 |
|
||
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
   | 
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Russia top group after third win
 Russia celebrate after securing top spot in their group RIGA, Latvia -- Russia scraped past Slovakia 4-3 in a scrappy game at the world ice hockey championship in Riga on Wednesday to secure top spot in Group C. Alexei Mikhnov's powerplay goal six minutes into the final quarter broke a 3-3 deadlock and gave Russia their third victory in three preliminary-round games. Mikhnov beat Slovak netminder Karol Krizan with a one-timer from the slot after a nice feed by Alexander Semin. The Slovaks, who were missing captain Marian Hossa with a knee injury, battled the Russians for much of the penalty-filled contest, fighting back twice to level the score. Slovakia, 2002 champions, have only one win from three matches and must wait for the second game in the group between Kazakhstan and Belarus to see who will join the Russians in the second round. Winless Kazakhstan need a big victory over their fellow ex-Soviet republic to advance. Belarus, who upset Slovakia 2-1 in their opener, need a point to progress. Ukraine advanced to the second round by edging Italy 4-2 in a game that ended in a frightening hit and ugly brawls. Midway through the final period Ukraine defenseman Denys Isayenko was taken to hospital after collapsing on to the bench. He had been slammed into the boards as play was leaving the Ukraine zone before making his way back to the bench where he slumped to the floor. Emergency personnel loaded Isayenko on to a stretcher and took him to a local hospital. A spokesman for the Ukrainian team said Isayenko had hurt his neck and possibly sustained a broken jaw. His injuries were not life-threatening, the spokesman said. Kostiantyn Kasianchuk, Roman Salniko, Iurri Gunko and Yuri Dyachenko each had a goal for Ukraine while Joe Busillo and Christian Borgatello answered for Italy. After Ukraine scored into an empty net with just over two minutes left to play, the contest deteriorated into a series of skirmishes that spilled over into the hallways under the stands when the ejected players left the ice. Four players, Italy's Tony Iob and Michele Strazzabosco and Ukraine's Vadym Shakhraychuk and Amin Helfer received misconducts. While Ukraine moves in to the qualification round, Italy drops into the relegation battle. The top three teams in each of four groups move on to the qualification round while the bottom team slips into the relegation play. 
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
