Ice hockey: Russia beat Canada

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-22 10:34

Holders Russia cruised past Olympic champions Canada 5-2 on Thursday to reach the World Championship semifinals and take revenge for their heavy defeat at the Vancouver Olympics in February.

The Russians, on track for their third straight title, notched their 26th consecutive World Championship victory against the team that went on to win the Olympic gold medal after crushing them 7-3 in the quarterfinals.

The Russians, superior throughout, grabbed the lead in the final minute of the first period when Maxim Afinogenov saw his shot slip under the body of netminder Chris Mason.

They raced to a 4-0 lead before the Canadians, playing without their biggest NHL names with the league playoffs still ongoing, pulled one back through John Tavares.

Evgeni Malkin then grabbed his second goal of the evening to seal their win, leaving Matt Duchene to merely cut the deficit in the dying seconds.

Russia now face hosts Germany, who are eyeing their first World Championship medal in 57 years, after edging past Switzerland 1-0 thanks to a goal by Philip Gogulla. Earlier, Sweden and the Czech Republic set up a World Championship semifinal clash with wins over Denmark and Finland.

Reuters