NELSON - Team Russia scored one power play goal and twice shorthanded en route to a 6-2 victory on the opening night of the World Junior A Challenge Monday at the Nelson and District Community Complex Arena in Nelson.

The win gives Russia the lead in Pool A standings. Canada West meets Germany Tuesday in Trail.?

Nikita Filatov scored twice and Andrey Loktionov had three points to pace the Russian attack. Loktionov was selected player of the game for Team Russia.?

Germany started the game trying to slow a high-power Russian attack that scored nine goals in two pre-tournament games against the two Canadian squads by employing a five-man zone defence. The strategy worked until the final second of the first period when Soviet winger Anton Lazarev stole the puck in the Germany end and roofed shot past goalie Etienne Renkewitz while falling.?

Russia took a 2-0 early in the second lead playing shorthanded when winger Andrey Loktionov grabbed a loose puck at the blueline and beat Renkewitz on a breakaway. Minutes later, the Russians increased their lead to 3-0 when Dimitri Litesov broked down the right wing and beat Renkwitz to the top corner.?

Germany cut the margin to 3-1 when a shot from center ice by defenceman Mark Wittforth surprised Russian goalie Alexander Pechurskiy. The Germans then reduced the margin to one goal seconds after a power play advantage. Bruce Becker grabbed a loose puck from near the side of the net and poked the puck past Pechurskiy.?

The Russians restored their two-goal lead before the period ended once again playing shorthanded. Loktionov started play swooping in from the right wing on Renkewitz.?

The German goalie was unable to control the rebound allowing Nikita Filatov to snap the puck past Renkewitz from close range.?

Russia scored twice in the third period – Filatov and Dimitri Kugryshev on the power play – to complete the scoring. ?

Russia’s next game is Wednesday in Trail vs Canada West.?
Team USA sees its first action Tuesday in Nelson against Belarus.