Team Russia suffered a 4-2 loss Monday against the United States in the preliminary round of the World Hockey Championship in the Czech city of Ostrava.
U.S. forward Trevor Lewis opened the scoring early in the first period, giving his team a 1-0 lead as it headed into the second period.
Russia's Anton Belov, who plays for Gagarin Cup champion SKA St. Petersburg, scored in the second period to tie the game.
The American team capitalized on two Russian penalties in the second period, scoring a power play goal to take the lead.
With the United States leading 3-2 in the third period, Russia pulled goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in a desperate attempt to tie the game.
Brock Nelson of the National Hockey League's (NHL) New York Islanders scored an empty net goal to secure the Americans' victory.
After Russia's star-filled roster lost to a gritty Finnish team in the quarterfinals of the Sochi Olympics, the team regrouped to win the 2014 World Championship.
The caliber of tournament, marked by the absence of top NHL players still competing in the playoffs for their respective teams, is considered lower than that of the Olympic Games.
Russia will play its next game against Denmark on Wednesday.
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