The Russians pulled it off. Down 4-2 to Canada after Dany Heatley scored a goal mid-way through the second period of the World Hockey Championship final, the Russians stormed back to tie the game late in the third period on a goal by Ilya Kovalchuk. Then, with Rick Nash in the penalty box for the Canadians after taking a delay-of-game penalty, the Russians completed the comeback on a power play goal by Kovalchuk 2:42 in overtime to capture the title, 5-4.
It capped a spectacular tournament for the Russians on the Capitals' roster -- Alexander Semin, Alex Ovechkin, and Sergei Fedorov. Combined, they finished their nine-game journey as follows:
Semin: 6-7-13, +11
Ovechkin: 6-6-12, +11
Fedorov: 5-7-12, +10
That's 17 of the 43 goals Russia scored in the tournament...
...and, of course, the championship. As far as Capitals represented in the tournament are concerned, Ovechkin and Mike Green (CAN) were named to the all-tournament team -- Green finished 4-8-12, +2 in nine games.
In the final, Alexander Semin had two goals and an assist, Ovechkin had a pair of assists, and Fedorov also had a pair of assists (including the primary on the game-winner). Green had an assist for the Canadians.
Any tournament experience these young players can get can only help them in their quest for a Stanley Cup. Ovechkin remarked after the win that "We played hard through the whole tournament. This gold medal is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me."
Next year, we hope he can repeat that sentiment wearing a Capitals jersey.
The big finish...
...and other highlights
Photo: IIHF/HHoF/Jukka Rautio
No comments:
Post a Comment