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	TEAM LINE UPS
	EVENT SUMMARY

BUFFALO, NY - Russia used a five goal third period rally to erase a 3 goal deficit and capture its first gold medal since 2003 in dramatic fashion, defeating Canada 5-3.

Down 3-0 heading into the final frame, the Russians countered with 3 goals in the first half of the third to tie the game at 3.  The battle-back was started by a pair of goals by Artemi Panarin and Maxim Kitsyn just 13 seconds apart early on.  With the Russian’s riding a tidal wave of momentum, captain Vladimir Tarasenko scored the tying goal at 7:29, wiring home a centering pass in the middle of the slot from fellow superstar Yevgeni Kuznetsov. 

Panarin added his second of the period with just 4:38 remaining on a doorstep shot and Nikita Dvurechenski added a late breakaway goal to complete the comeback for the Russians, who lit the lamp 5 times on 10 shots in the period.  The team finished the championship with 5 straight victories after dropping their first 2 games of the tournament.  “Our coaches prepared us to be champions, telling us to forget about the losses and move on”, explained Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov finished with a game-high 3 points (0G, 3A), while Tarasenko (1G, 1A), Panarin (2G, 0A), and Denis Golubev (0G, 2A) each contributed two.  Igor Bobkov, who replaced Dmitri Shikin between the pipes following Canada’s third goal, was stellar in turning away all 20 shots he faced.  It was Bobkov’s first action since the tournament’s opening game, a 6-3 loss to Canada.  “Coach told me ever since the first game to always be ready to go in”, the netminder remarked afterwards.

With a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes of play, it appeared as if Canada was all but guaranteed to take home the gold for the 6th time in 7 years.  The team capitalized on goals from Ryan Ellis, Carter Ashton, and Brayden Schenn, while also frustrating the Russian’s offensive attack.  However, things took a turn for the worst after the two quick goals by Russia.  When asked about what happened, forward Louis Leblanc commented, “They got those two quick goals and everything went downhill from there.  It all happened so fast.  They are a great team and you have to give them credit, but it is very disappointing.”

Head Coach Dave Cameron also said, “I thought it started in the last five or six minutes of the second period.  We got away from getting pucks deep, working down low, and hunting.  The whole energy level changed and they rode the momentum after the two quick goals.”

The Russians used a miraculous third period comeback once again, after doing the same in the previous two playoff round games.  Down 3-1 with under 5 minutes to play in the Quarter-finals, the squad battled back to overcome Finland in overtime, while also rallying back in the final 2 minutes of play in route to a 4-3 shootout victory over Sweden in the Semi-finals. 

They completed their quest for Gold in what could be termed another, “miracle on ice”, for what was clearly a closely-knit and special group of players.

“We are the best team in the world right now and we proved it.  We were still sure that we were capable to win going into the last period”, said Kuznetsov.

The tournament’s All-Star Team featured 5 players from tonight’s game, including: Schenn (MVP), Ellis, Kuznetsov, Ryan Johansen, and Dmitri Orlov, as well as goaltender Jack Campbell of the United States.