In a Group C preliminary round game at the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Arena Riga on Saturday, May 6, Russia, sparked by hat tricks from Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin, romped over Kazakhstan 10:1 (4:1, 4:0, 2:0).
Russia scored a quick goal at 1:36 on the clock in the first period to start a 3:0 streak until opponent Kazakhstan scored with 17:40 on the clock to make it 3:1.
Another goal was notched by Russia before the end of the period.
Scoring goals for Russia were Alexander Ovechkin (3), Denis Arkhipov, Konstantin Gorovikov, Dmitri Bykov, Yevgeni Malkin and Alexander Semin (3).
Yevgeni Koreshkov was the only player who scored against Russia.
Russia's next foe is Belarus on May 8, while Kazakhstan takes on Slovakia that day.
In a Group B preliminary round game in Skonto Arena on May 6, Sweden took over the Ukraine 4:2 (1:1, 1:2, 0:1).
The championship will continue on Sunday, when Latvian national hockey team will play its second Group A game in Arena Riga against the Olympic silver medal winners Finland.
Also in Group A today, the Czech Republic, who tied Latvia 1:1 on Friday, takes on Slovenia.
Games in group D (in Skonto Arena) are Denmark vs. the United States and Canada vs. Norway.
