Russia and Slovakia kicked-off the 2019 U18 World Championship in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden looking to crack the top five in this year’s tournament after having finished in 6th and 7th place in 2018, respectfully.
Home team Russia powered their way through Slovakia creating turnovers and space, but Slovakia was converting on Russia's mistakes. With three power play goals, the Slovaks were able to put pressure on their opponent, but coach Viliam Cacho knows his team has to be better defensively.
“We have to keep the game simple, pass the puck with more urgency,” he said. For Slovakia’s matchup against the United States tomorrow, Cacho knows a key will be getting the puck in behind the defence early.
Maxim Cajovic, who had two goals for Slovakia, echoed the sentiment. “We have to play smarter in the D-zone, have faster plays and make sure our passes are going to be 100 percent on the tape. We have to make sure to focus on our defensive play as it wasn’t very good today.”
The first few minutes did not see many quality scoring chances, but Russia would capitalize on a turnover with Ilya Nikolayev lighting the lamp. They would soon take the game's first penalty, and Slovakia made no mistake tying the game off a blast from the point from Cajkovic.
Falling into more penalty trouble, the Russians would find themselves down two players, including a major boarding penalty. The home team would catch a break during at 5-on-4 play, when they were awarded a penalty shot after a streaking penalty killer was taken down in front of Slovakia's net. Rodion Amirov, who was already on the scoresheet after assisting on the opening goal, used quick hands to tuck the puck past the blocker side of Slovak goaltender Samuel Hlavaj to retake the lead.
Arseni Gritsyuk would make it 3-1 on the advantage for Russia before the end of the opening frame after a nifty play to sneak the puck in the net.
The second period opened with Russia scoring a few minutes in, as Maxim Groshev slid the puck five-hole.
Slovakia would return to the power play, and Martin Chromiak would bury the puck into an empty net with Vsevolod Skotnikov out of position to bring them within two goals of Russia.
The third period was not the start the Slovaks wanted, as Gritsyuk received the puck at the blue line, cut across the crease, and put it short side for his second goal (and Russia's fifth) of the game. Slovakia came back pushing hard to get back into the game when Cajkovic potted his second of the game on the power play.
Even with Hlavaj making great saves on the penalty kill for the team in white, Russia’s Marat Khusnutdinov would seal the Slovaks fate with an empty net goal a couple minutes later, making the final score 6-3.
