There won't be Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin or Ilya Kovalhcuk playing, but still a pretty intense rivalry with a lot on the line when Canada and Russia write the next chapter of their international hockey rivalry on Thursday.
The two global hockey powers will meet in the quarterfinal round of the 2018 IIHF World Championship Thursday morning, in Denmark. The matchup was set after Russia finished second in group play, and Canada third, with the two teams each scoring 32 goals in seven pool play games.
MORE: Canada hopes for 'strong start' against Russia in quarterfinals
While some of the country's respective biggest stars are not in Denmark for the tournament, the game will still be ripe with big names, like Connor McDavid and Jaden Schwartz for Canada, and Pavel Datsyuk and Artem Anisimov for the Russians.
Canada has gotten the better of Russia lately in elimination games, defeating their rivals in the semifinal of the 2017 World Championship, and also in the semifinals of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Sporting News will provide live updates throughout the game (all times Eastern).
Overtime
12:42 McDavid to O'Reilly, deflection in front, a power play goal at 4:57. Canada wins 5-4
Ryan O'Reilly, the Canadian that never says no to playing for his country, wins the game for Canada.
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
They're off to the semifinals on Saturday. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/RLPp9iZqRB
12:41 Shesterkin with pair of saves on Ryan O'Reilly in tight. Canada still on PP.
12:38 Canada to the power play in OT. They are 2-for-3 on PP today. Kirill Kaprizov slashes Darnell Nurse.
12:37 Aaron Ekblad turnover in offensive zone leads to Russian rush the other way. Kuemper the save.
12:34 Ten-minute sudden death overtime, skating 4-on-4, underway.
Third Period
12:31 Heading to overtime in Copenhagen. Game Tied 4-4
12:20 Artem Anisimov on the backhand at 14:34, this one is tied again. What a game. Anisimov's third goal is assisted by Mikhail Grigorenko and Zaitsev. Game Tied 4-4
Darcy Kuemper allows one of the worst goals of the tournament (which is hard to believe with how bad Canada's goalies have been) off of a weak Artem Anisimov backhander. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/oPQbO7YkOk
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
12:19 Pierre-Luc Dubois gives Canada another one-goal lead on delayed penalty at 12:36. His third goal is assisted by Tyson Jost. Canada leads 4-3
Pierre-Luc Dubois gives Canada the 4-3 lead off of the rebound. What a tremendous effort that was by the @BlueJacketsNHL forward. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/2lIJ3u9eHu
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
12:17 Schwartz heads to dressing room, arm hanging by his side
12:16 Jaden Schwartz goes hard into the boards, shaken up, holding arm, heads to bench.
12:14 Mathew Barzal with the steal and breaks in, but denied by Shesterkin.
Barzal steals the puck but gets robbed on the scoring chance. Shestyorkin has been good overall. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/IJha7mL0G8
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
12:10 Again, Russia answers. Sergei Andronov ties it at 8:44, deflecting a Zaitsev shot past Kuemper. Also assisted by Nikita Soshnikov. Game Tied 3-3
Nikita Zaitsev's shot gets redirected by Sergei Andronov and we're tied again. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/Zak4b8zbJJ
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
12:08 Kyle Turris from Jaden Schwartz off the rush at 7:11. Turris keeps shot along the ice and through the five-hole. Canada leads 3-2
Kyle Turris gets one just under Igor Shestyorkin's right leg and it's 3-2 Canada. His first of the tournament. #IIHFWorlds #Preds pic.twitter.com/ZdPXa6q104
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
12:01 Parayko in deep, his chance denied by Shesterkin's pad
11:59 McDavid with good scoring chance early in third. Still tied.
11:55 Third period is underway.
PERIOD 3! @russiahockey and @HC_Men current tied at 2! Who’s getting the win? #IIFWorlds pic.twitter.com/cHcqpkMfF4
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 17, 2018
Second Period
11:40 Horn sounds, and we are set up for an exciting finish. Shots are 21-19 Canada, though 15-9 Russia in second period. Game Tied 2-2
11:35 Russia ties it. Alexander Barabanov scores during delayed penalty, assisted by Evgeny Dadanov, at 17:32. His fourth of the tourney is a one-timer from the slot. Game Tied 2-2
Alexander Barabanov ties the game up at two on a delayed penalty call. 2-2. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/5oz8w5zdoJ
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
11:33 Nothing doing for Russia on its first power play. Canadian special teams the difference in this game, so far.
11:30 Canada's Joel Edmundson sent off for holding minor at 14:08. Key moment in today's game right here with first Russian power play.
11:26 Russia answers right back and it's a one-goal game again. Ilya Mikheyev even strength goal at 12:53. That's the third goal for the KHL forward, this one assisted by Artem Anisimov and Nikita Zaitsev. Canada leads 2-1
For some reason Darnell Nurse was looking the wrong way and Ilya Mikheyev makes it 2-1. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/8umSUBVaZX
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
11:24 Another power play goal for Canada. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with his fifth of the tournament at 11:51, a neat finish from left wing. McDavid and Parayko assist. Canada leads 2-0
Connor McDavid sets up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and it's 2-0 for Canada. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/F4DjhxtxZq
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) May 17, 2018
11:23 Third Canadian power play coming up
11:22 Halfway through the game, Canada clinging to one-goal lead. Also, Team Canada has yet to take a penalty in this one.
11:19 As expected, after a lackluster first period, Russia much better here in second, generating more chances. Kuemper has been up to the challenge to this point for Canada.
11:18 Dadanov with aggressive move on wraparound, but Kuemper holds his ground, makes the save.
11:06 Puck dropped and away we go with the start of period number two.
First Period
10:50 Horn sounds, a strong first period for Canada comes to an end. Russia looks to regroup. Canada leads 1-0
In Denmark, Canada leads Russia 1-0 after 1 period of their #IIHFWorlds quarterfinal matchup, thanks to a Colton Parayko power-play goal. A strong start for Canada, who also led in shots on goal, 12-4.https://t.co/zIdOPJlBKY pic.twitter.com/yNQ3wGh0PE
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) May 17, 2018
10:48 There's a good scoring chance for Russia, and a key stop by Kuemper.
10:47 It's all Canada, so far, here in first period. Canada controlling the puck, dictating the play, leading 12-4 in shots -- but only up a goal.
10:40 Canada with excellent pressure, but Russia kills off the penalty. Solid start to this one for Canada.
10:36 Second power play coming up for Canada at 11:36. Russia caught with too many men on the ice.
10:26 Parayko has been terrific at both ends of the ice in this tournament. He now has three goals -- two on the power play. McDavid with ninth assist, now has team-high 14 points.
Another angle of McDavid laying it on a tee for Parayko to hammer home.#IIHFWorlds 🇨🇦🏒 pic.twitter.com/EX6Fv9oYSG
— BarDown (@BarDown) May 17, 2018
10:25 and Canada capitalizes! Colton Parayko with the power play goal at 4:45, assisted by Connor McDavid and Jordan Eberle. A bomb of a slap shot which beat Shesterkin glove side. Canada leads 1-0
#RUSvsCAN PP Goal for Canada's Parayko nets the first goal of the game! @HC_Men #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/07rXBIxr35
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 17, 2018
10:22 Canada draws the game's first power play at 2:55
10:15 The 2018 IIHF World Championship quarterfinals are underway. Canada and Russia with the winner to take on the winner of Finland-Switzerland in the semis.
Pregame
Canada's Bo Horvat has 2 goals, 3 assists and 5 poinbts in seven games, so far.
Team Canada (@HC_Men) and @Canucks Foward Bo Horvat (@BoHorvat) puts it all on the table in this 100-second interview.
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 17, 2018
While we didn't get to ask him about Hot Dog Horvat, we did ask him about his favourite roomate. (Here's looking at you @cmcdavid97) pic.twitter.com/upRo23jufh
Here's a look at how Canada lines up for Thursday's quarterfinal match
Game lines for 🇨🇦🆚🇷🇺! #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/XRR1pfi8nI
— Team Canada Men (@HC_Men) May 17, 2018
It looks like New York Rangers goaltending prospect Igor Shesterkin will start for Russia. Likely he'll be opposed by Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper between the pipes for Canada.
Igor Shesterkin will get the start in goal for Russia in their Quarterfinals game against Canada today at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. #NYR
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) May 17, 2018
Kuemper has started each of the past two games for the Canadians.