The Ceska Pojistovna Cup opener saw a match-up of two very inexperienced teams; Russia, with a very young roster, including six players making their national debut and Sweden, with six players joining the team as replacements. Sweden’s Per Svartvadet, Daniel Fernholm, Andreas Salomonsson, Niklas Nordgren and Stefan Liv couldn`t play for various reasons. They are being replaced Daniel Henriksson, Jonas Nordquist, Lars Jonsson, Charles Berglund and Jari Tolsa as well as by Jesper Mattsson who didn’t play today. Andreas Johansson was first selected as a replacement but couldn´t play due to insurance issues.

Russia started strong, with some early chance and the first goal of the game at 7:52 from Maksim Sushinsky, one of the Russian team’s few veterans. Andrej Taratuchin won a face off, sending the puck to Sushinsky who shot the puck straight into the net. Russia dominated the first half of the period but Sweden bounced back, playing better in the last ten minutes of the first period but Russia managed to hold on to their lead.

Russia started strong, with some early chance and the first goal of the game at 7:52 from Maksim Sushinsky, one of the Russian team’s few veterans. Andrej Taratuchin won a face off, sending the puck to Sushinsky who shot the puck straight into the net. Russia dominated the first half of the period but Sweden bounced back, playing better in the last ten minutes of the first period but Russia managed to hold on to their lead.

Penalty trouble for Sweden at the end of the first period gave Russia an early second period power play, on which Andrej Taratuchin rang his shot from close range off the post. Sweden played defensively, allowing the Russians to control most of offensive play. Eight minutes into second period, however Sweden’s Jonas Nordquist scored off a pass from Christian Berglund.

Russia continued to dominate the game and had some scoring oppurtunities but Johan Holmqvist was very strong in goal for Tre Kronor, making some nice saves.

Sweden was better in the third, and after a few Russian chances to early on, Sweden took over the gam, though they failed to capitalise on a 5-on-3, they played extremely well, but taking the lead only at 19:28 on a goal by Mika Hannula, which would prove to be the game-winnter.

Both teams will travel to the Czech Republic where the tournament will continue on Saturday.

Russia - Sweden 1:2 (1:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Goals and assists: 8.Sušinskij (Taratuchin) - 29. Nordquist (Berglund), 60. Hannula (Davidsson). Referee: Rönn (FIN). Penalties: 5:6 + Kuljash (RUS) nad Berglund (SWE) 5 + 20 min. No power-play goals. Audience: 6803.

Line-ups Russia: Zvjagin - Kuljaš, Aťjušov, Žukov, Kutajkin, Chomickij, Kolcov, Titov, Vorobjev - Sušinskij, Taratuchin, Charitonov - Tkačenko, Něprjajev, But - Mirnov, Kurjanov, Zaripov - Kajgorodov, Čistov, Platonov.

Sweden: J. Holmqvist - A . Holmqvist, Jónsson, Petrasek, Frögren, Oduya, S. Lindström, Jonsson - Soling, Martensson, Ledin - Hannula, Davidsson, Lundqvist - Eriksson, Ottosson, Ölvestad - Berglund, Nordquist, Tolsa.