Stopping Malkin Not Enough - Czech's Blatak

© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Fomichev / Go to the mediabankEvgeni Malkin
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Simply stopping Evgeni Malkin will not be enough for a Czech victory against the Russians in Sunday's world hockey championship clash, Czech defenseman Miroslav Blatak told RIA Novosti.

Simply stopping Evgeni Malkin will not be enough for a Czech victory against the Russians in Sunday's world hockey championship clash, Czech defenseman Miroslav Blatak told RIA Novosti.

After thrashing co-host Sweden 7-3 on Friday, Russia tops Group B as the only unbeaten team. The Czechs stand third, four points behind Russia and one behind Sweden. The Czechs’ only defeat so far is a 4-1 loss to Sweden last week.

"Malkin is the leader of his squad now, scoring a lots of points and able to shoot from any position," Blatak said. "But he doesn't decide the result alone. He plays in a very strong line, where the guys are working on him. So we should try to mark all five players on the ice, not just Malkin alone, and play disciplined."

"It will be a difficult match and we'll need a lot of luck."

Russia will be missing defensemen Dmitry Kalinin and Alexei Yemelin, who were both suspended for the match by the International Ice Hockey Federation on Sunday for fouls against Sweden forward Johan Franzen.

Blatak warned that will not seriously weaken the Russians.

"Russia has a lot of other strong guys to play. ... But we are not afraid of this team, they play very tough hockey and show great character."

Blatak, 29, has been playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa since 2007, and won the 2011 Gagarin Cup.

 

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