Struggle for medals in hockey Olympic competitions in Vancouver is over for the Russia team after it has been beaten by Canada 7:3 on Wednesday. The match between two of hockey's super powers was spectacular and breathtaking.
It was obvious from the very first minutes that the game won't be easy. The host Canadians managed to take a 3-0 lead after the first 10 minutes. The Russian team seemed to be shocked until Dmitry Kalinin scored the first goal. After the interval the game continued with the 4-1 score. But then the outcome was almost predetermined.
The goals scored by the Canadians in the second period increased the team's lead to 6-1. The Russian coach then replaced goalkeeper Yevgeny Nabokov with Ilya Bryzgalov but yet the move did not help the Russians to reverse the situation, and this part of the game ended with Canada's 7-3 lead. In the third period the host players were no longer that aggressive for it was clear already that the Russians won`t be able to catch up with the rivals.
Asked what had decided the outcome of the match, Russia's goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov said:
"We were unprepared. The Canadians had the drive, they played better. We made too many mistakes, lost all pitch-board fights, and there we are, pushed to where we are now".
Forward Ilya Kovalchuk was visibly saddened by his team's defeat:
"We made many mistakes in the beginning, kept losing the pluck in the middle section, and finally lost. It's really sad".
The Canadian hockey fans were in an uproar over their team's first Olympic win over Russia in almost half a century. The Russians will now have to wait for four long years to try to take revenge on Canada at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
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