It was a contest that pitted the volatility of the Russian talent against the callowness of North American youth. In the end, a desperate Russian squad prevailed, 4 - 3. However, the score tell but a fraction of the story.
Looking at the numbers, it’s difficult to conceive that Russia actually prevailed. Shots on goal favored Team North America 46 - 25. The young guns held a 53/47 advantage in the face-off circle, and had seven power play opportunities. It was, in truth, a game dominated by North America, except for two things: 1) a stretch of 6:14 in the second period, and 2) Sergei Bobrovsky.