BERNE - In 2008, Russia ended its 15-year gold medal drought with a comeback 5-4 overtime win over the host Canadians in Quebec City. The Russians, who dominated IIHF competition in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's, can no longer expect to win every year as they once did, but they certainly have enough talent to make back-to-back titles a possibility.

The question is whether head coach Slava Bykov will have the right mix of players this year to defend the Motherland's hockey honour. Russia prevailed in the IIHF's centennial year with a roster that came close to what it might ice at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (with notable exceptions like Evgeni Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk, and Sergei Gonchar). But at least to start this year's tournament, the KHL-focused lineup is more akin to the 2006 and 2007 Worlds entries, with Bykov awaiting potential reinforcements from the NHL playoffs.

Goal

Russia's top goalie, workhorse Evgeni Nabokov, slotted in seamlessly in 2008 after the San Jose Sharks were eliminated from post-season contention. He posted five straight wins en route to the title with two shutouts and a 1.78 GAA. In Nabokov's absence, Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to carry the load between the pipes.

The 28-year-old netminder won 26 games for the Phoenix Coyotes this season, and is aiming to score his first major success in senior international hockey. Bryzgalov was a member of the Russian squad that crashed and burned on home ice at the 2000 IIHF World Championship in St. Petersburg, where he played in four games en route to an 11th-place finish. He also served as Russia's number one keeper in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, where Russia lost to the USA in the quarter-finals, and he played just one game at the 2006 Olympics (the opening 5-3 loss to Slovakia) before losing the confidence of then-head coach Vladimir Krikunov.

Russia's other two goalies split duties at the 2007 IIHF World Championship in Moscow en route to a bronze medal. As well, Alexander Eremenko entered last year's tournament as the starter before giving way to Evgeni Nabokov. A three-time Russian league champion with various clubs, Eremenko posted sparkling numbers with Salavat Yulayev Ufa this year (93.7 save percentage and 1.74 GAA), but still carries the stigma of giving up the overtime goal to Finland's Mikko Koivu in 2007 that ended Russia's perfect World Championship record on Moscow ice. Meanwhile, 2009 will mark the second World Championship for the giant Vasili Koshechkin (200 cm, 110 kg) of Lada Togliatti.

Defence

The Russian blueline offers a blend of mobile KHL puck-movers and body-bashing experts with NHL experience. In the latter category, Vitali Vishnevski suited up with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl this season after logging 552 career NHL games, and the 29-year-old's appetite for destruction should terrify opposing forwards. The same goes for Anton Volchenkov of the Ottawa Senators, who is known as much for blocking shots as throwing big hits.

Big Denis Grebeshkov, who played for the 2008 gold medalists, is coming off a career year with the Edmonton Oilers with 39 points in 72 games. Other '08 holdovers include Konstantin Korneyev, Vitali Proshkin, Dmitri Kalinin, and Ilya Nikulin, so this group knows what it takes to be successful.

Forward

It's up front that Russia's roster looks most different from the 2008 edition, at least as the tournament kicks off. If the Washington Capitals fail to rally from a 3-1 series deficit versus the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup playoffs, then Slava Bykov will have the option of adding superstar Alexander Ovechkin, plus Alexander Semin and Sergei Fedorov. (Alexei Kovalev is also available after Montreal was eliminated by Boston, although his pending status as an unrestricted free agent could impact whether he accepts an invitation or not.)

But in the meantime, the Russians still have the potential to create plenty of fireworks. The marquee name on the roster is assistant captain Ilya Kovalchuk, who scored the tying and winning goals versus Canada in last year's championship final. Despite his unquestioned offensive gifts, the Atlanta Thrashers superstar will need to show better discipline than he did at the 2006 Olympics (31 PIM) and 2008 Worlds (52 PIM). Watch for a potential reunion of the former AK Bars Kazan troika of Danis Zaripov, Sergei Zinoviev, and Alexei Morozov. Those three dominated the 2007 tournament and performed well in 2008 too. Morozov, the Russian captain, just led Kazan to the first-ever Gagarin Cup as KHL champions.

Look for physicality and skill from Alexander Frolov of the Los Angeles Kings and razzle-dazzle from the diminutive Sergei Mozyakin, who captured the KHL scoring title with 75 points for Atlant Mytischi. Right wing Alexander Radulov will also attract his share of attention after defecting from the Nashville Predators to play for Salavat Yulayev Ufa this season.

Coaching

Since taking over the Russian national team in 2007, Slava Bykov has established a higher degree of trust and rapport with his players than the vast majority of his predecessors. A skilled communicator, he gives his stars the freedom to use their offensive instincts while also keeping them focused on good team defence, which was the downfall of so many Russian teams in the 1990's and early 2000's.

Bykov is under pressure to produce after he and assistant coach Igor Zakharkhin gave up their duties with CSKA Moscow to focus full-time on the national team. But at least the former Soviet star will enjoy the familiar surroundings in which he's pursuing a second straight gold medal for Russia. Along with Andrei Khomutov, Bykov tore up the Swiss League in the 1990's for Fribourg-Gotteron.

Projected Results

Even without the likes of Evgeni Malkin, or Pavel Datsyuk, the Russians are still clearly the class of Group B in the Preliminary Round. Expect them to run rough-shod over the Germans on Day One and show no mercy to France on April 26 or Switzerland on April 28. What's essential for Russia (and the same goes for other top teams like Canada and Sweden) is to establish good habits in all three zones early on. Nobody will remember or care about a hat trick versus a Relegation Round-destined team if Russia bows out in the quarter-finals.

The Russians are formidable enough on paper that they should be playing for a medal on May 10, and it should probably be gold. As well as the importance that this tournament carries in its own right, it's also a major stepping stone in Russia's long-term plan to first capture Olympic gold on Canadian ice in 2010 and then get it done at home with another title in Sochi in 2014.

LUCAS AYKROYD