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We can’t all just get along: Capitals players on teams for Russia and Czech Republic face off

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Even though they’re not playing on North American ice, it’s nice to see a bunch of Capitals playing together. (It’s less nice when the Capitals play against each other–but it still looked like they all had fun.)

Monday morning, Team Russia faced off against the Czech Republic’s team in the preliminary round of the IIHF World Championship. Russia won their third consecutive game by a score of 3-0, handing the Czech’s their first loss of the tournament.

Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov, and Evgeny Kuznetsov represented Russia, while Jakub Vrana and Dmitrij Jaskin played for the Czech Republic.

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy got his second shutout of the tournament (despite former-goaltender and current analyst for TSN Mike Johnson saying that dreaded S-word on the broadcast).

Video

Before the game Ovi had himself a little bubble yum. Really gets the juices flowing.

Evgeny Kuznetsov centered the second line, with Ovi on the left Alexander Barabanov starting out on the right wing. Russia tried out multiple partners for Ovechkin and Kuznetsov throughout the game, which is a surprise to absolutely no one in Washington DC.

Evgeny Malkin went to the box for slashing. He didn’t agree with the call which was a total shocker coming from a Pittsburgh Penguin.

It’s possible that Nikita Kucherov is still not over being swept by the Blue Jackets.

Ovi and Radko Gudas of the Philadelphia Flyers (who is having a good showing as an alternate captain for the Czechs) bashed bods quite a few times.

Dmitrij Jaskin also threw his weight around. He garnered many positive comments from the analysts about his play on the fourth line and penalty kill unit.

The Czech Republic’s Tomas Zohorna is good at hockey.

Tomas Zohorna is also kind of a jerk.

Even Jakub Vrana had to try and get him to stop being inconveniently fighty.

Goals

Sergei Andronov got the Russians on the board with his first goal of the tournament, assisted by Dinar Khafizullin and Nikita Nesterov.

Nikita Gusev netted the second goal of the game for Russia, assisted by Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.

After a less-than-brilliant zone entry by Jakub Vrana with the Czech goalie on the bench, Nikita Zaitsev snagged the puck and sent it down the ice for an empty-netter.

Ovi Being Exceptionally Cute

After Zaitsev’s empty netter, Ovi gave the 27-year-old Maple Leaf a friendly little facewash.

Then came the hug line. Team captain Ilya Kovalchuk gave Andrei Vasilevsky a very firm shaking for his shut out, and Ovi gave him a good hug (but still not as loving as the hugs he gives Holtby, which is right and just).

Then Ovi gave Jaskin a little pat because sometimes a hug just isn’t enough.

Orlov and Ovi also left the ice together.

Russia’s next game is on the 15th against Italy, while the Czechs have a two-day break before facing off against Latvia.

…also the IIHF’s mascot seems like the villain in a furry horror movie.

Headline photo: FHR

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