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Team Sweden edges Team Russia in opener
- Updated: September 19, 2016
TORONTO — Team Sweden survived a late comeback attempt from Team Russia and came out on the positive side of a controversial video review for a 2-1 win in the World Cup of Hockey 2016 preliminary round opener for both teams at Air Canada Centre on Sunday.
Team Russia forward Alex Ovechkin thought he had the game-tying goal with 8.2 seconds remaining in the third period, but the officials ruled it no goal because he batted the puck into the net with his hand. Video review confirmed the call on the ice.
“I thought I touched it,” Ovechkin said. “To be honest with you I didn’t see the replay, but I [felt] the touch. I don’t know if it was the puck or the stick. I definitely [felt] the touch on my hand on my stick. It doesn’t matter right now. It’s over, so we have to forget about it and move forward.”
Ovechkin scored on a wrist shot through traffic with 33 seconds remaining in the third period to slice the deficit to 2-1.
Team Sweden goalie Jacob Markstrom started in place of Henrik Lundqvist, who was a late scratch because of an illness. Markstrom made 27 saves and got goals from forward Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Victor Hedman, who scored 2:11 apart in the second period.
The win ended Team Sweden’s 12-year drought against Team Russia in major international tournaments and gave it the early lead in the Group B standings.
Team Sweden hadn’t defeated Team Russia in an Olympics, IIHF World Championship or World Cup of Hockey game since the 2004 World Championship. It had lost 12 consecutive games in major international tournaments, including 11 in the World Championships.
Landeskog got on the board first for Team Sweden with a power-play goal off a one-timer from the top of the right circle at 10:41, four seconds into the man-advantage. Right wing Patric Hornqvist was in front of the net, screening Team Russia goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (27 saves).
Hedman scored what turned into the game-winning goal on a one-timer from between the hash marks …
