Ponomarev's double, Knight's mistake and a tense ending: how the Russian national team beat the US team at the MFM-2021 hockey

Taking into account the composition of the groups, it was difficult for the organizers of the youth ice hockey world championship to arrange a more principled and tense opposition on the very first day of the championship.

The matches between the national teams of Russia and the USA have always been characterized by emotionality and regularly became one of the brightest in the tournament.

This was mainly due to the high class of rivals, who in recent years were constantly among the main favorites of the MFM.

Suffice it to note that in the 21st century only once (in 2001) neither the Russians nor the Americans won the tournament.

On the one hand, it was even profitable for Igor Larionov's wards to start their way at the tournament by playing with the Americans.

First, a match of this level immediately mobilized hockey players, eliminating possible problems with a lack of composure or motivation.

The Russians were not averse to interrupting the five-match streak of defeats in Edmonton.

Secondly, a victory over one of the main rivals could give the charge of emotions necessary for a successful performance at the group stage.

On the other hand, a failure in a battle with a principled opponent could seriously cripple the Russian team and make them feel insecure before a meeting with the Czech Republic.

With regard to the composition, Larionov did without any surprises.

Yaroslav Askarov, number 11 of the 2020 NHL Draft, was expected to take a place in the goal, and there were only two changes in the fives compared to the exhibition game with Canada.

In the third link, instead of Viktoriaville forward Mikhail Abramov, the University of Connecticut hockey player Vladislav Firstov appeared.

And in the fourth pair of defense, Yegor Shekhovtsov was replaced by the nominal striker Danil Bashkirov.

Thus, the mentor hinted that he plans to act in three pairs of defenders.

Despite the title of the current MFM silver medalists, the Russians were hardly considered the clear favorites of the meeting with the Americans.

At least due to the difference in experience and physical strength.

If the national team from the previous championship has been updated by almost 90%, then the US team is slightly less than half.

Ten hockey players who played in the Czech Republic came to Edmonton.

Among them are one of the top scorers of the previous tournament, Travis Zegras, and the talented goalkeeper Spencer Knight, who was drafted 13th.

And not the most confident game in defense and the removal of Yan Kuznetsov already in the fourth minute only confirmed that Larionov's wards would have a hard time.

There is a squad for the opening match at the World Youth Championship!

⠀ 🏒

Goalkeepers: Askarov, Akhtyamov

⠀ # russia in my heart pic.twitter.com / ZF2HDZhX1R

- Hockey of Russia (@russiahockey) December 26, 2020

Nevertheless, the Russians managed to first confidently fight back in the minority, and then seize a small advantage.

Already in the ninth minute, the game's superiority was converted into the first goal scored.

Defender Artemy Knyazev completed a protracted attack with a throw on the goal, and Vasily Ponomarev, who substituted a stick, became the author of the goal.

The Americans increased the pressure on Askarov's goal, which ultimately resulted in a reciprocal effective attack.

At its core, it strongly resembled Ponomarev's goal.

The shot from the blue line was performed by Captain Cameron York, and Matthew Baldy, who closed the view, slightly disoriented Askarov and prevented him from reacting.

The organizers took a long time to decide who became the author of the puck, and in the end they scored a goal against York.

In the first minutes of the second period, one could get the impression that it would turn out to be no less intense than the first.

The Russians continued to act in their proprietary combinational manner, to which the Americans responded with even more direct, but intense hockey, thanks to which they repeatedly locked rivals on their third of the site.

In this regard, the goal of Zakhar Bardakov in the 24th minute could hardly be called logical.

The patriotic squad played great in defense and organized a lightning-fast counterattack.

Maxim Groshev brought his partner in the fourth link to a rendezvous with Knight, and he left the goalkeeper out of work.

This goal, if not broke the Stars and Stripes, then clearly brought them out of balance.

They began to make one unforced error after another, while the Russians demonstrated the highest level of implementation.

At the end of the period, three of the seven shots of Larionov's charges led to a goal.

In the 32nd minute, the active selection of the puck ended with a double by Ponomarev, and after 67 seconds, Ilya Safonov took advantage of Knight's gross oversight.

The goalkeeper unsuccessfully brought the puck along the side and did not have time to return to target.

Forward of "Ak Bars" had to get into an open corner.

The first half of the final period was dictated by the national squad.

The Russians played not only efficiently, but also effectively, arranging lengthy perepasovka in the opponent's zone.

The fourth link in the composition of Ponomarev, Bardakov and Groshev looked especially bright, whose performance was a real revelation.

If in the confrontation with Canada this troika was mainly focused on destruction, this time it became Larionov's secret weapon in the attack.

However, in the 50th minute, the Americans reduced the difference in the score.

Askarov coped with a difficult shot by Drew Helleson from the blue line, but hit the puck right on the stick of John Farinacci, who was on duty at the penny.

The Muskegon forward cleared the puck with the first touch, and left the goalkeeper out of work with the second.

At the same time, according to Yaroslav himself, striker of the Stars and Stripes, Brett Berard, prevented him from making another save, not without breaking the rules.

However, the arbitrator did not respond to the appeal.

Farinacci's goal provoked a surge of activity on the part of the Americans, who significantly improved both in terms of puck possession and in creating dangerous moments.

The Russians fought back with difficulty and were close to conceding for the third time.

During one of the attacks, Askarov lost his stick, but miraculously managed to keep the gate intact.

Nevertheless, the team of Nate Liman still managed to reduce the difference in the score to a minimum.

In this they were helped by Safonov, who earned an unnecessary removal on the other side of the site.

The sniper was Zegras, who scored his first goal at the MFM.

A year ago, he chalked up nine assists.

The Americans had more than two minutes to restore parity, in connection with which Lyman, as expected, went all-in.

He removed the replacement of Knight as goalkeeper Dustin Wolf and released the sixth fielder, but it did not work.

Yegor Chinakhov crossed out the chances of the Stars and Stripes for a comeback.

The Salavat Yulaev forward took advantage of York's sluggishness and hit the empty net.

The Russian national team won with a score of 5: 3 and for the first time since January 2016 beat the US team at the World Youth Championship.