ЧМ U20. BOBKOV BACKSTOPS RUSSIA TO SHUTOUT WIN OVER FINLAND

Nikita Filatov led Russia (2-0) offensively with a goal and an assist.

Russia opened the scoring near the middle of a fast-paced first period as Filatov sent a pass from the left wing half wall through a crowd and right onto the stick of Petr Khokhriakov for an easy tip in.

At the other end, the six-foot-four Bobkov made several dazzling saves and robbed Eero Elo from in close with under a minute left in the first. Russia led 1-0 after 20 minutes despite being outshot 12-8.

Midway through the second, Chudinov and Filatov teamed up again to make it a 2-0 game. With Kristian Nakyva in penalty the holding, Chudinov fed Filatov at the point and for a one-time slapshot.

The quick pace and hard hitting carried over into the second period, including a devastating hit by Russia's Yevgeni Timkin on Jere Sallinen at the Russian blue-line. Sallinen, caught with his head down, was slow to get up and appeared dazed as he wobbled to his bench. Sallinen, a Minnesota Wild draft pick, did not return to the game.

A few shifts later, Finland's Jasse Ikonen retaliated by hammering Timkin into the boards from behind, resulting in a cross-checking penalty and a misconduct.

Amidst the rough stuff, Bobkov frustrated the Finns (1-1) with 23 saves in the first two periods.

Bobkov stopped 23 more shots in the third, many of which were on power play opportunities.

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