A U.S. men’s hockey roster without NHL players was far from the most talented team assembled entering the 2018 Olympics. That distinction, on paper, belonged to the Olympics Athletes from Russia. And on Saturday, the disparity showed.

Former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk scored two spirit-breaking goals 28 seconds apart and the Russians dispatched Team USA with ease in a 4-0 victory to close out the preliminary round, clinching first place in Group B and a bye into the quarterfinals.

The Americans would have won the group by defeating OAR. Instead, they finish third behind Slovenia, which upset the U.S. in their Olympics opener and defeated Slovakia 3-2 in a shootout Saturday to leapfrog from last place to second. Team USA now faces a much more difficult path to medal.

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Three group winners and the fourth-best runner-up are given byes in the Olympic tournament format, which advances all 12 teams. The U.S. awaits the results of Sunday's group play to determine their seeding. They'll face either Slovakia, Germany or Norway in a Tuesday qualification game. Win, and familiar names such as Canada, Sweden and Finland figure to be waiting at some point. But Canada lost to the Czech Republic Friday night and could miss on a bye as well.

If we've learned a lesson so far, it's that nothing should be assumed in a tournament without NHL players. After all, OAR, for all its faults, entered Pyeongchang as gold-medal favorites, something a single slip-up against Slovakia doesn't change. The Russians throttled Slovenia 8-2 on Thursday and seem to be back on track. Their speed and scoring prowess overmatched the Americans, composed entirely of college players and career journeymen.

Nikolai Prokhorkin, a fourth-round draft pick by the Kings in 2012, scored the first two goals Saturday. Team USA managed to keep things close in the second period. A two-goal deficit is far from insurmountable, as they've learned. But Kovalchuk delivered a backbreaker just before intermission, scoring with 0.2 seconds remaining in the period.

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Kovalchuk then added a second goal 28 seconds into the third period, essentially a kill shot for a broken U.S. team that led in shots on goal but couldn't finish its chances.

The Americans entered as underdogs for the first time in the Olympics. In the first two games, Slovenia and Slovakia employed a slog-it-out strategy while up against superior talents. But the U.S. couldn't keep up stride for stride with the Russians, who boast four scoring lines led by Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk.

Kovalchuk, intent on delivering the Russians their first medal since 2002, has four goals in his last two games, tied for the tournament lead with 20-year-old teammate Kirill Kaprizov. The talent discrepancy was apparent in net, too. Vasili Koshechkin recored a 29-save shutout while U.S. starter Ryan Zapolski struggled to control rebounds, continuing his shaky tournament thus far.

Sporting News provided live scoring updates and highlights from the game. See the resultsbelow. (All times Eastern.)

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Final result: OAR 4, USA 0

Third period

9:27 — That's the final. Russia wins Group B and clinches a bye to the quarterfinals. The U.S. will play a qualifier Tuesday, opponent TBD.

9:20 — We're going through the motions now. If Russia hangs on (a foregone conclusion), they'll clinch Group B since Slovenia and Slovakia are headed to overtime.

8:59 — Looks like Tony Granato will stick with Ryan Zapolski, for better or worse. That last Kovachuk goal wasn't so much his fault, but the U.S. needs a goaltender to steal a few if they want to mount a comeback. Backups Brandon Maxwell and David Leggio haven't played these Olympics.

8:55 — GOAL. Russia's skill is winning out now. Ilya Kovalchuk scores his second goal 28 seconds into the third period and Russia takes a 4-0 lead. He's single-handedly crushing Team USA's spirits; it'll take one hell of a comeback now.

8:51 — Teams are back out. Ryan Zapolski is still in the U.S. net for the start of the third. He's allowed three goals on 19 shots. We're four aside for 30 seconds.

Second period — OAR 3, USA 0

Shots on goal: USA 20, OAR 19

8:42 — If there's some good news here, Slovenia has a 2-1 lead over Slovakia. Root for that game to go to overtime.

8:41 — USA can't finish. They're skating well, saw some chances, especially toward the end of the period. But they can't bury anything.

8:37 — GOAL. Russia delivers a possible kill shot just before intermission. Ilya Kovalchuk makes the U.S. pay for a brutal shift and scores with 0.2 seconds remaining in the second period. That's a tough one to swallow, especially since the Americans were set to carry momentum after a couple quality scoring chances.

8:35 — As scrums break out left and right, roughing penalties are handed out to USA’s Chris Borque and Russia’s Nikolai Prokhorkin.

8:32 — It's whistle after whistle now after the U.S. generates a couple chances in front. Jordan Greenway in the middle of it again.

8:24 — U.S. power play again lackluster. They've been unable to sustain much pressure in the offensive zone. Missed passes, turnovers, no shots on goal.

8:22 — USA to the power play after Bogdan Kiselevich gets the gate for high-sticking. Americans are 0 for 2 so far today, but this is where they can do damage.

8:15 — Another missed chance for Brian Gionta. He was next to the Russian net, puck nestled in the crease with traffic but couldn't hammer it home. Still 2-0, OAR.

8:11 — What a play by Vasily Koshechkin, who thwarts Brian Gionta on a semi-breakaway with a little stick check. Gionta wasn't able to get the shot off. Delayed penalty. USA to the power play 7:09 into second period.

8:08 — Ryan Donato drives to the net and the Russians take exception. Another net-front scuffle ensues. Offsetting minor penalties and it'll be four-on-four for a bit.

8:06 — USA killed off the penalty (Russia now 0 for 2) but the Americans are on their heels. Need to regain momentum somehow.

8:03 — Now Noah Welch is headed to the box for high-sticking. Not a great sequence for the U.S. to start the second period.

8:02 — GOAL. Nikolai Prokhorkin scores his second of the game, beating Ryan Zapolski glove side with a laser on the rush. Really lackadaisical effort for the U.S. to get back. Tough break after killing off the penalty.

8:01 — Only one shot on goal for the Russians during that power play. Nice kill for the U.S.

7:58 — The puck has dropped on the second period. Russia has 1:34 remaining on its power play.

First period — OAR 1, USA 0

Shots on goal: OAR 13, USA 11

7:55 — Group B update: Slovenia has a 1-0 lead over Slovakia after one period. That's the ideal result for the U.S.

7:54 — Nice to see ol' George Washington is doing well.

GET IT, GEORGE WASHINGTON pic.twitter.com/DD09ju8JT5 — Olympic Hockey on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 17, 2018

7:49 — Feeling down after that first period? Here's a reminder Canada lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Czech Republic last night, ending their streak of 11 straight wins at the Olympics. No one is invincible in this tournament.

7:46 — USA trails Russia 1-0 after one period. OAR starts the second on the power play thanks to the Noah Welch hooking penalty. U.S. will need to generate higher quality scoring chances. The Russians are getting to the net, but can count on one hand USA's opportunities in the first (Donato's crossbar clank being one of them).

7:42 — A mad scramble in front of the U.S. net and it looks like Matt Gilroy just saved a goal. Puck got behind Ryan Zapolski and Gilroy swooped in with his stick and batted it away. Ilya Kovalchuk then draws penalty on Noah Welch. OAR power play coming up with 26.7 seconds left in first.

7:38 — Just missed. Red-hot Ryan Donato clanks it off the crossbar with 3:16 left in first period. He scored twice last game.

7:35 — Ryan Zapolski hasn't been sharp. He's going to have to settle down with the rebound control (an issue for him in the first two games too). Russians will bury one or two sooner or later.

7:33 — More pushing and shoving in front of the Russian net after Vasily Koshechkin freezes the puck.

7:31 — Jordan Greenway and Nikolai Prokhorkin scuffle right in front of the Russia bench. Greenway is getting his hands dirty today.

7:29 — Power play expires. The U.S. spent most of the time behind its own net. They couldn't start a breakout to save their lives.

7:26 — USA gets a power play now. Sergei Kalinin is off for tripping. The U.S. was 2 for 6 with the man advantage against Slovakia with Ryan Donato working his magic twice.

7:24 — GOAL. The Russians strike first. Nikolai Prokhorkin scores 7:21 in off tic-tac-toe passing from Sergei Mozyakin. This is the first time the U.S. has trailed at the Olympics.

7:15 — There's a full, energetic crowd for this one split evenly between U.S. and Russia fans. On the ice, things are off the chippy start. Pavel Datsyuk took a run at Bobby Sanguinetti in the corner, knocking him to the ice, and big Jordan Greenway comes to his defense.

7:12 — Broc Little loses his footing and takes a spill into the Russian net with no one else around. Faceoff coming.

7:10 — Here. We. Go. The puck has dropped on USA vs. the Olympic Athletes from Russia. We'll just call 'em Russians for the purposes of this blog.

Pregame

6:45 — The teams have taken the ice. OAR is in red with the neutral Olympic flag on the crest.

Four years after the epic Sochi showdown, it’s #teamUSA against the Russians again. pic.twitter.com/esUByUwnLJ — Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 17, 2018

6:35 a.m. — USA is going with status quo against the Russians. Same lineup as the Slovakia game.

Team USA’s lines vs. OAR. No changes from the Slovakia game. pic.twitter.com/5Av32mQyrY — Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) February 17, 2018

Time: 7:10 a.m. ET

Location: Gangneung Hockey Centre

TV: NBCSN

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