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LIVE GAME BLOG: USA vs Russia

By USAHockey.com, 12/28/12, 5:15AM EST

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Team USA dropped a 2-1 decision to Russia on Friday.

Game Links & Downloads

TV Information: Game will be re-aired live on NHL Network-U.S. Full TV Info

Webcast: A live webcast is available on NHL.com

Live Stats: Full live stats are available on IIHF.com

Follow the live game updates below and join the conversation to the right on Twitter or via the comments field.

Be sure to tune in to NHL Network-U.S. to watch the action live and then follow us for post-game recaps, photos and videos.

Live Game Blog

Trouba player of the game. Makarov for Russia.

End of Game: USA 1 - RUS 2

One final rush ended with a turnover at the offensive blue line. Tough loss to swallow. The U.S. controlled much of the play but made some crucial mistakes that either led to the goal (second goal) or stopped scoring chances.

We'll be back with more after the game. Thanks for reading!

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Last 30 tics

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1 minute left - Gibson out

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Kuraly, Barber and Galchenyuk with Trouba and jones  on the PP

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They've added a 10 minute misconduct, but still just 2 minutes. Pietila comes off with help

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1:32 - A blantant check from behind by Kapustin on Pietila in the offensive zone. Pietila is still down. So far it's only a 2 minute penalty. Brutal hit

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2 minutes left

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2:44 - HUGE Save by Gibson on a breakaway by Kucherov. He took the long pass and tried to go blocker high, but Gibson made the save.

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3:34: Kuraly makes a hit that the Russians want called for a penalty, but nothing is called. Grimaldi, Gaudro and Miller the line out now

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4:03 - Kuraly's backhand smothered.

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Two turnovers with under 5 minutes to go in the defensive zone for USA. Russia is bringing the heat now.

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Big scrum around Makarov now and lots of shoving. The game is getting very intense as the minutes tick away. No penalties

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Grimaldi pass picked off and then Gibson makes two saves. He's had a huge game. Save by Makarov with 6 minutes left

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Near  miss for Russia! Puck tipped through the goal mouth

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8:32 - Timeout for Russia. The U.S. has increased the pressure around Makarov and the Russians probably want a chance to strategize how they will hold the lead over hte last 8 minutes

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Kuraly keeps the puck in then it's Barber doing the same for a shot that deflects out of play. Good pressure.

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9:45 - Shot off Makarov's mask deflects out of play. Vesey Trocheck and Biggs on the ice now

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10:41- Gibson made an incredible save on Kosov on a pass from Nichushkin! Back door leg save

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Grimaldi just missed Miller on the back door. Had the net wide open

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12:12 - Galchenyuk, Kuraly and Barber on the ice now looking for the equalizer

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The announced crowd is 7,620. A sellout. It did fill out as the game went along and I hadn't noticed that it's all packed now. Been loud all along.

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Khokhlachyov hasn't been in the mix a lot so far. Ghostisbehere made a good play defensively to keep the game 1-0 in the second. the D overall has been active so far.

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USA 1 - RUS 2

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15:50: GOAL. Russia scores on a rebound five-hole on Gibson. Tkachyov scored but it was Nichushkin who walked past U.S. defenders on goal

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I'm not sure I know to whom you are referring? KOKO?

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17:41: Gaudreau tried a wraparound, but Makarov held the post

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Barber harasses Yarullin at the top of the faceoff circle and prevents a scoring chance. Big leg save by Gibson!

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19:43: We're under way with Lucia, Biggs and Trocheck starting again

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Shots are 27-19 in the U.S. advantage. The Americans stayed out of the box that period and put the Russians in twice, scoring once. Good period overall, especially with Trouba's goal. The assist was Galchenyuk's third of the tournament. Back to the action in a few minutes

End of Second Period: USA 1 - RUS 1

Period comes to a close and the U.S. controlled a lot of the play and has done so for most of the game, in my opinion. They are keeping Russia's attackers like Yakupov to the outside for the most part and limiting their chance to set up in the zone. Gibson has been good, especially with the point-blank chance midway through the period before the U.S. tied the game. That save was vital.

Back in a bit to answer any questions and update stats. Please share your thoughts on the game in the comments at right.

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Glove save by Makarov with 35 tics left. Baudreau, Pietila and Hartman with Jones and Reilly

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Icing on Russia. Miller, Grimaldi and Gaudreau witn the draw

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1:44 - Makarov snags a puck that had deflected high in the air. It's Vesey, Biggs and Trocheck for a draw in Russia's end

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3:59 - Gibson gloves the puck on a long shot from the left wing. Faceoff coming in the U.S. zone

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USA 1 - RUS 1

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Barber screened Makarov. Galchenyuk had the lone assist

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6:42: GOAL! Trouba's bomb from the point finds the top corner blocker side on Makarov. Earlier iin the shift Trouba whiffed on a shot and was being taunted by the crowd, but the veteran answered with a goal.

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7:32: Hartman draws a penatly by gaining the inside edge near the Russian net with the puck on the end boards. Powerplay coming. Lots of passes seem just barely off their mark for the USA, a man advantage gives them a chance to execute with extra space on the big ice.

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Lazy play in the defensive zone and Russia gets a golden chance, but Gibson bails them out

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10:54 - More activity in the Russian zone. The U.S. is buzzing around their net right now and an icing call means no line change.

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Gibson covers up. Shots are now 20-13 U.S.

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FPL: Yes, Grzelcyk was the final cut and is headed back to the U.S.

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Full strength for Russia.

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13:41 - Things get nasty after the whistle, then it's Jones who blasts one from the point and it's tipped low by Gaudreau, but covered up

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No penalty on the U.S. for whatever sent Koledov down. Now it's Galcenyuk, Kuraly and Barber with Reilly and Trouba with 1 minute left on the advantage

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The penalty was on Dyakov, there is a Russian player down in their zone. I'm not sure what happened to him. He's back up under help and headed back to the bench. It's No. 29, defensemn Koledov

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14:48: Trocheck dangles through two Russians then his shot glove high is deflected and almost goes in twice in the scramble, then the mayhem results in a tripping call on Russia. USA on the PP

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Initial replay on the big screen looks like the puck deflected high on Gibson and caught the bottom of the post, but not in. Review CONFIRMS. No goal

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Russian shot looks like it might have either hit the cross bar or gone in. Waiting on play to stop for the review

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17:08 - Grimaldi tries a cross-ice saucer pass in the offensive zone that misses and sends Russia on a breakaway, Gibson saves Zharkov's effort, which was impeded by Gostisbehere who never gave up on the play

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Miller, Grimaldi and Gaudreau on the ice, working the puck around. They've been a good presence in the offensive zone

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Reilly breaks up a 2-on-1

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20:00 - Housely sends out Biggs, Trocheck, McCabe Lucia and Murphy again to start, The Dmen are very aggressive on the forecheck then McCabe misses a big hit on the defenseive end

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Shots on goal in the first were 10 for USA and 8 for Russia. The U.S. had 8 penalty minutes to Russia's 2. Teams are aready to return to the ice and get back at it. Thanks for reading!

End of First Period: USA 0 - RUS 1

Team USA wanted to stay out of the penalty box but wasn't successful in that first period. The Gibson tripping call was a tough pill to swallow, but they killed that and all but one other penalty off. In the offensive zone they look good at times and at others are missing passes. Let's see if they settle down at the intermission.

Back in a bit to answer any questions and update first period stats.

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44 seconds left: Galchenyuk, Kuraly and Barber on the ice for USA

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Grimaldi showed off his speed and left a pass from behind the net but no one was out front.

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1:48: Gardreau, Miller and Grimaldi on the ice for a offensive zone draw

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A couple of passes fail to connect in the offensive zone for the Americans

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3:24: Pietila puts his stick in a lane at the last second to prevent a back door pass and the PK ends

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Offsides on Russia entering the zone, 44 seconds left in the PK, it's Sieloff, Murphy, Hartman and Lucia

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They do a good job and keep Russia in its own end

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Bardreau, Pietila McCabe and Trouba on the kill to start

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5:23: Another penalty, this one a hooking call on Grimaldi off the faceoff

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Barber, Galchenyuk and Kuraly on the ice with Jones and reilly on the point

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6:14: Penalty ends, back to full strength. No shots on that second advantage for Russia

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Back to 5-on-4. Cleared. 1:10 left in the kill

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Leg save by Gibson, then a penalty is called on Gibson for tripping as he dove to recover from a shot. 5-on-3

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Now it's Jones, McCabe, Trocheck and Biggs. Trocheck lost his stick then kicks the puck back in the Russia end. Good effort

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Pietila, Murphy, Trouba and Bardreau on the kill

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10:24: Too many men on the ice for Team USA so Russia goes back on the power play.

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11:25: Monster shift for Seth Jones. Two big blasts on offense then he gets back to shut down a rush then finishes with a hit.

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12:42: This crowd is very boisterous and the energy in the building is great. The U.S. has put a couple pucks through the crease but are also having some trouble gaining the zone.

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Thanks Flip! Glad to hear you're following along.

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14:04: Faceoff coming in Russia end. It's Hartman, Bardreau and Pietila with MCCabe and Sieloff (his first action of the tournament

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14:53: Penalty over, couple chances late in the advantage. Still cycling

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15:37:  U.S. can't get much done in the first minute and a half, dump in on Gibson leaves faceoff in U.S. end

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The U.S. wanted to stay out of the box and now they get a chance on the power play. Mozer called for hooking. USA on the powerplay

USA 0 - RUS 1

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17:18: GOAL. Powerplay marker for Russia. A slapshot from the left faceoff dote bounced off McCabe and in for Yarullin

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17:31: Trouba called for interference after he leaned into Kosov as he dumped the puck in. Early PK for USA.

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18:10: This crowd gets very loud if the puck even comes close to the U.S. zone. 2-on-1 for Bardreau and Jones, then Bardreau back door and just misses the open net!

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20:00: We're underway! Housley sent out Murphy and McCabe on defense, Lucia, Trocheck and Biggs to start.

First Period: USA 0 - RUS 0

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Officials take the ice and here comes Russia to huge cheers. The crowd isn't a sellout, but it's a much bigger number than last night and still people are coming in.

USA joins the ice and we're 2 minutes away. Join the conversation as the game goes along. Thanks for reading and Go USA!

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Starting lineups are being announced and we're 6 minutes away from puck drop. The U.S. players said pre-game and on Twitter that they hope for a rowdy crowd. We'll find out very quickly if the got their wish.

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Matt: The webcast is on NHL.com

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Fans are still coming in and we've had a wide range of costumes from full Russian flag outfits to big wigs. There are two USA jerseys visible to my right and a decent amount of Canadian fans. It will be interesting to see if the Canadians are on the side of their North American rival or their historic international rival. Or will they simply be neutral? What do you think?

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Warmups are over. The teams head back to the locker room and we're 20 minutes away from puck drop.

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While we're watching warmups, does anyone out there have a question? Where are you watching the game? I know there has to be a couple of people sneaking the webcast or this blog into their Friday work routine today. :)

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USA in their white jerseys, Russians are in red. Both teams are on the ice for warmups now and the fans are rapidly finding their seats with about 35 minutes until puck drop.

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Russia takes the ice for warmups.

Russia's Defensemen: Yarullin-Nesterov, Dyakov-Dyblenko, Mironov-Koledov, Sergeyev (7th)

Forwards: Yakupov-Sigaryov-Khokhlachyov, Kucherov-Slepyshev-Grigorenko, Tkachyov-Nichushkin-Kosov, Mozer-Kapustin-Zharkov

Goaltenders: Andrei Makarov will start, Andrei Vasilevski will back up

Forward Maxim Shalunov is suspended from the Slovakia game

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No changes to the U.S. lines from last night:

Defense: Reilly-Jones, Gostisbehere-Trouba, McCabe-Murphy, Sieloff as the 7th

Forwards: Gardreau-Miller-Grimaldi, Galchenyuk-Kuraly-Barber, Pietila-Bardreau-Hartman, Lucia-Trocheck-Biggs, Vesey as the 13th

Goaltender: John Gibson will start and Jon Gillies will serve as backup

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Less than 50 minutes until puck drop. We're expecting a sellout crowd tonight at Ufa Arena for USA vs Russia. Lots of 'Shaibu' chants as well. Team captain Jake McCabe said he's looking forward to playing in front of the crowd and said the energy can help Team USA as much as the host team (Read Q&A)

Be sure to submit your comments and any well wishes for Team USA in the comments area to the right.

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We are three and a half hours before game time. Be sure to share your well wishes for Team USA in the comments field at right. We'll publish them to the site and share with the team.

Roster update: Patrick Sieloff has been added as the final defenseman to round out the full U.S. roster.

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