UFA, RUSSIA – DECEMBER 31: Russia’s Albert Yarullin #5 makes the save on this play during preliminary round action against Canada at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Team Russia suffered their first defeat of the 2013 WJC at the hands of Team Canada, who won the contest 4-1.

Russia set a bad tone early on in the first period when Valeri Nichushkin hit Canadian defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon from behind. Nichushkin was originally given two minutes for cross-checking, but penalty was later revised to a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct. Canada scored twice on the resulting power play and it only went downhill from there.

The lone goal scorer for Russia was Nikita Kucherov, capitalizing on a Mark Scheifele turnover in the first period.

Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov made 44 saves, while his team only managed to take 22 shots on opposing goalie Malcolm Subban in the face of the stifling Canadian defense.

Along with their win over Russia, Canada secured themselves as the winners of Group B and thus earning themselves a bye into the semifinals. Russia, however, will be playing Switzerland in a quarter-final game on Wednesday.