Eurolanche

Varlamov blanked Italy

Clearly, Russia’s thriving under the new tournament format for 2012. The Stockholm group leaders completed a perfect round-robin by defeating Italy 4-0 on Monday. The last-place Italians are relegated for 2013.

Russia will face either Norway or the Czech Republic in Thursday’s quarter-finals.

Yevgeni Kuznetsov led the charge with a goal and an assist in Russia’s seventh straight regulation win, and Alexander Perezhogin had two helpers. Pavel Datsyuk, Yevgeni Biryukov, and Alexander Popov added singles.

It was Russia's second straight game with no goals allowed. The last goal against was Johan Franzén's 3-1 marker for Sweden at 9:36 of the second period in Russia's 7-3 win on Friday.

The Russians had superior speed, skill and strength, and it was only a matter of time before those attributes carried the day. An Italian fan’s sign in the crowd read, “World’s Best Pizza,” which didn’t reflect high hopes for an Azzurri upset.

After a tepid start, the Russians got going with Datsyuk’s second goal of the tournament at 9:25. He accepted a nice centering pass from behind the goal line by Kuznetsov, stickhandled into the slot, and beat Tragust with a high wrister blocker side.

There were more Russian first-period chances, but they just didn’t bear down, and even gave the Italians some odd-man rushes, while outshooting them 15-8.

Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov replaced starting goalie Semyon Varlamov to start the second period, giving Mikhail Biryukov his first action of the tournament.

At 4:28 of the second period, Russia took a 2-0 lead when Nikolai Kulyomin’s pass on a 2-on-1 gave Kuznetsov a clear path to the net and his quick stick-side release found the twine.

Less than four minutes later, Yevgeni Biryukov’s shot from inside the blueline made it 3-0, tipped in by an Italian defender.

In the third period, with 6:22 left, Perezhogin pounced on an Italian turnover behind the net and centered it to Popov, who zinged one past Tragust from the right faceoff circle.

In 10 all-time World Championship meetings, Italy has never defeated Russia. Its best result was a 2-2 tie at the 1993 tournament in Germany.

After this game, Italy's three best players of the tournament were honoured: goalie Daniel Bellissimo, defenceman Matt de Marchi, and forward Giulio Scandella.

-by Lucas Aykroyd for IIHf.com-