The first official upset of the tournament featured the Slovaks and the Russians. So far my favorite game of the tournament so far for entertainment value. The Russians should have easily had this one but I personally thought they played around the 1st period and once they got the lead they underestimated the Slovaks in the 3rd and somewhat sat back. Jaroslav Halak once again held the Slovaks in the game when they needed it and Ilya Bryzgalov was near perfect up until the end of the third period. The Russians got on the board in the 2nd with a beauty one timer from Aleksey Morozov on a spectacular pass from Andrei Markov. After that goal the Russians decided they had it one and instead of shooting they tried to score on ether complicated plays or individual efforts. Half way through the 3rd period the Slovaks got some momentum and got on the board from a shot Bryzgalov should have had. After an overtime period of nothing the game went to one of the most exciting shoot-outs I've watched in a while for the Games. The first shooter for the Slovaks Jozef Stumpel tucked one home after faking a glove high shot and going to the back hand. Alexander Ovechkin answered with a shot that snuck by Halak. Then it went to a stalemate where neither shooters from ether teams even came close till Pavol Demtra ended it after 7 shooters. The one thing that puzzled me is Alexander Ovechkin was given the go 3 times for the Russians even after his first goal wasnt a really a pretty goal and he's not exactly a shootout whiz. I would have chosen Alexander Radulov or Andrei Markov who both are pretty good at the shootout? If you had to go multiple attempts from someone why not Pavel Datsyuk? The bum of the game was the entire Russian powerplay who could not score in 4 attempts this game and several more attempts the last few games. You'd think for a major powerhouse with so many weapons they'd be able to score. My player of the game was Alexander Ovechkin who although struggled during the shootout was all over the ice and crushed about 3 Slovaks with big hits. Oh ya, I did happen to notice Ziggy Palffy who I thought had a pretty good game for the Slovaks, he still looks like he's got the talent.
1st Period
No Scoring
2nd Period
Goal 1 - Aleksey Morozov - Andrei Markov, Sergei Zinovyev
3rd Period
Goal 1 - Marian Hossa - Marcel Hossa, Pavol Demitra
OT
No Scoring
Shootout
Aleksey Morozov - X
Jozef Stumpel - Goal
Alexander Ovechkin - Goal
Pavol Demitra - X
Pavel Datsyuk - X
Marian Hossa - X
Alexander Ovechkin - X
Jozef Stumpel - X
Ilya Kovalchuk - X
Michal Handzus - X
Alexander Ovechkin - X
Marian Gaborik - X
Evgeni Malkin - X
Pavol Demitra - Goal
In Net
Slovakia - Jaroslav Halak
Russia - Ilya Bryzgalov
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