2021 IIHF World Championships
Game 01
Great Britain 1 Russia 7
After a little over two years from their last game at this level, Team GB faced the might of Russia.
Whilst Russia has the best talent on paper at this World Championships and those players had played a full season heading into this tournament, GB was at a severe disadvantage in that regard.
First Period
For the opening four minutes, Great Britain skated with Russia.
Yes, you read that correctly.
They created one half-chance of note with Ben Davies tipping a shot from Jonathan Phillips just wide.
Sadly for the underdogs, the game was turned on his head as a plethora of penalties meant special teams took over.
Anton Burdasov opened the scoring on a backdoor play as Russia toyed with GB’s penalty kill
Great Britain earned a power play opportunity of their own but allowed a short-handed tally. Russia’s PK is very aggressive and Mikhail Grigorenko sniped home after Dmitri Voronkov had stripped the puck from Brendan Connolly.
It was 3-0 at the nine-minute mark with the first even-strength goal of the game.
The impressive Burdasov netting his second of the game.
A fourth straight goal arrived almost two minutes later.
An outlet pass split the GB defense and Sergei Tolchinski showed an incredible burst of speed before comprehensive beating Jackson Whistle.
It was the kind of hammer blow that would destroy other teams but not GB who stuck to their task and were rewarded.
A goal on the power play against Russia is something to remember.
Brendan Connolly had a poor game overall but this was his best moment as he manoeuvred his way off the right boards and sent the puck to Robert Dowd on his inside.
Dowd had a chance to shoot but instead dished off to Liam Kirk who had a clear sight of the goal.
Kirk was cool and composed as sent the puck through the five-hole of Ivan Bocharov.
What a moment in British hockey history as Liam Kirk scores his first senior international goal.
Second Period
The middle frame saw Jackson Whistle come into his own.
The goaltender stopped 17 of 18 shots as GB finally got their penalty kill in order, denying Russia during a pair of man-advantages.
Tolchinski rang a wicked wrist shot off the crossbar and Russia had to wait until the thirty-minute mark to extend their lead.
It was a nice finish from Pavel Karnaukhov, who stickhandled around Whistle after getting behind the defense.
Third Period
As they did early in the first period, Greta Britain competed on a level par with Russia in the third.
Kirk would draw a penalty on a strong drive to the net on his backhand but GB was unable to convert with the extra man.
Kirk was a man inspired as he picked the puck up in the neutral zone, gained speed and beat off two Russian opponents before watching his backhand effort turned aside.
Dowd whistled a shot agonisingly wide thirty seconds later and the following shift also created chances.
Ollie Betteridge and Robert Lachowicz combined brilliantly but both had their efforts blocked by last-ditch efforts by defensemen.
So close but yet so far.
Russia would tack a couple more goals on to complete the victory.
Andrei Kuzmenko with a well-placed shot on the power-play made it 6-1.
The seventh goal was a pinpoint finish in the far top corner of the net by Captain Anton Slepyshev, though the officials had to review it as they somehow missed the fact the puck had crossed the line.
GB Player of the Game: Jackson Whistle
Post Game Notes
As far as expectations go, a 7-1 loss in the circumstances is a good result.
There were periods of the game where GB skated with Russia and they kept their defensive structure fairly well despite being hemmed in for long periods.
The penalty count can be reduced by showing better discipline and fitness will doubtless play a part in that regard also.
There were encouraging debuts from Joshua Tetlow and David Clements, playing against the toughest opposition of their careers.
Ben Davies showed glimpses of his speed and offensive abilities and I’ve no doubt he’ll be more of an influence as the tournament progresses.
Jackson Whistle endured a rough first period but handled himself incredibly well. He posted 24 saves through the final forty minutes and made a handful of exceptional saves. I assume that GB intends to split the starts and Whistle’s performance will give the coaching staff confidence to keep that strategy in place.
The boy came to play. Liam Kirk scored, could have added at least one more and created a couple of scoring chances. He played with a great deal of maturity and took his goal incredibly well.
I cannot wait to see what he does for the rest of the tournament.
One thing I’d change: Brendan Connolly looked out of sorts so possibly try him in a different combination and elevate someone like Ben Davies for a different look. It’s one game and I won’t hammer the coaching staff but it’s something I would like to have seen in-game at some point of the third period.
GB equipment manager Jason Ellery was handed his 150th cap ahead of the World Championship game against Russia.
Netminder Ben Bowns has been presented with his 50th cap ahead of Great Britain’s match against Russia, while David Clements, Lewis Hook and Josh Tetlow were presented with debut caps.
Line-up
Kirk – Perlini – Connolly
Lake- Hammond – Dowd
Hook – Lachowicz – Betteridge
Ferrara – Davies – Myers – J. Phillips
O’Connor – D. Phillips
Tetlow – Richardson
Ehrhardt – Clements
Garside
Whistle
Bowns
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