Team Russia scored early, and often, and in several different ways, proving to the hockey world that theyre certainly one of the favorites to win the tournament, on their way to a 8-2 win over Latvia.

Alexander Ovechkin and Danis Zaripov scored two goals each, Sergei Fedorov, Evgeni Malkin, and Ilya Kovalchuk also got two points.

Back in the Soviet Union times, the CCCP team was known for its five-men units, and for playing together as a team – because it was a team that played together 11 months of the year.

Today, Russia is a team made of the brightest superstars in the world, while Latvia sticks to the good old system of keeping its best players playing together even at a club level: sixteen of Team Latvia’s players also play for Dinamo Riga in the KHL.

One thing hasnt changed, though. The Russia-trained players still put on quite a show.

For Latvia, the game got off to a miserable start. It got its first minor penalty just 19 seconds into the game and while Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, and Alexander Semin couldn’t capitalize on the powerplay, a superstar of the past led the way when 1994 Hart Trophy winner Sergei Fedorov got the puck in the corner, and patiently waited until he found a way to get the puck past a Latvia defenceman trying to get in puck’s way, then sent a saucer to the far post where Danis Zaripov had an easy task to tip the puck in for 1-0, at 02:38.

Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and the rest of the big guns created several scoring chances, completely dominating the game. At one point, Semin held on to the puck behind Latvia’s net while the remaining for Russian players went for a line change.

However, it was Fedorov’s line that struck again.

Dmitri Kalinin found Fedorov in the slot, and the 39-year-old center fired off a wrist shot which Edgars Masalskis saved, but the rebound hit a Latvian defenceman and bounced straight to Alexander Radulov who shot it in while falling down on the ice. Russia 2, Latvia 0 at 07:46.

In the last shift of the first period, Semin picked Guntis Galvins’s pocket, snatching the puck with a poke check in the Latvian zone. Semin found Ovechkin in the slot, and he one-timed it through Masalskis’s five-hole to give Russia a three-goal lead in the game.

In the second period, Russia let Latvia back in the game, by taking two early minor penalties, and Latvia peppered Evgeni Nabokov with quality shots a few times, but Nabokov simply turned them away.

Russian coach Vyacheslav Bykov has the luxury of icing a fourth line with Fedorov and Alexander Radulov, but even they saw some powerplay time in the game. Russia’s lone goal in the period was a powerplay goal, which also the rest of the superstars on the scoresheet.

Ilya Kovalchuk’s took a slapshot from the top of the circle, but he missed the net and the puck hit Maxin Afinogenov’s chest, and ended up at Malkin’s feet and he sent a backhander to the back of the net, for 4-0, with 1:42 remaining in the period.

The beginning of the third period was like fireworks. The announcer’s “Russia is playing with full strength” still echoinh in te arena, Herberts Vasiljevs got teh puck in the slot, span around and beat Nabokov with a wrist shot.

Like so many times with the Washington Capitals this season, Ovechkin was quick to get back at the opponent. Datsyuk got him the puck on the Latvian blueline, Ovechkin stepped in and sent a wrist shot to topshelf, beating Masalskis on the glove side to give Russia a four-goal lead again.

In the next shift, it was the KHL’s line’s turn. Zinovyev sent a cross-ice pass to Zaripov whose one-timer slipped in under Masalskis’s arm, making it 6-1 at 41:30.

Just 94 seconds later, Kovalchuk scored his first of the tournament with a slapshot from Malkin’s assist from behind the net.

Fast forward 31 seconds. Latvia’s turn. Girts Ankipans ripped a slapshot from the top of the circle and beat Nabokov high on the glove side, bringing Latvia a little closer again, at 7-2.

Russias captain Alexei Morozov sealed the deal with his 8-2 goal on a rebound, at 58:57.

On another note: Dennis LaRue, one of the referees tonight, has now officially officiated in four Olympics.

Russia - Latvia 8:2 (3:0, 1:0, 5:2)

Goals:

1 period

1:0 D. Zaripov (S. Fedorov, I. Nikulin) 2.38 EQ
2:0 A. Radulov (S. Fedorov, D. Kalinin) 7.46 EQ
3:0 A. Ovechkin (A. Semin) 19.25 EQ

2 period

4:0 E. Malkin (M. Afinogenov, I. Kovalchuk) 38.18 PP1 

3 period

4:1 H. Vasiljevs (A. Nizivijs, m. Cipulis) 40.33 EQ
5:1 A. Ovechkin (P. Datsyuk) 40.59 EQ
6:1 D. Zaripov (S. Zinovyev) 41.30 EQ
7:1 I. Kovalchuk (E. Malkin, F. Tyutin) 43.04
7:2 G. Ankipans (J. Sprukts, M. Karsums) 43.35 EQ
8:2 A. Morozov (A. Markov) 58.57 EQ

Goalkeepers: E. Nabokov - E. Masalskis
Penalties: 10 - 16 min
Shots: 45 - 20

Risto Pakarinen IIHF. com; The Ice-hockey Federation of Russia