Notebook: Team Russia going with Sergei Bobrovsky

TORONTO -- From the start of training camp last week, Sergei Bobrovsky appeared to have the inside track to be Team Russia's No. 1 goaltender at the World Cup of Hockey 2016.
Coach Oleg Znarok previously refrained from confirming that, but announced at World Cup Media Day on Thursday that Bobrovsky will start for Team Russia in its preliminary-round opener against Team Sweden at Air Canada Centre on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVA Sports).
"We'll start with Sergei Bobrovsky and then we'll see how it goes," Znarok said.

Team Russia plays again Monday against Team North America (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, TVA Sports), so it's possible that Znarok will start Semyon Varlamov, who appears to be the No. 2, in that game rather than play Bobrovsky on consecutive days. But, Bobrovsky, 27, has played for Znarok at the past three World Championships, helping Russia win a medal in each, and clearly has his confidence.

"Obviously, [starting on Sunday] was my goal and it's a big honor for me to play in the first game, but, at the same time, it's a big challenge and you have big responsibilities in front of your team and your country," Bobrovsky said. "So, I look forward to doing that and, obviously, I'm very happy."
Bobrovsky solidified his position by making 45 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to Team Canada in Team Russia's pretournament finale at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. There were no signs of rust that plagued him early in a 4-3 pretournament win over Team Czech Republic on Sept. 8 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Bobrovsky made 29 saves in that game.
"I felt much better than the first game," Bobrovsky said. "I felt comfortable. I felt right there."
At this point, Bobrovsky isn't looking beyond the game Sunday, but it appears Team Russia's No. 1 goalie job is his to lose.
"I'm focusing on right here, right now," Bobrovsky said.
OVECHKIN'S OLMYPIC PLAN: The NHL and NHL Players' Association have yet to making a decision on whether it will participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, but Washington Capitals captain and Team Russia forward Alex Ovechkin has already made up his mind.
As he did before the NHL and NHLPA committed to playing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Ovechkin has vowed to play for Russia in the 2018 Games regardless of what the League and players' union decide.
"My decision is the same," Ovehckin said. "So, I don't know what's going to happen right now, but we just have to wait [and hear] what they say and we'll see. … It's a situation where you don't know what's going to happen. But, obviously, I said I'm going to play."
When asked to clarify his intentions for the PyeongChang Games, Ovechkin replied, "I will go there."
Prior to the World Cup pretournament game between Team Sweden and Team Europe in Washington on Wednesday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly described discussions with the International Ice Hockey Federation about the PyeongChang Games as "radio silence." But, Daly added that the sides would likely meet in Toronto during the World Cup.

Ovechkin, who will turn 31 on Saturday, has played in the past three Olympics. After he announced his intention to play in the 2014 Sochi Olympics regardless of what the NHL and NHLPA decided, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis backed him.
"If [the NHL and NHLPA decide not to go to Sochi] and Alex still wants to go to the Olympics, I'm going to be honest, I'm going to let him go," Leonsis said.
WAIT AND SEE: Znarok said he hasn't decided on the rest of his lineup for the game vs. Team Sweden on Sunday. Defenseman Nikita Nesterov and forward Vladislav Namestnikov were healthy scratches against Team Canada on Wednesday.
"We still have time, and I'll keep you posted," Znarok said. "We do have three days to decide that."