Tarasenko, Russians, ready to face Canada in semis of World Cup of Hockey
TORONTO — Vladimir Tarasenko didn’t have to think hard to recall his favourite Canada-Russia clash. The St. Louis Blues sniper was part of the Russian team that beat Canada to win gold at the 2011 world junior hockey championship in Buffalo, N.Y.
Five years later, at the World Cup of Hockey, Tarasenko’s game-winner on Thursday set up the latest meeting between Canada and Russia on the international stage. Russia blanked Finland 3-0 to advance to Saturday’s semifinal.
“I think this is one of the greatest rivalries ever: Canada against Russia,” Tarasenko said. “We know how they play because we play in Pittsburgh before. They have a really good team, good players, (the) best players in the world so we need to be good in a couple days.”
Ivan Telegin and Evgeni Malkin had the other goals for Russia (2-1-0), while Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves for the shutout.