Kovalchuk lifts Russians to first world title in 15 years
Posted: Sun May 18 4:12 PM
Quebec City, QC (Sports Network) - Ilya Kovalchuk scored late in regulation to tie it, then won the game with a power-play goal in overtime to lift Russia to a 5-4 victory over Canada in the gold medal game at the 2008 World Hockey Championship.
Kovalchuk tied it for the Russians with just 5:14 to play in the third, firing a shot from the left circle that found its way past a screened Cam Ward. The game then went to overtime and Canada's Rick Nash took a penalty for delay of game just 1:55 into the extra session.
The Russians, skating 4-on-3, cashed in at the 2:42 mark when Kovalchuk waltzed in from the blue line and unleashed a shot from the high slot that zipped past Ward high on the blocker side. Kovalchuk hadn't scored during the tournament until Sunday.
Russia, which won a bronze medal last year on home soil, captured its first world title since 1993. Canada, which won last year's crown in Russia, was trying for its fourth title in six years.
Alexander Semin gave the Russians a 1-0 lead just 83 seconds into the game, but the Canadians tied it at the 3:54 mark on a goal by Brent Burns. Burns faked a shot at the top of the right circle and slid to the high slot before ripping a shot past Evgeni Nabokov.
The Canadians had another great chance a couple of minutes later, but Martin St. Louis hit the post on a shot from the low right circle.
A Russian turnover midway through the period led to Canada's second goal. Maxim Sushinskiy appeared to be tripped at center ice and lost the puck. Chris Kunitz took advantage and skated into the offensive zone alone before blasting a shot from the left circle high into the upper far corner of the net.
Russia had a similar chance just a few moments later when Sergei Zinoviev broke in alone on the left wing, but Ward stopped a left-circle blast.
The Canadians were then given a two-man advantage for nearly 90 seconds and cashed in with 5:09 left in the opening period. Dany Heatley fanned on a one- timer from the right circle, but the puck went directly to the right side of the cage for St. Louis, who quickly fed a pass to the top of the crease. Burns was there and sent a shot through Nabokov's pads for his second goal of the game and a 3-1 edge.
Russia converted a power play just 1:14 into the second period to pull within one, as Semin took a rebound off the back boards and fired home a shot from the left circle.
Heatley restored Canada's two-goal margin midway through the second with his 12th goal of the tournament. He took a feed from Ryan Getzlaf and snapped a shot from the left circle past Nabokov on the short side. Heatley set a Canadian record for most goals in a single World Championship, besting the previous mark of 11 set by Eric Lindros in 1993.
The Russians again drew within one when Alexei Tereshchenko scored from the slot off the rebound of a blocked shot with 11:05 remaining in regulation.
