Team Russia 4, Team North America 3
Team Russia rallied from a 1-0 deficit against Team North America to score four consecutive goals, then held on for a 4-3 win for its first victory of the tournament.
The Russian onslaught began 9:29 into the second period when Vladislav Namestnikov, seeing his first World Cup action, found the back of the net to level the score 1-1. Nikita Kucherov, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko followed with goals for Team Russia, all four coming in a span of 6:14 of the second period.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins cut Team North America's deficit to 4-3 with his power-play goal 3:01 into the third period, but Team Russia goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 43 saves in total, clamped down to prevent Team North America from completing the rally.
Team North American outshot Team Russia 46-25.
Both Team Russia and Team North America are 1-1-0 with one more game remaining in group play.
Vladislav Namestnikov got Team Russia on the board midway through the second period after it had been dominated for much of the game leading up to the goal. Namestnikov rebounded a shot from Ivan Telegin with a backhander at the net that bounced off the post and the skate of Team North America goalie Matt Murray before slipping into the goal. Namestnikov also had a hit and two takeaways during his 8:59 of action.
Nikita Kucherov netted his first goal of the tournament to put Team Russia up for good 2-1 just 50 seconds after Namestnikov's goal. Kucherov set up in the left circle and one-timed Nikolay Kulemin's bouncing pass by Murray. Kucherov added a hit and a blocked shot and had 12:37 time on ice.
Nikita Nesterov and Andrei Vasilevskiy were scratches for Team Russia.
Jonathan Drouin skated 9:59 for Team North America, including 1:49 on the power play, and was held without a point.
Team Europe 3, Team Czech Republic 2 (OT)
Leon Draisaitl scored 2:06 into overtime to send Team Europe to its second victory in as many games at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and put itself in prime position to advance out of the group stage.
Team Europe (2-0-0) currently tops Group A.
Team Europe never trailed against Team Czech Republic (0-1-1) and held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 behind goals from Zdeno Chara and Mats Zuccarello. Jakub Voracek and Martin Hanzal answered for Team Czech Republic, which has just one point through two tournament games.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palatled Team Czech Republic with four hits and three blocked shots and was second on the team for shots (4). Palat saw over three minutes each on the power play and penalty kill during his 19:01 of ice time.
Bolts defenseman Andrej Sustr put up two shots, two blocked shots and one takeaway in 20:09, third-most TOI among Team Czech Republic blueliners.
Today's schedule
Team Finland (0-1-0) vs. Team Sweden (1-0-0), 3 p.m.
Team Canada (1-0-0) vs. Team USA (0-1-0), 8 p.m.
