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Alexei Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers): Who needs stats when our team lost? (interview) READ MORE

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Vitaly Atyushov (Ottawa Senators): Nobody drank at this Championship and everyone followed the regiment (interview) READ MORE

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Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators): Foolishness let us down (Interview) READ MORE

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RUSSIA - CZECH REPUBLIC - 3:4 (1:0, 0:1, 2:2, 0:1).
May 18th, 2006 Riga. Latviya. "Arena Riga". Attendance: 8082 zritelya.

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GOALS:
- 1:0 Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) (Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Kulemin (2006 NHL Entry Draft), 2.30),
- 1:1 Kaberle (Vyborny, Erat, 25.45, pp),
- 1:2 Glinka (43.49, pp),
- 2:2 Mozyakin (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Gorovikov, 45.10),
- 2:3 Stefan (Glinka, 47.06, pp),
- 3:3 Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) (Atyushov (Ottawa Senators), Ovechkin, 58.55),
- 3:4 Irgl (Vyborny, 67.58).
THREE STARS: Irgl, Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers), Glinka.
RUSSIA (18): Sokolov (58.44 - 58.55); Atyushov (Ottawa Senators) - Koltsov (Vancouver Canucks) , Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers) (2) - Zhukov (2), Bykov (Detroit Red Wings) (2) - Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Khomitski (Dallas Stars) - Kruchinin; Kulemin (2006 NHL Entry Draft) - Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) - Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) (2), Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) (2) - Arkhipov (Nashville Predators) (2) - Semin (Washington Capitals) (2), Sushinskiy-k - Yemeleyev (2) - Zaripov (2), Grigorenko (Detroit Red Wings) - Gorovikov - Mozyakin (Columbus Blue Jackets).
CZECH REPUBLIC (16): Gnilichka; Mikhalek (2) - Kaberle (2), Kraychek - Geyda, Rikhter - SHkoula, Kutlyak; Erat (4) - Vyborny-k (2) - Glavach, Tenkrat - SHtefan - Bulis, Balashtik - Glinka - Gubachek (2), Plekanets (4) - Rolinek - Irgl, Bednarzh.
SHOTS: 34 (13, 8, 7, 9) - 36 (9, 13, 6, 5).

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Team Russia's time in Latvia ended in a heated overtime loss at the hands of a long time rival the Czech Republic. Russia tied the game in great fashion with Alexei Mikhnov's (Edmonton Oilers) tally with less than a minute to play. The game also included a shorthanded 3 on 5 breakaway (!) by Evgeny Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) that could have won the game for Russia. READ MORE

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Tournament rankings updated throught he conclusion of the qualifying round READ MORE

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Team Russia player statistics updated through the preliminary round! READ MORE

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Alexander Nikulin (Ottawa Senators), Konstantin Barulin (St. Louis Blues) today left Latvia without playing a single game for Russia. Barulin was constantly Russia’s third goaltender behind starter Zvyagin and backup Fomichev. Now the team had to make room for the return of the former starter Maxim Sokolov, who will likely start Russia’s next game against Sweden. Nikulin was consistently Russia’s back up player in case of injuries, but has not received any ice time. He did skate for the squad at the Sweden Games just a couple of weeks ago at the final leg of the EuroTour circuit.

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After playing a tightly contested game for the first two periods, the Russians broke the game open in the third period with four goals, beating Switzerland 6:3. READ MORE

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Former Tampa Bay defensive prospect Kaspars Astashenko was kicked off the Latvian team by head coach Petr Vorobiev. Reportedly, Tampa Bay’s fourth round selection in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft refused to skate in the third period of the 0:11 trouncing of Latvia at the hands of the Canada. Since leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning system and the Lowell Lockmonsters of the AHL, the Riga native has spent the past few seasons skating in the Finnish Elite League.

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Team Russia's stats updated through today READ MORE

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SLOVAKIA - RUSSIA - 3:4 (2:2, 1:1, 0:1).
May 10th, 2006 Riga. Latviya. «Arena Riga». Attendance: 7467 zriteley.

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GOALS:
- 0:1 Kulyash (Nashville Predators) (Grigorenko (Detroit Red Wings), Khomitski (Dallas Stars), 3.56, pp),
- 1:1 Surovy (Cibak, 6.00), 2:1 Kollar (9.03, sh),
- 2:2 Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) (17.26),
- 2:3 Zaripov (Khomitski (Dallas Stars), 27.32, pp),
- 3:3 Chernik (Milo, 36.45, pp),
- 3:4 Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) (Semin (St.Louis Blues), 46.02, pp).
THREE STARS: Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers), Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Khomitski (Dallas Stars).
LINEUPS:
SLOVAKIA (20+2 Team Penalty): Krizhan (59.41); Yurchina (2) - Milo (2), Vydareny - Shtrbak (Pittsburgh Penguins) (2), Granak - Steglik, Garant (2); Martsel Gossa - Chernik (4) - Kapush-k (2), Surovy (2) - Cibak - Bartovich (2), Vayts - Pavlikovski - Zaleshak, Kollar, Kovachik (2).
RUSSIA (39+2 Team Penalty): Zvyagin (2); Bykov (Detroit Red Wings) - Kruchinin (2), I. Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers) (4) - Zhukov (2), Atyushov (Ottawa Senators) - Koltsov (Vancouver Canucks) (25), Khomitski (Dallas Stars) - Kulyash (Nashville Predators); Sushinskiy-k - Emeleev (2) - Kharitonov, Kulemin (2006 NHL Entry Draft) - Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) - Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) - Arkhipov (Nashville Predators) - Semin (St.Louis Blues), Zaripov - Gorovikov - Grigorenko (Detroit Red Wings) (2).
SHOTS: 27 (6, 9, 12) - 25 (11, 6, 8).

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RUSSIA - KAZAKHSTAN - 10:1 (4:1, 4:0, 2:0).
May 6th, 2006 Riga. Latvia.

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Igor Grigorenko (Detroit Red Wings) and Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) both missed practices on Tuesday due to a high temperature. The two forwards however were in the lineup against Slovakia yesterday and skated for team Russia. Team Russia’s head coach had the following to say when asked by a Gazeta.ru correspondent why the forwards were on the ice when they were sick:

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In an interview with Gazeta.ru Team Russia’s head coach Vladimir Krikunov confirmed that Alexander Perezhogin (Montreal Canadiens) will not join the Russian squad. The coach had the following to say regarding the topic to the publication’s correspondent Alexei Shevchenko.

Rumor has it that Alexander Perezhogin will join the team?
V. Krikunov: That’s not true. I doubt he will be able to help us. Who among the forwards is he better than? Sasha spent a not so successful season in the NHL. He scored only 9 goals. If this is converted to the number of goals in the Super League, it would only be two goals.

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Ovechkin leads Russian assault on Kazakhstan (IHWC.net recap) READ MORE

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Kharitonov lifts Russia over Belarus (IHWC.net recap) READ MORE

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Team Russia lost the services of 2006 Olympic team member Ivan Nepriayev (Washington Capitals), as the young center was forced to undergo nose surgery at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season. One of the top call up players during Olympics in Torino, Nepriayev enjoyed the most successful season of his budding career in 2005-06. The Washington Capitals risk losing the rights to one of the club’s top prospects this summer if the management is unable to sign him to a contract. The NHL club has reportedly almost signed the young forward to a contract three seasons ago, but something went wrong with the deal and Nepriayev remained in Yaroslavl. Part of the difficulty in bringing Ivan to North America has been his popularity with HC Lokomotiv, as well as the high stature of his father in the local gubernatorial government.

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One of Russia’s top scorers this season and a top candidate for the national team Anton But (Tampa Bay Lightning) is currently missing the World Championships due to injury. The young forward has reportedly suffered an adductor muscle injury and is currently recovering at home. In an interview with the Sport Express newspaper, Lokomotiv’s head coach confirmed that the young prospect skated for most of the playoffs while nursing an injury.

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According to the Sport Express newspaper, Evgeny Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) fell ill a day prior to Russia’s first game at the World Championships against Kazakhstan. The squad’s head coach Vladimir Krikunov had the following to say regarding the situation:

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Goalies: Sergey Zvyagin ("Dinamo"), Aleksandr Fomichev (CSKA), Konstantin Barulin (St.Louis Blues) ("Spartak").
Defensemen: Georgiy Misharin (Minnesota Wild), Vadim Khomitski (Dallas Stars) (oba - CSKA), Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators), Dmitriy Bykov (both - "Dinamo"), Kirill Koltsov (Vancouver Canucks) ("Avangard"), Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers) ("Ak Bars"), Sergey Zhukov ("Lokomotiv"), Vitaliy Atyushov (Ottawa Senators) ("Metallurg" Mg), Andrey Kruchinin ("Lada").
Forwards: Aleksandr Ovechkin (Washington Capitals NHL), Nikolay Kulemin (2006 NHL Entry Draft), Evgeniy Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) (both - "Metallurg" Mg), Aleksandr Kharitonov, Maksim Sushinskiy (both - "Dynamo"), Danis Zaripov ("Ak Bars"), Sergey Mozyakin (Columbus Blue Jackets), Aleksandr Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers) (both - CSKA), Aleksandr Semin (St.Louis Blues), Denis Arkhipov (Nashville Predators) (both- "Khimik"), Igor Grigorenko (Detroit Red Wings) ("Severstal"), Aleksey Mikhnov (Edmonton Oilers) ("Lokomotiv"), Konstantin Gorovikov ("Avangard").

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Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins) has been

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Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) has arrived in Moscow and will soon head to the Novogorsk training facility to prepare for the World Championships. The young forward and likely NHL Calder Trophy winner will not join Team Russia for the EuroTour Sweden Games tournament which has already commenced today, but he will join the team for the EuroTour finals competition in early May. The young forward is likely to be one of the few NHL players to be on Team Russia’s lineup at the 2006 World Championships in Riga, Latvia.

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Ak Bars Kazan defenseman Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers) is favored to make the squad that will travel to Latvia to compete at the 2006 World Championships. The young defenseman has arrived at the Novogorsk hockey base near Moscow and has already been practicing with other Team Russia prospective players. Unfortunately, the Atlanta Thrashers prospect will not be accompanying the squad to Finland due to visa issues. The team’s head coach Vladimir Krikunov had the following to say when asked who he decided to take to the EuroTour finals preparatory tournament in Finland and Sweden in an interview with Sport Express newspaper:

All except Ilya Nikulin. He doesn’t have the proper visa in his passport and his passport is currently at Latvia’s embassy. However, we have him in mind to join us even before the Sweden Games. If in the next few days he gets his passport back from the Latvians, we will try to get everything taken care for him in an expedited fashion, so he could catch up to us in Stockholm. This will be fine, as according to the new EuroTour rules, in the final game a team can report upwards of 30 players, and can even change the entire lineup!

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Alexei Shkotov (St. Louis Blues) will miss the World Championships due to a foot injury that has sidelined him during Team Russia’s training camp. He was one of three Khimik forwards invited to the training camp, with Denis Arkhipov (Nashville Predators) and Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals) continuing to compete for spots on the team traveling to Latvia.

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The youngest member of Team Russia’s squad preparing for the World Championships in Latvia will miss the tournament due to injury. The talented young center underwent surgery for an injured elbow. The injury will have no long term effects, but will force the Ottawa Senators prospect to miss the tournament.