Artemi Panarin loves playing at the World Championship.
The 25-year-old Chicago Blackhawks winger scored the shootout game-winner in Russia’s 2-1 victory over Sweden in the team’s opening game at the tournament at LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany.
Here’s the shootout winner from Artemi Panarin to give the Russians a 2-1 win over Sweden. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/lYDizTaPJl
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 5, 2017
It’s the third straight Worlds appearance for Panarin, who has won silver and bronze the last two years. He has now scored 26 points at the Worlds, which includes 10 and 15 points at the last two Worlds.
Panarin’s Chicago teammate Marcus Kruger did not record a point for Sweden in the loss. The forward has won four medals at the senior level for Sweden, including silver twice at the 2011 Worlds and 2014 Olympics.
Kruger hasn’t played at Worlds since 2012 when the Swedes took sixth. The Swedes have found success while Kruger has been busy playing with Chicago in the playoffs. They won the 2013 Worlds and took bronze in 2014.
The Swedes continue play in Group A on Saturday against host Germany while the Russians face off against Italy on Sunday.