Russia cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Italians on Monday for its seventh-straight win at the world hockey championships that cemented its place at the top of Group B.
In their other games, the Russians have swept aside co-host Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Latvia as their charge toward the title gathers serious momentum.
The Italians put up little resistance to a Russia side dotted with NHL stars, conceding one in the first period, two in the second, and final one in the third.
Ilya Nikulin tested Italian stopper Thomas Tragust's relfexes early on with two wicked slap shots from distance.
Half way through the first period, Italy defenseman Nick Plastino was a whisker away from connecting with a pass that fizzed in front of Semyon Varlamov's goal.
Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk put the Russians ahead on 10:35 after Roland Hofer gifted Evgeny Kuznetsov the puck left of goal.
Medvedev span around the back of the goal to feed Datsyuk, who calmly slotted home.
Alexander Svitov should have doubled it a minute later but slammed the puck straight at Tragust's midriff after skipping effortlessly around two Italian defensemen.
Alexander Popov got too cute in front of goal moments later, turning the puck this way and that before the danger was cleared.
Sergei Shirokov almost walked the puck into the net on the second-period restart as the Italian defense melted away.
The Italians put together a rare attack that saw Manuel de Toni go close from out left, before the Russians damped their enthusiasm with a second goal.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, who turned down a summer move to the Washington Capitals to stay with KHL regular season champion Traktor Chelyabinsk, collected the puck from Toronto Maple Leafs wing Nikolai Kulemin to dart through and bury it in the corner.
The third came moments later and too easily as Italy capitulated.
Evgeny Biryukov rifled the puck at goal from dead center only for it to ricochet in off the stick of an Italian defenseman who was preoccupied with marking Popov.
Alexei Tereshchenko then missed a one-on-one as it turned into an exhibition.
Fifteen minutes into the second period the Italians came close with Kuznetsov off the ice for hooking.
Canadian-born wing Dan Tudin redirected a shot just over the frame of the goal from a yard out.
As the Russians visibly took their foot off the pedal, Patrick Iannone went close for Italy, breaking loose down the left and firing at the near post. Mikhail Biryukov was equal to it in the Russia goal.
Italian forward Alexander Edzher tested Biryukov's concentration early in the third with a stinging effort from distance.
The pace slowed as both teams accepted which way the result was heading.
Denis Kokarev burst into life for the Russians with eight minutes remaining only to find Tragust's glove.
Popov put a gloss on the score with six minutes left, collecting the puck from Alexander Perezhogin and firing under Tragust's left knee.
Russia has qualified for the quarterfinals as Group B winner already thanks to a 7-3 win over Sweden, a 2-0 victory over the Czechs, a 4-2 defeat of Norway, a 5-2 thrashing of Latvia, a 2-0 win over Germany and 3-1 triumph over Denmark.
Italy, rock bottom of Group B, has suffered a drubbing in every match save a 4-3 overtime win over the Danes. Otherwise, the Italians have been defeated 3-0 by Germany, 5-0 by Latvia, 6-2 by Norway, 6-0 by the Czech Republic and 4-0 by Sweden.
There were two surprise results in other matches Monday as Denmark beat Latvia 2-0 and France stunned Belarus 2-1.
