2010 U18 WJC: Russia makes it through to quarterfinals (Photo © fhr.ru)

In the 2010 U18 WJC‘s fourth game Team Russia defeated Team Slovakia 3-1. Thanks to this result Vasiliev’s team clinched the second spot in the Group B standings and will face Team Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

Team Russia scored all three goals with defensemen and interestingly all the game’s goals have been scored in the first period. Team Russia got the early lead on the first shift with 93-born blue liner Nikita Nesterov. After five minutes third line defenseman Efim Gurkin made it a 2-0 game for Russia. At the fifteenth minute Tomas Matousek cut down Russia’s lead by one goal, but less than three minutes later Efim Gurkin scored again and restored Russia’s two-goal lead.

In the second and third period Team Russia controlled the game. Goalie Sergei Kostenko finished the game with 19 saves. Team Russia’s next game will be played on Tuesday, as said, against Switzerland. Just like at the U20 WJC. The winner will face Team Sweden on Wednesday.