Russia Defeats Canada 5-2 at Worlds

Olympic golden boys Team Canada fell 5-2 to Team Russia in the Quarterfinal round at the IIHF World Championships in Cologne, Germany today, in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicates.  Washington Capitals goaltender Semyon Varlamov held the Canadians scoreless until there was 6:08 left in the game after the Russians stormed out to a 4-0 lead on goals by Maxim Afinogenov, Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, and Sergei Fedorov.  John Tavares broke the shutout for Canada before Malkin added an empty net goal.  Matt Duchene added a goal for Canada with 14 seconds left for the final margin.  [Pictures]

#40 Semyon Varlamov

It was a chippy affair with lots of altercations and penalties.  Canadian Steve Downie (18 PIM) got into a tussle with Sergei Fedorov (4 PIM) midway through the third period. Downie and Brent Burns also mixed it up with at the end of the second period with Malkin and Konstantin Korneyev.  Steve Ott (14 PIM) had a run-in with Afinogenov (12 PIM) in the third period, as well.

#29 Sergei Fedorov

Interestingly, with all the fireworks, neither Alex Ovechkin (5-1-6 in 7 games) or Alexander Semin (1-4-5 in 7 games) got on the scoreboard, though Semin did take an early high-sticking penalty.  Semyon Varlamov improved to 4-0 with a .957 Save Percentage, a 1.25 GAA and 1 shutout.  Familiar faces Sergei Fedorov (7 GP, 2-4-6)and Viktor Kozlov (7 GP, 1-2-3) are also playing well.  [Team Russia Stats]

 #52 Viktor Kozlov

Capitals winger Brooks Laich (1 goal in 7 games) was held scoreless for Canada in the game.  While the Russians are sporting 16 of their Olympians in this tournament, the only Canadian Olympian playing in this tournament was Corey Perry, and he took a pair of slashing penalties in the game.  Canada's tournament is done, and they go home empty-handed.  [Team Canada Stats] 

#21 Brooks Laich

Russia advances to play host Germany in the Semi-final on Saturday in Cologne at 6pm local time, (12pm here in DC), for a chance to play either Sweden and Michael Nylander or the Czech Republic and Jaromir Jagr in the Final on Sunday at 8:30pm local time. 

#8 Alex Ovechkin   &  #68 Jaromir Jagr