New York Rangers prospect and Team Russia alternate captain, Vitali Kravtsov, continues to produce points at the World Junior Championships.
The New York Rangers organization has to be enjoying the play of their first-round draft pick Vitali Kravtsov. He scored a goal and collected an assist in Russia’s victory over the Swiss by the score of 7-4.
Kravtsov and his Russian teammates battled back from a 3-1 deficit to win their third game of the tournament.
With a 3-0 record, Russia will face Team Canada next. The winner will take the top spot in their pool play.
Vitali Kravtsov with an absolutely sick pass for an assist on the power play pic.twitter.com/fJW20GcULi
— Breadman Gets Paid (@FitzGSN_) December 31, 2018
Kravtsov had the primary assist on Russias power-play goal in the second period, which tied the game at 3-3.
Kravtsov wasn’t finished there as he scored his second goal of the tournament off a rebound as he went to the high slot and was able to bury the puck in the back of the net. His goal gave Russia a 7-4 lead late in the third period.
7-4 @russiahockey_en courtesy of @Kravtsov! Follows up the play, goes to the scoring areas and picks up his second point of the night! #NYR #LGR #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/USMfw7sIZb
— Zak (@Zak4B) December 31, 2018
The Rangers first-round draft pick has had a very good start to the World Junior Championships.
Through the first three games of the tournament, Kravtsov is tied for the team lead in goals (two) and points (four), leads Russia in shots on goal (11), and ranks second among team forwards in average ice time (18:35).
Through the first three games of the tournament, Kravtsov is tied for the team lead in goals (two) and points (four), leads Russia in shots on goal (11), and ranks second among team forwards in average ice time (18:35). #NYR https://t.co/zOdb4vaJ8Q
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) December 31, 2018
The contest with Switzerland was high scoring and had a first-time event. Two penalty shots were awarded on the same sequence.
Swiss player Marco Lehmann stole the puck from Team Russia player Dimitri Samorukov and had a clear break in on the goalie. Samorukov took a penalty on Lehmann, and the referee raised his arm to call a penalty shot. Lehmann fought and got back to his skates and continued in, and Samorukov again brought him down.
The referees awarded the Swiss not one, but two penalty-shots. Lehmann took the first shot and then Philipp Kurashev proceeded to take the second. Both failed to beat Tarasov, as the game remained tied at three goals apiece.
