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CALGARY — Valeri Bragin's Team Russia is again showing an eerie prescience in close games at the world junior — something he was quick to remind Canada of tonight.
The defending champions were forced to go an extra round by an overtime loss on New Year's Eve to Sweden but found extra time to their liking in Monday's quarter-final, edging Petr Mrazek and Czech Republic 2-1. That sets up the Canada-Russia rematch everyone wanted, albeit just two nights early. And Bragin feels Russia has an upper hand thanks to having its feet held to more in this tournament than their opponent.
"It was like a friendly game against the United States, not much physically, no emotion," Bragin said through translator Mikhail Zislis, referring to Canada's 3-2 win over Team USA after Group B had already been decided. "So I don't think it was a really good test for Canada... Of course, Canada has advantage because they're playing at home. They have the [extra] rest day."
Few need a reminder that Russia, which can seemingly turn their quick-strike game on and off like a faucet, had three comeback wins in a row in last year's medal round, the last by a 5-3 margin over Canada. That started with a quarter-final win in overtime. While they've certainly tempted fate a few times, they won't spit the bit in a tight game against Team Canada.
"I think it that those close games will help bring our team closer to each other," defenceman Grigori Zheldakov, the overtime goal scorer, said. "The emotions will help us tomorrow [Tuesday] against Canada."
The renewal of the historic rivalry pits Canada's puck possession game against the speed-to-burn, stretch-pass-happy Russians. The Russians can be had in their own zone — Sweden proved that with its 4-3 win last Saturday — but only need a small opening to go break out and bury a chance. That's the luxury that comes with having talents such as Washington Capitals first-rounder Yevgeni Kuznetsov (nine points in five games) and top draft prospect Nail Yakupov (five assists). Both have shown flashes of brilliance, although Kuznetsov is scoreless outside of his nine-point game vs. lowly Latvia while Yakupov has gone without a goal. Tampa Bay Lightning pick Nikita Kucherov has been dangerous, though. Star centre Mikhail Grigorenko's ankle injury limited him to power-play duty vs. the Czechs.
"I think there will be a lot of plays in our zone so we will have to play tactically sound and hope that our counter-attacks will be helpful for us and help us beat Canada," Bragin said.
Russia has not been the crowd's darling in Calgary all week. They're also well-aware of how Canada should come at them right off the hop.
"We know Canada will play hard, very physical, that they have really good starts," said wing Alexander Khokhlachev, a Boston Bruins draft choice who plays for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires. "We need to start well tomorrow. Everyone understands that we're going to have a really hard game tomorrow because of Canada's loss last year in the final.
"I remember being in my home in Windsor watching the final last year," Khokhlachev added. "At the end of the second period, our guys seemed to have no chance, then they end up scoring five goals. It was an unbelievable feeling for my country. I think we can do it again."
Bragin demurred from comparing this edition of Team Russia to the one that won in Buffalo last January ("Just wait for the final result. Then I can compare those two teams."). Russia appears better off in goal, where 17-year-old Andrei Vasilevski has a 1.23 average and .970 save percentage in four starts after a fabulous 38-save performance vs. the Czechs. On the flip side, the Czechs did not produce nearly the amount of goalmouth traffic that Canada can put forth, especially when the Ryan Strome-Jonathan Huberdeau-Mark Stone line is buzzing. Keep in mind the goal the Czechs managed tonight was their first against a medal round qualifier, since they were blanked by Canada and Finland last week.
"Everybody remembers that Canada lost last year in the finals," Bragin said. "They will do their best to take revenge. We will also do our best to win for the second year in a row."
Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (photo: The Canadian Press).