 Olympics: Russia - Slovakia preview (Photo © Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) On Tuesday night Team Russia will play its second match in the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament. After the 8-2 win over Latvia in the inaugural match, Team Russia's opponents will be Team Slovakia. Team Russia's starter is going to be Ilya Bryzgalov. Slovakia's goaltender will be Montreal Canadiens' Jaroslav Halak. "He is a very technique sound goaltender", said Evgeni Malkin. "He also has a good stickhandling. You need to shot a lot against him. We have to take the initiative and concede no rooms to our opponents." Vyacheslav Bykov has also decided to try powerplay special team and in the latest practice he iced Alexander Ovechkin, Malkin, Alexander Semin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Sergei Gonchar in the same unit. Pavel...

Feb182010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Igor Zakharkin: “We can’t stand this food anymore”

Russian National Hockey Team News

Igor Zakharkin: "We can't stand this food anymore" (Photo © Shaun Best, Reuters) It seems like the food they serve in the Olympic village in Vancouver is really bad. First it were Alexei Morozov and Semyon Varlamov who complained about the food in the village. According to Morozov the players had to eat in McDonald's. He also said that with food like this they would "turn up their toes". Then it was Ilya Bryzgalov who called the food "terrible". Now it's Team Russia coach Igor Zakharkin who calls Russian officials for help. "We can't stand it anymore. It is time for our officials to step in. Our players can't recover eating the food they serve in the village. It's not tasty and low in calories. It's some semi prepared foods! We don't want it to have an impact on our team", said Zakharkin t...

Feb172010 by Gary Laws5 Comments

Russia gets the first Olympic win over Latvia

Russian National Hockey Team News

Russia gets the first Olympic win over Latvia (Photo © Getty Images) Russia got an easy win in the first game of the 2010 Olympics against Latvia. Team Russia didn't look overly impressive, most likely saving some energy for the games against better opponents. Alexander Ovechkin and Danis Zaripov scored two goals each in team Russia's 8-2 win. KHL players got the first two goals of the match. Danis Zaripov opened the score after a couple of minutes thanks a great pass by Sergei Fedorov, while Alexander Radulov made it a 2-0 game at 7:46. Alexander Ovechkin scored the third goal for Russia with only thirty seconds to go in the first period. In the second period Russia relaxed and left little room to Lavtia. They scored only one goal, with Evgeni Malkin. The third stanza has been more frenet...

Feb162010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Olympics » 2010 Olympics: Russia – Latvia preview

Russian National Hockey Team News

2010 Olympics: Russia - Latvia preview (Photo © Shaun Best, Reuters) The Olympic Hockey Tournament is about to start today. Team's Russia first game will be the clash against Latvia in the Group B. Group's other match between Slovakia and Czech Republic will be played tomorrow. Team Russia's roster seems to be one of the best of the tournament. No one else can match its offensive potential and the goalies are, at least on paper, just as good as others. If the defense might be cause of concern, the presence of veterans like Sergei Gonchar shall indicate that Bykov's team's defense shouldn't be overlooked. On top of that, Team Russia is going to feature in their line up an explosive first line made up of Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Semin. Evgeny Nabokov will start the game for Team Russia. Team L...

Feb162010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Morozov named Captain, Ovechkin and Kovalchuk to be alternates

Russian National Hockey Team News

Morozov named Captain, Ovechkin and Kovalchuk to be alternates (Photo © AFP Photo / David Boily) Team Russia has chosen its captain and alternates at the Olympic Games 2010. According to Russian newspaper Sovetskiy Sport, Alexei Morozov will be the captain, Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk will be the alternates. Alexei Morozov was the captain of the Russian team on two latest World Championships.

Feb162010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin, Kovalchuk-Malkin-Afinogenov and other lines at Team Russia practice

Russian National Hockey Team News

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin, Kovalchuk-Malkin-Afinogenov and other lines at Team Russia practice (Photo © Reuters) The Russian team practiced for the second time in Vancouver. According to the Russian channel "Russia 2" the lines were: Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Semin, Grebeshkov - Korneev. Kovalchuk - Malkin - Afinogenov, Gonchar - Tyutin. Zaripov - Zinoviev - Morozov, Markov - Nikulin. Radulov - Fedorov - Kozlov, Kalinin - Volchenkov. "I was sure that our line would look like that", said Evgeni Malkin to Russia 2. "I agree with the coaches, it's an optimal combination". "I supposed that our line would look like that because we played together during the Olympic camp", Ilya Kovalcuk told Russia 2. "It is a good, interesting and dynamic line. I think if we try hard we can be very useful to the team."...

Feb122010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Olympics » Ovechkin might be paired with Malkin; Nabokov and Bryzgalov to share ice time

Russian National Hockey Team News

Ovechkin might be paired with Malkin; Nabokov and Bryzgalov to share ice time (Photo © Getty Images) Team Russia's coach Igor Zakharkin gave a few interviews where he stated that Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) and Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) might play on the same line, and that goalkeepers Evgeny Nabokov (San Jose Sharks) and Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes) will both play during the robin-round at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. Zakharkin on Ovechkin-Malkin to olympics10.ru - Is there a chance to see Ovechkin and Malkin playing on the same line? Zakharkin: "Maybe not since the very beginning but somewhere in the middle of the game or during power plays. We will think about it. We are also taking into account the fact that quite often Ovechkin plays on the left wing for...