LIBEREC, Czech Republic – A four-goal second period powered Russia to a 7-4 victory against Finland on the opening day of the U20 World Championship.

Russia was without one of the biggest stars of the championship, Alexei Cherapanov, who is reportedly out ill, but it made little difference as Russia turned in a total team performance with seven different players scoring in the 7-4 win.

Finland had a strong first period and actually held a 2-1 lead at the end of 20 minutes.  Captain Nico Aaltonen scored on the power play 7:20 into the game to open the scoring. Russia was quick to counter with a power-play goal of its own when Marat Kalimulin scored on a scrum down low. Finland countered with yet another power-play tally at the 15:02 mark as Joonas Jalvanti put in a picture-perfect wrist shot from the point.

But Russia came our firing in the second period and put in two goals just over a minute apart to take its first lead of the game. Evgeni Bodrov scored on a follow-up, while Vadim Golubstov scored a power-play goal in from just above the crease. The offensive parade continued when Artem Anisimov put in a one-timer just in front of the net. Anton Korolev provided the highlight-reel goal, and the 5-2 lead, at the 14:32 mark of the second period when he scored on a breakaway.

Viktor Tikhonov got things rolling just 25 seconds into the third period with the third Russian power-play goal of the night to make it a 6-2 affair. But Finland valiantly fought back, closing the gap to two goals after scoring a pair of goals 26 seconds apart. But the second period damage was too great for the Finns to overcome.

Finland will play Switzerland tomorrow, while the Russians will be in action against Kazakhstan.

NOTE: Today marked the first time that the IIHF used the four-man officiating system in an official World Championship. The system is being evaluated at this year’s World Juniors to determine whether or not it will be used at this year’s men’s World Championship in Canada.