"We can all play better,” defenceman Anton Belov said. “Today is just the third day after we flew here."

Slovenia surprised the host country with their perseverance and push back but in the end, Valeri Nichushkin’s goal at 3:59 of the third period gave Russia the two-goal lead.

It was the Edmonton Oilers blueliner, Belov, who sealed the win for the Russians with his goal at 7:53 of the third period, putting his team up by three.

"Everybody saw how after two goals we sort of calmed down and lowered our tempo,” he said. “A serious team should not do such things."