Russia should not imitate Norway’s rough tactics when the two countries face off in their world championship quarterfinal match, Russian Hockey Federation president and legendary goaltender Vladislav Tretiak told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
The Norwegians will be looking for revenge for their 4-2 defeat to Russia in the group stage and trying to cement their place in history by putting their country into its first semifinal, Tretiak suggested.
“It’s clear that the Norwegians will foul us. They’ve got nowhere else to go and, anyway, they can become heroes for their whole lives if they beat Russia,” Tretiak said.
“That’s why we have to keep a cool head and not get penalties.”
Some members of the Norwegian team have vowed to play rough with Russia’s top scorer Evgeni Malkin, but Tretiak warned that hitting the Pittsburgh Penguins center was no easy feat.
“They’ll first have to catch him if they want to hit him.”
Tretiak’s comments appear to contradict Russia coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, who said Wednesday the Russians should not be afraid to get physical will their Norwegian opponents.
“We should be playing rough, they should be playing rough. It’s a knock-out match,” he said.
Thursday’s match will pit together the group stage’s two highest scorers in Malkin, who has a 14-point haul from seven games, and Norwegian wing Patrick Thoresen, who has amassed 16 points, six of them in a 12-4 demolition of Germany.
Russia finished top of its group with seven wins from seven games, while Norway was fourth with four wins, one overtime loss and two regulation losses.
The winner will face either the United States or Finland in the semifinal.
