Vyacheslav Bykov: “All games at the Olympics should be played with passion” (Photo © sportbox.ru)

Russian coach Vyacheslav Bykov talked about the reasons of the loss to Slovakia, stated that not all players had passion, explained why Alexander Ovechkin had three shootout attempts and talked about power play units in an interview to the Russian site gazeta.ru.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

– Do you agree that only the Zaripov-Zinoviev-Morozov line displayed some teamwork?
Bykov: “You are not far from being right. We will try and find out why it happened. I don’t think that our players didn’t want it. It’s just that the opponent didn’t give us many opportunities. But I also should notice that a lot of players lacked passion and thirst for game. At the same time I agree that it wasn’t our day.”

– You experimented playing Ovechkin as the 4th forward on power play, tried this four times and then gave it up. You aren’t going to use it anymore?
Bykov: “Most likely not. We don’t want to allow goals on our power play. It’s very risky and our guys are not ready for it. The concentration should be very good and we lacked it today. But we will seek for new ways.”

– Are you going to shuffle the lines because some of them aren’t clicking?
Bykov: “Not now.”

– What shortcomings of the team did you find out?
Bykov: “The players had no passion. It looked like it was a regular game for them.”

– Ovechkin was turned on the whole game, made like five hits. Why weren’t other players pumped up?
Bykov: “Yes, Alexander was one of the players who tried to demonstrate their best during the whole game. Others were in shadow.”

– Are you going to change the preparation for the game against the Czech Republic?
Bykov: “We have a plan and we are not going to change it.”

– Why did Ovechkin have so many attempts in the shootout? He isn’t very good at it in the NHL.
Bykov: “Because Ovechkin was one of the few who really fought. Besides it was his wish.”

– Are you satisfied with the defence?
Bykov: “Today we played better than in the first game against Latvia. We committed one error and it led to the goal.”

– Maybe it’s even better now when Russia drove themselves into a corner. To get a bye the team has to defeat the Czechs.
Bykov: “My opinion is that all games at the Olympics should be played with passion.”

– Canada lost points too.
Bykov: “That’s their problems.”

– Players complained about the bad food and the Games organization…
Bykov: “No, now they won’t say a thing. You have to understand that they have certain wishes, which we and the Russia Olympic Committee need to fulfill. The players live in good conditions, they have everything, the food is good. Besides, don’t forget that all teams live in the same conditions.”

Russia loses to Slovakia in shootout, 1-2 (Photo © AP Photo)

A shootout goal by Pavol Demitra gave Slovakia the edge over Team Russia in the Olympic Hockey tournament‘s round robin. In the Group B standings Russia retains the lead with 4 points, but with one game more than Czech Republic, who beaten team Slovakia yesterday.

Bykov’s team had some chances at the start, especially with a shot from the high slot by Alexander Ovechkin, but Jaroslav Halak saved all the 10 opponents’ attempts. 8 saves so far for Ilya Bryzgalov.

In the second period Alexei Morozov scored the 1-0 goal with a good one time from the right circle after another bad powerplay show by Team Russia. Bykov’s team controlled most of the play in the middle stanza and got twice near to the second goalie, first with Maxim Afinogenov, then with a great rush by Evgeni Malkin, but Halak was ready in both plays. Team Slovakia had some chances too, but Bryzgalov has been steady and kept Russia up by one goal.

In the third period’s start Team Russia killed a double powerplay for the Slovaks. With the teams back on even strength Ovechkin had a good counterattack chance, but Halak once again saved his team.

Midway through the period Slovakia tied it up with a shot by superstar Marian Hossa, who put the puck between Bryzgalov’s pads. The match was played at good pace, but it didn’t see any other big chance.

The third period ended with the teams tied at one and thus the match is going to the overtime, in which the teams didn’t manage to be dangerous.

In the shootout Jozef Stumpel and Ovechkin scored in the first three attempts. Bykov tried different shooters later, Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, but it didn’t work out. Thanks to Halak’s saves and Demitra’s goal Slovakia could celebrate a deserved win.

Here is the video of Demitra’s game-winning shootout attempt.

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2010 Olympics: Russia – Slovakia preview (Photo © Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

On Tuesday night Team Russia will play its second match in the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament. After the 8-2 win over Latvia in the inaugural match, Team Russia‘s opponents will be Team Slovakia.

Team Russia’s starter is going to be Ilya Bryzgalov.

Slovakia’s goaltender will be Montreal Canadiens’ Jaroslav Halak. “He is a very technique sound goaltender”, said Evgeni Malkin. “He also has a good stickhandling. You need to shot a lot against him. We have to take the initiative and concede no rooms to our opponents.”

Vyacheslav Bykov has also decided to try powerplay special team and in the latest practice he iced Alexander Ovechkin, Malkin, Alexander Semin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Sergei Gonchar in the same unit.

Pavel Datsyuk didn’t train with the team, spent time in the gym instead.

“Team Russia is one of the best teams in this tournament”, Slovak superstar Marian Gaborik declared. “Its lineup has plenty of stars. We will need to stay focus on defense and stay off bad penalties.”

The puck is going to be dropped at the local 9PM.

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