Men's Hockey Olympics Russia Vs Slovenia Live Stream: Watch Online Free 7:30 A.M. ET Thursday - Home Country Led By Alex Ovechkin With Medal On Their Mind
Men's hockey Olympics Russia vs Slovenia live stream: Watch online free 7:30 a.m. ET Thursday as the home country plays its first game in Group A.
Russia is a heavy favorite vs Slovenia for the opening game at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The home country Russia team are 6 1/2-goal favorites against Slovenia. Watch the free live stream online as this Russia team, filled with NHL pros, go against a team with only one player represented in the NHL.
Watch the free live stream online of Russia vs Slovenia for men's hockey at the Olympics
Date: Thursday Feb. 13
Start Time: 3 a.m. ET
TV Info: MSNBC
Live Stream: NBC Olympics Live Extra or NBC Olympics.com
The team qualified for the games by defeating Belarus and Denmark without Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, but he could help provide some offense for a team that will have to battle against the likes of Bobrovsky of the Blue Jackets or Varlamov of the Avalanche.
"We can't control what [Russia is] going to do," Kopitar told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm sure they're going to be flying for the first game, but I think if we put up the performance that we want to put up, I think everybody's going to be surprised how well we can play."
Matjaz Kopitar, Anze's father, is actually the coach of Slovenia.
"It will be exciting. It's always fun to play the host country," Anze Kopitar said. "You feel like you're playing an away game. ... I'm sure they've been looking forward to this day for a long, long time too. The crowd's going to be fired up and we're going to be fired up, so it should be a good match."
Russian fans are expecting a win and its head coach knows how important it is to get this first one over with.
"This is a very important game," Russia coach Zinetula Bilyaletinov told NHL.com. "It doesn't matter who the competitor is, in any case we'll have to prepare. This is the first game so we have to be ready. That's it."
Russia will be led by offensively by Alex Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals forward leads the NHL in goals with 40, which is nine ahead of anyone else.
"Right now, I play for my country at home, and this is another crazy moment," Ovechkin said Tuesday. "I'm pretty sure you can ask any Canadian guy, 'What's the biggest moment for them when they play for national team?' Of course, it's home Olympic games. It's probably biggest moment for me."