2010 U18 WJC: Finland prevails over Russia 5-4 (Photo © fhr.ru)

In the third match of the 2010 U18 WJC Team Russia lost to Finland 4-5. Markus Granlund opened the score after less than two minutes in the first period, but Emil Galimov made it an 1-1 game just before the first horn.

In the second period Finland got a quick two goals lead thanks to two goals by Teemu Pullkinen. After Finland’s third goal, head coach Mikhail Vasiliev swapped goalie Sergei Kostenko for Andrei Vasilevski.

In the third period Russia tried hard to get back on track and it paid off when captain Evgeny Kuznetsov cut down the opponents’ lead spoiling a mistake by a defenseman midway through the latest stanza. Two minutes later center Vladislav Namestnikov scored the game tying goal. But it didn’t last long as Makinen scored another goal that allowed the Finns to go ahead. Later on Vasiliev called the goalie on the bench, but Finland scored the 5-3 on the empty net with Asten. Russia added another goal at the 59th minute with Sergei Barbashev, but it was too late and the game thus ended 5-4.

Team Russia’s next match will be played on Sunday against Slovakia.