Russia came into the third holding a 3-1 lead, but the Slovaks weren’t finished yet. With 11:34 on the clock Filip Lestan cut the lead to one, burying a rebound after a shot on net from Andrej Vadovic.

But a good effort from Danila Kvartalnov behind the Slovak net put his team back up by two. Thhe Russian forward gained control of the puck and outmuscled the Slovak defender long enough to get it out in front to Danil Yurtaikin for the goal. Ilya Samsonov held off Slovakia the rest of the way as the Russians wrapped up their third straight win. 

"We are doing thing well with the scoring," said Russian captain Yegor Rykov. "Some of the goals we had weren't nice, but they happened because of hard work and that raise's the team up when we get those goals."

It has been a tournament of highs and lows through two games for Slovakia, which had the joy of an opening day upset of Sweden tempered by a 10-0 trouncing at the hands of the United States. Russia, on the other hands, has looked excellent so far in wins against USA and Germany.

The Slovaks started well enough, generating scoring chances early and matching the speed of the Russian team. But it was the Russians who drew first blood with a strong effort from Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov, forcing his to the net between two Slovak defenders. Goalie Adam Huska fell to the ice too early trying to poke check the puck away, allowing Ivanyuzhenkov cut away from the net and to lift the puck past Huska for the 1-0 lead.