Russia's superstars outperform Italy by double digits

A clear defeat was to be expected due to the difference in quality, but in the end it was the first double-digit defeat ever at the World Cup in Slovakia, but it made it even more bitter for Clayton Beddoes' team than feared. A merciless “Sbornaja” turned the group game into a training match and clearly defeated Italy 10-0.

Every fourth shot from the Russians is correct What is worrying this evening is less the clear result than the fact that after four games, or rather 240 minutes played, the Blue Team is still without a single goal. The “Azzurri” came very close to scoring their first goal twice. Namely when the score was 0:2, when Marco Rosa failed at the post and in the final phase when Diego Kostner hit the crossbar. NHL goalie Andrei Vasilevki was already beaten both times. Simon Kostner (l.) and his teammates remain unlucky in the end. © AP / Ronald Zak

While luck and penetration are still lacking at the front, Italy's goalies were much more permeable at the back than in the 0-3 defeat against Latvia. While Andreas Bernard fended off an incredible 62 shots the day before, he and Marco de Filippo Roia, who came into action from 5-0 onwards, allowed 10 of 40 shots to pass against Russia.

At the same time, these statistics also underline the enormous determination with which the big tournament favorite went to work from the first minute. Toronto defender Nikita Zaitsev opened the scoring after just 31 seconds. In the end he was one of eight different goalscorers. For the first time at this World Cup, Stanley Cup winner, world champion and Olympic champion Alex Ovechkin also scored a goal. Completely alone, he scored the interim 4-0 from a tight angle. In addition to “Ovi”, his Washington teammate Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Yevgeni Dadonov particularly stood out, each scoring twice. Captain Ilya Kovalchuk and NHL top scorer Nikita Kucherov (128 points in 82 regular-season games) also scored against Italy. The next title contender awaits on Friday While the “Sbornaja” with its pure white vest is fully on target and at the same time on course for the quarterfinals, the decisive World Cup phase is now looming for the Blue Team. After the next tough duel with the Czech Republic on Friday, the supposedly easiest group opponents await: Norway (Saturday) and Austria (Monday). At that point at the latest, goals and points are needed to ensure they stay in the world group. Germany defeats the hosts In the second evening game, Germany defeated tournament hosts Slovakia 3-2 thanks to a last-minute goal from Edmonton striker Leon Draisaitl. The DEB selection therefore remains undefeated.

Group B: Russia – Italy 10:0 Russia: Vasilevski (Georgiev); Sergachyov-Nesterov, Orlov-Zaitsev, Khafizullin-Gavrikov, Zadorov; Grigorenko-Malkin-Dadonov, Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Barabanov, Gusev-Anisimov-Kucherov, Kovalchuk-Andronov-Kaprizov, Telegin Coach: Ilya Vorobyov

Italy: Bernard (from 20.18 De Filippo Roia); McMonagle-Helfer, Zanatta-Tauferer, Trivellato-Pavlu, Hofer-Marchetti; Miceli-D. Kostner-Insam, Bardaro-Rosa-Ramoser, Gander-Andergassen-Deluca, Hochkofler-Lambacher-S. Kostner Coach: Clayton Beddoes

Gates: 1:0 Nikita Zaitsev (0.31), 2:0 Dinar Khafizullin (8.30), 3:0 Yevgeni Kuznetsov (13.15), 4:0 Alexander Ovechkin (16.14), 5:0 Yevgeni Kuznetsov (20.18), 6:0 Ilya Kovalchuk (26.03), 7:0 Yevgeni Dadonov (33.41), 8:0 Mikhaul Grigorenko (36.25), 9:0 Nikita Kucherov (44.52), 10:0 Yevgeni Dadonov (45.27)

Pos Name Games Points 1. Russia 4 12 2. Switzerland 4 12 3. Sweden 3 6 4. Czechia 3 6 5. Latvia 3 6 6. Austria 3 0 7. Norway 4 0 8. Italy 4 0 Group a: Germany-Slovakia 3:2 Gates: 1:0 Marc Michaelis (23.54), 1:1 Andrej Sekera (28.30), 1:2 Libor Hudacek (29.55), 2:2 Markus Eisenschmid (58.08), 3:2 Leon Draisaitl (59.33)

Pos Name Games Points 1. Germany 4 12 2. USA 4 8 3. Finland 3 7 4. Canada 3 6 5. Denmark 3 5 6. Slovakia 4 3 7. France 3 1 8. Great Britain 4 0

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Russia's superstars outperform Italy by double digits

Two alimony goals as a sense of achievement, that's all that Italy's national team took away from the unequal World Cup duel with Olympic champions Russia. Alex Ovechkin & Co. didn't give the still goalless “Azzurri” the slightest chance.

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