BLR 5:2 1GE | Belarus - Germany2 (World Championship)

World Championship

France2 – Norway	5:4 (2:1 after SO)	\|	Latvia – Russia	1:4 (end)	\|	Denmark – Czech Republic	4:3 (1:0 after SO)
Belarus – Germany2	5:2 (end)	\|	Slovakia2 – Italy veterans	4:1 (end)	\|	Switzerland – Kazakhstan	6:2 (end)

final

Belarus

5:2 (1:2, 1:0, 3:0)

Germany2

Saturday 17.05.2014, 15:45 • World Championship

		Welcome. Game starts at 09:45 ET / 15:45 CET / 16:45 local time in Minsk.
		The group B match between Belarus and Germany this Saturday is the last chance to stay in touch with the quarterfinals for two teams who started with high expectations into the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk. While tournament hosts Belarus collected 6 points in 4 games for the 5th place, their opponents Germany earned 5 points in 4 games for the 6th spot in the group. Finland and the USA are both still in reach with 8 points after 5 games each. Belarus' WC campaign started with a huge disappointment when they were heavily outscored by the USA in their tournament opener (1-6). They came back the following game with a win against recently promoted Kazakhstan (4-1) and a surprise win against Switzerland (4-3) before losing a defensive battle against Finland (0-2). For Germany the start was shaky against Kazakhstan (2-1 SO) before they beat Latvia (3-2) late in the third period. After avoiding relegation almost certain, it looked like the Germans could get a huge step towards the quarterfinals but losses against direct competitors Finland (0-4) and Switzerland (2-3) threw them back. The most outstanding player on the Belarus squad to this moment is Avangard Omsk's Sergei Kostitsyn with 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists), followed by Mikhail Grabovksi (4 points), Andrei Stepanov and Alexei Kalyuzhny (3 points each). The German scoring department is led by Thomas Oppenheimer with 5 points (4 goals, 1 assist) who is responsable for more than half of the German goals. Everything but a win in regular time would be another huge disappointment for the tournament hosts Belarus!
		Starting lineups: Belarus: Koval (Lalande) – Korobov, Graborenko, Denisov, Yevenko, Stasenko, Gotovets, Usenko – Kalyuzhny, Stepanov, Grabovski – Platt, Stas, S. Kostitsyn – Ugarov, A. Kostitsyn, Kitarov – Koltsov, Volkov, Kovyrshin – Yefimenko. Germany: Zepp (Grubauer) – Braun, Ankert, Kohl, Hördler, Akdag, Krüger, Müller – Schütz, Barta, Mauer – Hospelt, Oppenheimer, Nöbels – Kink, Seidenberg, Pietta – Ehliz, Weiss, Draisaitl – Rieder. Referees: Gofman (RUS), Vinnerborg (SWE) – Dahmen (SWE), Fluri (SUI)
		The teams are entering the ice and the atmosphere inside Minsk Arena couldn't be any better. Everything is ready for a great match of hockey this afternoon.
	00:01	Game started.
	01:05	The tournament hosts try to take over the initiative early in this game while the Germans stay deep in defense and wait for counters.
	01:57	After a long pass by the Germans, Koval covers up the puck rather than taking any risk.
	02:05	The Germans lost the face off at the left circle and the puck came right back into their own defensive zone.
	02:56	After a nice passing combination on the left wing, the Germans had their first opportunity of the game but forward Tobias Rieder wasn't able to deflect the puck past Koval from short distance!
	04:13	Yannic Seidenberg tries to send team collaegue Marcus Kink on the left wing but a defender of Team Belarus goes in between.
	05:15	The Belarussians have more problems to find into this game than expected. The Germans play with aggressive forechecking and keep the puck far away from their net at the moment.
	06:03	Mikhail Grabovski with a harmless shot from left to the German net, with a sharp angle making it even more difficult for him, and Rob Zepp easily stops the puck.
	06:42	Belarus try to keep the puck inside the German third but Sergey Kostisyn loses the puck behind the net.
	07:30	It isn't yet a high class game. Both team recorded one shot on target in these first 7 1/2 minutes of play!
	08:04	Goal for Team Germany! KAI HOSPELT receives a long pass on the right wing, tries to force his way through two defenders and then his shot just after crossing the blue line into the Belarussian third is deflected by one of his opponents and goes over the head of Koval into the wide open net! What a strange goal – Germany take the surprising 1-0 lead! Without assist.
	09:35	A Belarussian forward tried to make it past three German players but was stopped at the blue line.
	10:15	The Germans steal pucks even deep inside their opponents' half and the first home fans start to lose their patience.
	10:59	Dangerous cross-pass by the Eastern Europeans from the right circle but it goes past all players.
	11:52	Goal for Team Germany! Nice passing combination by three German players and the puck comes to ALEXANDER BARTA who waits inside the slot, dekes out Koval and scores the 2-0 into the wide open net with his first goal of the tournament – as previously in this game already Kai Hospelt. Assisted by Felix Schütz and Frank Mauer.
	12:41	Harmless shot by Daniel Pietta from the left wing, easily blocked to the side by Koval.
	13:00	The game couldn't have started much better for Germany who took the early 2-0 lead and can now concentrate even more on counter attacks as Belarus have to show a reaction.
	14:32	The Germans are trying to keep the puck inside their opponents' third with shots from all possible angles.
	15:06	Justin Krueger (Germany) gets two minutes for hooking.
	15:27	Goal for Team Belarus! With the first power play of the game Team Belarus cuts the deficit by the half! After a pass from the right circle it is ANDREI STEPANOV whose one-timer from within the slot finds its way past the chanceless Rob Zepp! Assisted by Mikhail Grabovski and Alexei Kalyuzhny.
	15:43	Andrei Stas tries to deke out Zepp from short distance close to the right corner but the German goalie blocks the puck!
	16:02	After a dangerous cross-pass towards the right pots by Felix Schütz, a German forward crashed into Belarus goalie Koval but it looks like the goalie is able to continue without major problems.
	17:14	Alexei Ugarov finds Yevgeni Kovyrshin inside the slot but Kovyrshin, left alone by the German defense, misses the left top corner by inches!
	18:27	Andrei Stas carries the puck into the German third and provokes a double chance for his side but first a cross-pass is missed just in front of the goalie crease and then a one-timer from the blue line is kept outside by the defense.
	19:46	The Germans now have trouble to even make it out of their own zone. They are hoping for the first intermission to come in time.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Belarus had more trouble than many had expected against Germans who concentrated on defense. After a shot by Kai Hospelt was deflected into the net by a defender, the Germans suddenly took over the intiiative and after a nice passing combination even increased their lead through Alexander Barta. Only then did Belarus wake up and increase the pressure. This was rewarded with the 1-2 in power play through Andrei Stepanov. This game will stay interesting! Stay tuned! Shots on goal: Belarus 6 – Germany 8
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:23	Just after the start of the middle period Belarus have the big opportunity for the equalizer! A pass from the left circle by Alexei Kalyuzhny finds Sergei Kostitsyn whose one-timer hits the upper part of the right goal post of the German goal! Zepp would have been chanceless!
	21:40	Marcus Kink tries it with a shot from the right circle for Germany but the puck goes wide past the left post.
	22:09	After a long pass to the blue line, Andrei Kostitsyn has to stop a break away in the last moment after two opponents came back into their own third in time!
	22:49	Almost a 2-on-2 attack for Belarus but a German defender gets his stick into the pass.
	23:18	Big opportunity on the other side! Marcel Noebels tries to deke out Kevin Lalande who entered the game for Koval after the first period and gives the puck then to the left where Leon Draisaitl waits close to the goalie crease but fails to deflect the puck on target!
	25:15	The black and white team from Central Europe is able to keep the game more open again after a nervous start into the period.
	26:27	Alexei Kalyuzhny with a long pass past everyone that causes an icing against Belarus.
	26:38	Kirill Gotovets skates towards the German net coming from the left circle but fails to get the puck into the left bottom corner.
	27:27	3-on-1 attack for Team Germany but Felix Schütz tries it himself with a deke against Lalande who stops him in the very last moment! Big save!
	28:33	A one-timer by a Belarussian defender from the right wing doesn't make it through to the net.
	29:28	German youngster Leon Draisaitl is stopped unfair by his opponent Dmitri Korobov who gets two minutes for tripping. Germany will have their first power play of the game.
	30:15	The Germans have a lot of trouble even making it into the Belarussian third...
	31:28	After an extremly harmless German power play ended, Belarus are back at full strength.
	33:20	The game has calmed down significantly in recent minutes.
	34:23	Goal for Team Belarus! Frank Mauer with a pass from behind the Belarus net towards the blue line and the German defender Constantin Braun fails to hit the puck during a one-timer attempt which gives Belarus the 2-on-1 break away opportunity, finished successfully by ALEXEI UGAROV after a pass by Andrei Stepanov to the right just in front of the goalie crease! Belarus make it 2-2 after a two-goal deficit! Assisted by Andrei Stepanov.
	35:45	The home fans woke up again and are supporting their team loudly.
	36:16	Tobias Rieder with a pass from behind the net for Leon Draisaitl who waits at the right post but Lalande is in between to block the shot from short distance!
	37:20	Kai Hospelt tries it with a shot from a central position just after crossing the blue line into the Belarussian third but Lalande has no trouble keeping the puck outside!
	38:58	After a long cross pass by Thomas Oppenheimer it is Frank Hördler whose shot from the right circle goes just inches wide past the left corner of the Belarus net.
	39:53	Belarus almost even with the lead in the second period but after a long pass towards the right wing Andrei Kostitsyn isn't able to place his scoring attempt well enough to surprise Rob Zepp.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		In an even middle period with few real scoring opportunities, Belarus had the better beginning and they hit the goal post just seconds after the start of the period. Later Germany had a couple of dangerous counters but a break away gave Belarus the equalizer late in the second period. Shots on goal: Belarus 4 (10) – Germany 4 (12)
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:46	Lalande covers the puck up after a long pass by the Germans before Kai Hospelt is able to get the rebound.
	42:00	It's pretty much the same picture as throughout the majority of this game. Germany defend deep in their own third while Belarus try to find a way to create danger by taking over the initiative.
	42:55	Goal for Team Belarus! A fast passing combination and a mistake by German goalei Zepp lead to the 3-2 lead for Belarus! First Alexei Kalyuzhny found Sergei Kostitsyn inside the slot with a pass from the left wing and then Zepp failed to stopp the following one-timer which was used by MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI who took the rebound to score from just in front of the goalie crease! Assisted by Alexei Kalyuzhny and Sergei Kostitsyn.
	43:58	It's party time in Minsk Arena and the wave goes around inside the arena!
	44:05	Goal for Team Belarus! Is this already the decision? GEOFF PLATT receives the puck close to the right circle, turns around twice, skates a bit towards the net and fires a blast into the right top corner – from the upper part of the post the puck is deflected into the back of the net! 4-2 Belarus! Assistedby Nikolai Stasenko and Andrei Stas.
	45:00	The Germans look a bit shocked and don't find a way to get back into offense.
	46:23	2-on-2 attack via the right wing by the Germans but they skate into an offside call.
	47:33	Germany throw everything into offense now. They have nothng left to lose in this game.
	48:50	A one-timer by Tobias Rieder from within the slot is no danger for Lalande.
	49:11	A powerful shot by German defender Justin Krueger from the left wing hit the back of the left leg of his own team colleague Daniel Pietta who leaves the ice in pain. The fans in the arena applaud to cheer him up.
	49:11	Later in the same situation Leon Draisaitl had tried it with a one-timer from within the slot but without success.
	49:53	Goal for Team Belarus! MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI scores the 5-2 with his second goal of the night! After receiving a pass at the German blue line he was through alone with a break away and deked out Zepp to the right! Assisted by Sergei Kostitsyn.
	51:00	As good as Germany played during the first two periods as much of work ethic they miss in the last 20 minutes...
	51:49	Oleg Yavenko (Belarus) gets two minutes for roughing. If Germany want a chance for a comeback in this game, they better use this power play!
	52:28	A shot by Kai Hospelt from the right circle goes just wide past the Belarussian net.
	52:49	Long clearance by the tournament hosts deep into the German defensive zone.
	53:41	Alexei Yefimenko with a shot from the right circle but Zepp is able to deflect the puck past the net without much trouble.
	53:49	Belarus are back at full strength.
	55:08	Nice individual effort by a Belarussian forward but he loses the puck just in front of the German net.
	55:42	Andrei Kostitsyn fails to controll a cross-pass close to the right circle in a great scoring position...
	56:20	Back hand attempt by Frank Mauer from a sharp angle left to the Belarussian net but Lalande blocks the shot easily.
	57:04	The Belarussians win the puck inside the German third and suddenly Yevgeny Kovyrshin appears close to the right circle but isn't able to beat Zepp!
	58:55	With the comfortable lead and barely any time left to play, Belarus leave the Germans more room which they can't use despite several shots on target from all possible angles.
	59:59	Brutal check by Nikolai Stasenko (Belarus) into the face of Germany's Yasin Ehliz whom he rammed into the boards... completely unnecessary to take such a penalty! Stasenko gets 5+20 for boarding.
	60:00	Game over.
		Belarus completely dominated the third period against Germany by outscoring them 3 goals to 0 for a deserved 5-2 win after 60 minutes. The win was only overshadowed a little by the late brutal check by Nikolai Stasenko against Yasin Ehliz. Belarus now have earned 9 points in 5 games while Germany collected 5 points in as many games. For Belarus the quarterfinals are still in reach while Germany is out of competition most likely. Shots on goal: Belarus 6 (16) – Germany 7 (19)
		Thank you for following the game with us! For the coverage of more WC games, have a look at our schedule! (17:55:53)

Commentary by

Dennis Mende

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 16. Stepanov (Grabovski, Kalyuzhny), 35. Ugarov (Stepanov), 43. Grabovski (Kalyuzhny, S.Kostitsyn), 45. Platt (Stasenko, Stas), 50. Grabovski (Kostitsyn) – 9. Hospelt, 12. Barta (Schütz, Mauer)

Belarus: Koval (Lalande) – Korobov, Graborenko, Denisov, Yevenko, Stasenko, Gotovets, Usenko – Kalyuzhny, Stepanov, Grabovski – Platt, Stas, S. Kostitsyn – Ugarov, A. Kostitsyn, Kitarov – Koltsov, Volkov, Kovyrshin – Yefimenko.

Germany2: Zepp (Grubauer) – Braun, Ankert, Kohl, Hördler, Akdag, Krüger, Müller – Schütz, Barta, Mauer – Hospelt, Oppenheimer, Nöbels – Kink, Seidenberg, Pietta – Ehliz, Weiss, Draisaitl – Rieder.

Referees: Gofman (RUS), Vinnerborg (SWE) – Dahmen (SWE), Fluri (SUI)

1st period
	08:04
	11:52
	15:06
	15:27
1st intermission
2nd period
	29:28
	34:23
2nd intermission
3rd period
	42:55
	44:05
	49:53
	51:49
	59:59
Final