Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk was the hero as Russia kept their perfect record with a confident 6-1 win over Group E rivals Denmark at the ice hockey world championships in Cologne, Germany, on Sunday.
Datsyuk collected a hat-trick and an assist, while Washington Capitals striker Alexander Ovechkin netted his fifth goal in as many matches as the defending champions extended their winning streak to 23 matches at worlds.
“We wanted to make sure that we respected Denmark, and played organized hockey, and that was exactly what we did today,” Russia manager Vyachselav Bykov said. “In the second period there were minutes when we lost discipline, but one way or another we’re happy with the result.”
The Russians, who played in Saturday’s late match against hosts Germany, looked nevetheless more active and accurate than their fresher opponents, clinching a comfortable 2-0 lead in the opening period.
Datsyuk netted the opening goal beating Denmark’s netminder Frederik Andersen with an unopposed wrist shot from Ilya Kovalchuk’s feeder at 15 minutes, seven minutes.
Ovechkin added his shorthanded goal sending the puck in with an unopposed slap shot with 48 seconds remaining before the first break.
In the second period Denmark narrowed the gap at 25 minutes, two seconds when Mads Christensen redirected Peter Regin’s shot from the blue line into the net on powerplay.
However, Pittsbirgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin restored Russia’s two-goal advantage at 33 minutes, 40 seconds, firing in past helpless Andersen from just outside the crease on powerplay.
In the third, Datsyuk netted two more goals to complete his hat-trick, while Toronto Maple Leafs striker Nikolai Kulemin added his goal to seal Russia’s fifth win in as many head-to-head meetings with the Danes at worlds.
“They were too good. We knew that before the game, and we know it now even better,” Denmark coach Per Backman said.
Meanwhile, last year’s bronze medalists Sweden upset 3-1 Vancouver Olympic champions Canada in their qualifying Group F showdown.
The Swedes jumped into an early lead through Jonas Harju, who received an Andreas Engqvist pass at Canadian blue line and skated in to beat keeper Chris Mason with an unopposed shot two minutes, 35 seconds into the match.
Canada poured into attack seeking an equalizer making Sweden goalkeeper Jonas Gustavsson the busiest player at the ice of the Mannheim arena.
However, it was to no immediate avail as the goalie, who is playing with Toronto Maple Leafs, was in command of his net before the first intermission.
Dynamo Moscow forward Jonas Andersson gave Sweden a commanding 3-0 lead scoring twice within just three minutes early in the second period forcing Canada’s coach Craig McTavish to substitute Mason for Chad Johnsson.
Washington Capitals striker Brook Laich reduced the arrears scoring six minutes, 57 seconds into the third period after Sweden’s mixup in defense, but failed to save the day for Canada.
In the Group F early match, Latvia blanked Norway 5-0 to keep alive their chances of entering the knockout round.
After two goalless periods, Norway ran out of gas, allowing the Baltic country to score five unanswered goals to leapfrog Norway in their group table.
In the late Group E match, Belarus upset 2-1 the hosts Germany in overtime.
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