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Russian coach suggests Radulov needs to be scratched

Ice Hockey - Winter Olympics Day 6 - Russia v Slovenia

SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 13: Alexander Radulov #47 of Russia looks on against Slovenia during the Men’s Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day six of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 13, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Bruce Bennett

Russia features a talented forward group and very intimidating top power-play unit, one that needs to be effective to win games. So it’s particularly telling the U.S. fared better on the man advantage in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout victory.

Both of the American goals were scored on the power play and they had Russian forward Alexander Radulov to thank for both opportunities, something Russia head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov was particularly unhappy about.

Bilyaletdinov, speaking through a translator, singled out Radulov after the game and suggested that he should be scratched “among other things,” according to NHL.com writer Dan Rosen.

It’s worth adding that Radulov did help Pavel Datsyuk net the game-tying goal by screening American goalie Jonathan Quick.

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Radulov is no stranger to criticism. When he attempted to return to the Nashville Predators in 2012 after an extended stay in the KHL, he came under fire for breaking curfew during the playoffs.

Despite recording seven points in nine NHL games and another six points in eight postseason contests, Nashville didn’t want to re-sign him in the summer of 2012 and he ended up heading back to the KHL.

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