Evgeni Malkin on a roll

ByEurosport

Published 11/05/2006 at 12:50 GMT

Ukraine will have to stop red-hot Russian Evgeni Malkin if they are to cause a shock as the qualification round starts on Thursday. The Metallurg Magnitogorsk man played a key role in pushing Russia to the top of their group, and will be optimistic of add

ICE HOCKEY 2006 World Championships Russia Malkin

Image credit: Reuters

Malkin has even outshone linemate Alexander Ovechkin, and despite the loss of Kiril Kolstov to a one-game suspension , Russia will surely have too much quality for a Ukraine outfit who only scraped into the round thanks to a 4-2 win over Italy.

ICE HOCKEY 2006 World Championships Russia Malkin Ovechkin

Image credit: Reuters

Oleksandr Seukand's squad will rely heavily on Yuri Dyachenko - team leader with three points - Andriy Mikhnov and Yuri Gunko to inspire the side and stay out of the penalty box.

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And with the group also featuring Slovakia, Belarus, Switzerland and Sweden, the latter two having already notched victories over Ukraine in the first group phase, Seukand's men will be desperate to get something from the game.