It’s been a dream start for Russia’s Dream Team at the home Euro Hockey Tour event as the Red Machine destroyed Sweden 5-1.

The Swedes were the first to score on the evening though. Nicklas Danielsson made the most of Nicklas Backstom’s clever assist in powerplay.

The goal, however, was soon overshadowed by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov’s charges as after the interval the hosts took full control of the game.

It took the Russians less than a minute to level things on the ice – Pavel Datsyuk did most of the work for Evgeny Medvedev, who sent the sell-out crowd at the Khodynka arena in Moscow into euphoria.

Just two minutes after the Russians were two goals ahead courtesy of back-to-back shots by KHL’s best sniper Sergey Mozyakin and Alex Ovechkin.  

Aleksandr Radulov discouraged the guests to make it 4-1 just before the second interval and seconds after the restart Mozyakin fixed the final score at 5-1.

“We lost the first period mostly because the guys were nervous and over-motivated. Everyone took the game very seriously. The players had a great desire to win. In the second period they found their play,” Bilyaletdinov stressed after the game, adding that there is much in play to be changed.

The Muscovites will be able to see the amendments on Saturday, when the Red Machine will take on the Czech Republic in the game for the Euro Hockey Tour leadership.

Russia's players celebrate scoring against team Sweden during Channel One Cup hockey match, the event of the Euro Hockey Tour in Moscow on December 13, 2012 (AFP Photo / Alexander Nemenov)

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