Penguins

Evgeni Malkin leads Russia past Norway in World Championships opener

Jonathan Bombulie
Friday, May 10, 2019 2:37 p.m. | Friday, May 10, 2019 2:37 p.m.

Finland’s Kaapo Kakko, left, scores his sides first goal past Canada’s goaltender Matt Murray, right, during the Ice Hockey World Championships group A match between Finland and Canada at the Steel Arena in Kosice, Slovakia, Friday, May 10, 2019.

Evgeni Malkin had a better time than Matt Murray as the IIHL World Championships began Friday in Slovakia.

Malkin had a pair of assists as his Russian team cruised to a 5-2 victory over Norway. Murray stopped 24 of 26 shots as Canada dropped a 3-1 decision to Finland.

Malkin made a pair of nearly identical plays to help Russia jump out to a 4-0 lead, taking the puck behind the net on the power play and centering to Florida’s Evgeni Dadonov between the hash marks for a goal.

Here are both Dadonov's goals together back-to-back. #IIHFWorlds #FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/c9XpFRPTZI

— Aivis Kalniņš?? (@A_Kalnins) May 10, 2019

A Finnish team with no NHL regulars on the roster beat Canada thanks to a breakaway goal from Kaapo Kakko and a rebound goal from Arrtu Ilomaki off a net-front scramble on the power play. Kakko, an 18-year-old who is expected to be selected second overall in June’s NHL draft, also scored an empty netter.

Four other Penguins players are also in the tournament – Canada’s Jared McCann, Sweden’s Patric Hornqvist and Marcus Pettersson and the Czech Republic’s Dominik Simon. Teddy Blueger was set to play for Latvia but has been sidelined by an undisclosed injury.