MOSCOW — Frank Vatrano (Springfield, Mass.) scored both U.S. goals and David Warsofsky (Marshfield, Mass.) added two assists, but the U.S. Men’s National Team fell to Russia, 7-2, here today in the bronze medal game of the 2016 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
“I’m really proud of our guys,” said John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “They grew as the tournament went on and represented our country well. We’re obviously disappointed with the result today, but I think the quick turnaround played a factor and certainly we faced a quality opponent.”
Vyacheslav Voinov scored off a one-timer from the point at 6:23 and Sergei Mozyakin netted a power-play goal with about seven minutes later to give Russia a 2-0 lead heading into the second stanza.
The U.S. and Russia exchanged penalties in the opening minutes of the period, but neither team could find the back of the net. With about 12 minutes to play, Vatrano had a backhanded opportunity right outside the Russian crease, but the rebound was cleared away.
Russia added two goals in a 3:13 span midway through the period to extend Russia’s lead to 4-0.
Vatrano put Team USA on the board at 14:29 when he collected a pass from Warsofsky at the top of the right circle, took a stride and snapped the puck past Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovski. Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn.) also drew an assist on the play.
Artemi Panarin gave Russia a 5-1 lead with 5:22 remaining in the second period.
At 3:42 of the third frame, Vatrano added his second of the game when he one-timed a feed from Warsofsky from the right faceoff circle.
Sergei Mozyakin scored with 6:47 on the clock and Vadim Shipachyov tallied a power-play goal with seven seconds to play to account for the 7-2 final.
U.S. goaltender Keith Kinkaid (Farmingville, N.Y.) made 12 saves through the first two periods before Mike Condon (Holliston, Mass.) took the net for the third frame. Condon stopped eight shots, while Russia’s Bobrovski recorded 28 saves.
NOTES: Frank Vatrano was named the U.S. Player of the Game … Auston Matthews won 14-of-15 faceoff he took in the game … The U.S. outshot Russia, 30-29. For complete game statistics, click here … Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led all U.S. players in the world championship with six goals … Matthews and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) led Team USA with nine points each. Matthews recorded six goals and three assists, while Larkin put up two goals and seven assists … Jake McCabe, Connor Murphy and Matthews were named the top three U.S. players of the tournament … The U.S. has finished in the top four of the world championship in three of the last four years, a stretch that has only been equaled once in the American history (1931-34) … The U.S. fielded the youngest team in the tournament with an average age of 23.
