Game Results

Courtesy of Chad, Vladimir Mihalik smacks down a puny fly of an opponent.

Team Russia defeated Sweden 3-1 today to take home the bronze medal at the World Championships. Starter Alexander Eremenko made 32 stops on 33 shots faced for the win. Lightning prospect netminder Vasily Koshechkin again served the role of backup. The young goaltender finished the tournament 3-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .879 save percentage.

In the gold medal match, Canada defeated Finland 4-2. Columbus forward Rick Nash was named tournament MVP.

Russia was defeated 2-1 today in their semifinal matchup against Finland, meaning the Russians will now play Sweden on Sunday in the bronze medal match. Goaltender Alexander Eremenko allowed 2 goals on 19 shots in the game to take the loss. Eremenko, who is a long time veteran of the Russian national team in international teams, entered the tournament as backup to Lightning prospect Vasily Koshechkin but outplayed the young netminder to take his starting job for the medal round.

The numbers haven't necessarily been pretty, but Lightning prospect netminder Vasily Koshechkin is now 3-0 for Russia at the ongoing World Championships. Koshechkin and the Russians defeated Switzerland today 6-3 today in their qualifying round matchup. Koshechkin stopped 13 shots in the game and also recorded an assist on a first period Ilya Kovalchuk goal. Russia and Sweden, both 4-0 in Group E, will square off tomorrow in their final game of the qualifying round.

At the end of two periods in Moscow today at the 2007 World Championships, Russia and Lightning goaltending prospect Vasily Koshechkin had a comfortable 4-1 lead on Finland and seemed to be cruising to a 3-0 record.

Without being able to watch the game, it's unclear whether Russia stopped playing or Finland turned it on - or a little of both - but Russia had to get a late insurance goal that ended up being the game winner to beat Finland 5-4.

Koshechkin had stopped 12 of 13 shots through two periods before being peppered in the third to end up being 21 for 25 in the save department. Taking the loss for Finland was Lightning draft pick and Columbus Blue Jacket Fredrik Norrena.