TORONTO -- Guess it was a bit too early to start printing those Team North America championship T-shirts after all.
And conversely, maybe the Russians don't need to book their flight back to Moscow just yet.
In the space of 24 hours, the storylines for both teams went through the blender as Russia's frenzied, hair-on-fire 4-3 victory over the talented young North Americans evened both their records at 1-1.
The Russians, coming off an emotional 2-1 loss to Sweden in their first game, which included an overturned last-second potentially tying goal, looked lost for most of the first half of Monday's game. And the young stars, coming off a 4-1 mauling of Finland, looked early on like they just might be capable of racing right to the finals.
Before the game was six minutes old, Auston Matthews scored his first goal in what will soon be his NHL home after Connor McDavid swept by Detroit Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk in the neutral zone to set up a 2-on-1. But the North Americans couldn't extend the lead, and midway through the second period, the Russians, historic underachievers at these international best-on-best tournaments, came alive. They chased Team North America goalie Matt Murray with a four-goal barrage in just over six minutes to take a 4-1 lead.
But credit the youngsters with not caving. And the explosive to and fro that had been anticipated by these two high-octane teams was delivered with Team North America closing the deficit to one with goals by Morgan Reilly late in the second period and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the third.
But a Russian team that looked like they were ready to fold up their World Cup of Hockey tent early on held fast, especially during an excruciating 1:34 of 5-on-3 for Team North America midway through the third period and then a frenzied final minute when the North Americans were once again on the power play.
Three Stars
1. Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Russia: Playing on consecutive days, the Columbus Blue Jackets goalie was key in keeping the game within reach until his teammates emerged from hibernation. His play during the 5-on-3 was likewise key. He stopped 43 of 46 shots including 17 of 18 in the third period.
2. Auston Matthews, RW, North America: Hey, this team had a handful of forwards who were once again dynamic bringing fans out of their seats, but the first overall draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to show he's the real deal.
3. Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Russia: The talented Washington center didn't have a great start, taking two minor penalties in the first period and then appearing out of sorts when he wasn't in the box. But he scored Russia's third goal on an incredible individual effort blowing by Reilly and beating Murray. Better yet, he followed it up with a celebration in which he looked like a bird flapping its wings.