Russia 2-1 Finland 
(SO)
Karjala Tournament
Hartwall Areena, Helsinki
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Russia dispatched Finland on home ice to open the 2011 Karjala Tournament, hanging on for a narrow 2-1 shootout victory to capture the International Hockey Lineal Championship.
The Russians started the scoring early, with an early Alexander Radulov goal on the power play beating Finnish keeper Karri Rämö for the 1-0 lead, which would carry into the second. The Russians and Finns furiously outshot each other through the first and second, with Russia having a 15-4 advantage in the first, while the Leijonat pounded Konstantin Barulin with 15 shots in the second to Russia’s five. However, Barulin was sharp through 40 minutes, despite having to help kill off five consecutive penalties in the second, to maintain the lead into the third.
Despite Russia’s penalty troubles in the game, garnering nine penalties to Finland’s three, it was ironically an even strength goal just 22 seconds into the third that put Finland back in the game, when Sami Vatanen finally beat Barulin to even things at 1-1. The Finns were unable to capitalize on two power plays in the third (and a rare PP in overtime) to bring the game to a shootout, where Barulin stopped both Jarkko Immonen and Mikael Granlund, while Radulov and Yevgeni Kuznetsov both beat Rämö for the shootout victory.
With the win, Russia captures its 60th International Hockey Lineal Championship, their first title since the World Championships Quarterfinal back in May, captured in a 2-1 victory over Canada. Russia faced the Finns for the IHLC for the first time (and 79th game overall) since the Semifinals of the World Championships, where Finland defeated the Russians 3-0 to dethrone the champs and advance to the Gold Medal Game. Russia will now face Sweden next in two days’ time with the IHLC on the line.
BOXSCORE
1st Period
00:27 – PEN – Granlund, hooking
12:04 – PEN – Kuparinen, cross checking
12:33 – PP GOAL – Radulov (Nikulin)
13:48 – PEN – Grebeshkov, delay of game
2nd Period
22:39 – PEN – Medvedev, tripping
24:34 – PEN – Denisov, hooking
32:09 – PEN – Shipachyov, hooking
36:09 – PEN – team, too many players
38:14 – PEN – Medvedev, cross checking
3rd Period
40:22 – GOAL – Vatanen
44:44 – PEN – Shirokov, hooking
48:55 – PEN – Korneyev, elbowing
56:40 – PEN – Pesonen
Overtime
63:14 – PEN – Bodrov, hooking
Shootout
Immonen missed
Kuznetsov scored
Granlund missed
Radulov scored
GOALTENDERS
W: Barulin (33-34)
L: Rämö (29-31)
SHOTS ON GOAL
15+5+6+4+1 = 31
4+15+12+3+0 = 34
ROSTERS
Goaltenders: Konstantin Barulin, Mikhail Biryukov. Defence: Yevgeni Biryukov, Maxim Chudinov, Denis Denisov (A), Denis Grebeshkov, Konstantin Korneyev, Yevgeni Medvedev, Ilya Nikulin (C), Ivan Vishnevski. Forwards: Yevgeni Bodrov, Denis Kokarev, Yevgeni Kuznetsov, Igor Makarov, Igor Musatov, Alexander Perezhogin, Kirill Petrov, Alexander Radulov (A), Vadim Shipachyov, Sergei Shirokov, Vladimir Tarasenko, Ilya Zubov.
Goaltenders: Niko Hovinen, Karri Rämö. Defence: Topi Jaakola, Lasse Kukkonen (A), Ville Lajunen, Janne Niskala, Pasi Puistola, Ossi Väänänen, Jyrki Välivaara, Sami Vatanen. Forwards: Juhamatti Aaltonen, Mikael Granlund, Jarkko Immonen (A), Jesse Joensuu, Leo Komarov, Petri Kontiola, Matti Kuparinen, Ville Peltonen (C), Janne Pesonen, Antti Pihlström, Mika Pyörälä, Petteri Wirtanen.
