The Russians finished first in Group B and earned a bye into the quarter-finals on Wednesday. U.S. goaltender Ryan Zapolski allowed four goals on 26 shots, including Kovalchuk’s goals less than 33 seconds apart at the end of the second period and start of the third. Los Angeles Kings 2012 draft pick Nikolai Prokhorkin scored the Russians’ first two goals in a dominant performance that U.S. coach Tony Granato and players didn’t think was as lopsided as the score. The Russians hemmed the U.S. in its zone late, and the fatigue took its toll as the game went on. The U.S. spent the rest of the second period unable to convert on a delayed-penalty chance and a couple of power plays.

Source: thestar February 17, 2018 22:39 UTC