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Misha Japaridze / AP
Team Russia players hoisting the trophy after defeating team Canada at the gold medal game in the World Ice Hockey Championships in Bern, Switzerland on Sunday.
The Russians defended their title on a game-tying power-play goal from Oleg Saprykin in the first period and a winning score from forward Alex Radulov late in the second. Canada led early on a goal by Jason Spezza.
Victory was keyed by Russian goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov, who made 37 saves. Russia forced just 15 stops from Dwayne Roloson in the Canada goal.
Russia coach Slava Bykov said he hoped his team was creating a new dynasty with its second straight title after a 15-year drought.
"We have a young team and more young players," Bykov said through a translator.
Canada coach Lindy Ruff said his team didn't make many mistakes but missed great opportunities to score.
"We've got silver and they have a gold — sometimes hockey is a cruel sport," Ruff said. "Bryzgalov was very good and didn't make the mistake that was going to allow us back into the game."
Russia, which went unbeaten through the tournament despite trailing in six of its nine matches, now holds a 25-24 edge over Canada in total world titles.
Sweden won the bronze medal, beating the United States 4-2 earlier Sunday.
After a frenetic start, Canada captain Shane Doan took the first penalty call but on his next shift backhanded a pass across the crease for Spezza to scoop his shot into the net. The goal came at 5:37 and was Spezza's seventh of the tournament, equaling the most of any player this year.
Later in the period, a game-delay penalty was called on Braydon Coburn, and Russia used the power play to tie the game at 12:59. Saprykin got in front of Roloson and diverted Vitali Atyushov's slap shot into the net low to the goalie's left.
Early in the second period, Steve Stamkos went through the Russia's defense and Bryzgalov's stick diverted the puck up on the top side of the net.
Russia's star forward Ilya Kovalchuk would skate more than 30 minutes yet was kept quiet by the blue line of Nashville Predators pair Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber.
Russia took the lead at 14:30 on a breakaway set up by Saprykin's pass back through his legs along the left boards.
Konstantin Gorovikov fed Radulov, and the youngest player on the Russian roster cut in through the right circle and fired left-handed past Roloson.
Canada soon got the only power play of the period but Stamkos was denied in the crease when the net was momentarily open.
In the third, Stamkos wristed a shot just over the goal, and a shot by Dany Heatley from between the circles struck the cross bar.
Russia was protecting its lead and got some respite with seven minutes left when Mike Fisher was sent to the box for tripping.
Canada's best late chance came when Doan had a clear path to goal on Spezza's breakaway pass with under two minutes to go, but the captain slipped crossing the blue line.
"That one will stick with me for a very long time," Doan said.
At the buzzer, tournament MVP Kovalchuk was joined in a leaping embrace by Radulov, who was under threat of being suspended from the tournament after breaking his Nashville Predators contract last summer to return home.
His walkout sparked an on-going transfer dispute between the NHL and Russian KHL league. The IIHF governing body found it did not have the authority to discipline him.
"It's in the past and we will see what is going to happen next year," Radulov said. "I'm happy that I'm on the national team."
In the bronze-medal match, Sweden scored all four goals on power plays. Loui Eriksson and Tony Martensson netted in the second period and Carl Gunnarsson added a third with 11 minutes left. Johnny Oduya scored into an empty net in the final seconds.
The U.S. took the lead on Jack Johnson's power-play shot in the second, and tied the game on Joe Pavelski's solo effort early in the third.
"I'm very proud of this young team. They played their hearts out and probably deserved a better fate over the last two games," said U.S. coach Ron Wilson, whose side gave up a late power-play goal in a 3-2 semifinal loss to Russia.
Stefan Liv had 37 saves for the win, and Robert Esche made 24 stops.
