RUS 2:1 BLR | Russia - Belarus (World Championship)

World Championship

Norway – Canada2	2:3 (end)	\|	Germany2 – USA	4:5 (end)	\|	Latvia – Switzerland	2:3 (end)
Denmark – Slovakia2	3:4 (end)	\|	Russia – Belarus	2:1 (end)	\|	Czech Republic – France2	5:4 (after OT)

final

Russia

2:1 (0:0, 2:0, 0:1)

Belarus

Tuesday 20.05.2014, 19:45 • Minsk Arena • World Championship

		Welcome. This game starts at 20:45 EEST local time in Minsk, 21:45 MSK in Moscow, 19:45 CEST.
		This is the very last game in Group B. So far, Russia has been perfect, taking the maximum 18 points out of 6 games, and will finish 1st no matter what happens tonight. Belarus has done better than anybody would have expected, having already secured a spot in the quarterfinals with 12 points in 6 games. They currently sit 3rd in the group, but can move up to 2nd with a win in regulation time. Not surprisingly, these are the two teams at this tournament with the largest fan bases, so the atmosphere inside Minsk Arena should be electric. Both teams will be without their star players, as Russia's Alexander Ovechkin and Belarus's Mikhail Grabovski were both injured in their teams' most recent games on eerily-similar plays, in which they were felled by legal but deadly hip-checks.
		Starting lineups: Russia: Bobrovsky (Vasilevsky) – D. Denisov, Chudinov, Medvedev (A), Kutuzov, Yakovlev, Belov, Zubarev – Plotnikov, Kalinin, Shipachyov – Tikhonov, Malkin, Kulyomin (A) – Zaripov (C), Anisimov, Shirokov – Dadonov, Burmistrov, Kuznetsov. Coach: Oleg Znarok Belarus: Koval (Lalande) – Korobov, Graborenko, V. Denisov (C), Gotovets, Yevenko, Usenko, Karev – Volkov , S. Kostitsyn (A), Kovyrshin – Platt, Stas, A. Kostitsyn (A) – Ugarov, Stepanov, Kitarov – Yefimenko, Osipov. Coach: Glen Hanlon Referees: Nord (SWE), Patafie (USA) – Carnathan (CAN), Suominen (FIN).
		We're in Belarus, but the designated home team of this game is Russia, who are wearing their white uniforms with blue and red trim, red pants and helmets. Belarus is designated as the visiting team and are wearing their red uniforms with green and white trim, red pants and helmets. Both teams have felt quite at home all tournament long, though, with tons of crowd support. Tons of fans for both teams in this sold-out and already loud arena tonight, with Belarus obviously a bit more support.
		Team Belarus takes to the ice and a roar comes out from the crowd, followed by Russia, who get a mix of cheers and whistles. The two teams are now on the ice and the opening faceoff is moments away.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:16	Play moves into the Russian zone off the opening faceoff, Dmitri Korobov's shot from the point is deflected on Bobrovsky, who catches and holds it for the early faceoff.
	00:30	Belarus getting lots of cheers from the fans and they keep the pressure up, 2 more saves by Bobrovsky.
	01:00	Icing Belarus.
	01:15	Alexander Kutuzov of Russia with a blast from the point, high and wide.
	01:53	Another Belaurusian rush, shot by Gotovets and another save by Bobrovsky, covered.
	02:05	Icing Russia, a lot of whistles early on.
	02:14	Offside Russia.
	03:30	Russians on the rush, drop pass to Danis Zaripov and a wrister, glove save Vitali Koval, his first save of the game.
	03:51	Kuzentsov centres for Dadonov, can't handle the pass in the slot, then the Belarusians rush back, long wrister by Sergei Kostitsyn, caught and held by Boborovsky.
	05:20	Sergei Plotnikov works his way into the slot, shot deflected wide.
	05:41	We're now getting the first penalty of the game, Belarus's Alexander Kitarov for tripping. Russia to the power play.
	05:53	Shot off the draw, blocked in front and Belarus send it the length of the ice.
	06:29	Malkin with the pass across to Tikhonov, he had room on the near side but misses and it goes high and out of play. Faceoff outside with 1:12 left in the penalty.
	06:50	Now Kutuzov sneaking in from the point, his one-timer from the low slot is just wide.
	07:30	Now a Russian pass is deflected out of play by a Belarusian stick. Faceoff in the Belarus zone with :11 left in the penalty.
	07:35	Geoff Platt fires it down the ice, which will kill off the rest of the penalty.
	07:52	Puck out of play in the Belarusian zone, faceoff inside.
	08:37	Russia's Alexander Burmistrov now getting a penalty for holding behind his own net. Belarus to the power play for the first time.
	09:44	Puck deflected out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside with :53 left in the penalty, Belarus still shotless.
	10:08	Denisov with a long slapper from his own blueline on Koval, killing more time off the penalty.
	10:40	Russia back at full strength, Belarus backed up in their own zone.
	13:00	Russia putting on pressure in the Belarusian zone, but not getting shots.
	14:05	Now a battle for the puck along the boards in the Russian zone.
	14:20	From that scrum that went on for a while, Russia's Denis Denisov is getting a penalty for holding. Belarus to the power play, 0/1 today.
	14:50	Russia's Kulyomin kills time, sends it deep in the Belarusian zone.
	15:29	Now the puck is deflected out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside with :52 left in the penalty. Belarus still shotless (again).
	16:01	A Russian clearing attempt hits a player on the bench, faceoff back deep with :20 left in the penalty.
	16:30	Russia again with the kill, no shots for Belarus and, by my count, no shots by anybody in over 6 minutes.
	16:49	And now we get 2 shots, first Denisov for Belarus with a wrister, then Russia quick on the counter, Tikhonov with the wraparound attempt but couldn't stuff it past Koval, who covers.
	17:35	Malkin rips it wide from a sharp angle.
	18:05	Turnover behind the Belarus goal, fed out in front to Kalinin for the one-timer from the slot, big pad save Koval.
	18:39	The puck is deflected out of play in the neutral zone, faceoff at centre ice.
	19:10	Zaripov rips a wrister high, then Shirokov from the boards shoots right on Koval, who holds on.
	19:29	A shot is deflected out of play in the Belaurian zone, faceoff inside.
	19:39	Shot by Kulyomin right off the draw, kicked out by Koval, then back out front to Tikhonov for another chance and another big save by Vitali Koval.
	19:39	Dmitri Korobov gets a penalty for tripping on the play, so Russia with a late power play, 0/1 today.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Belarus with some early energy but Russia withstood it and started to turn the tide on the first power play of the game. Then things stagnated somewhat, with two Belarusian power plays and two effective Russian kills. Russia started putting on more pressure late in the period, and finish the period on a power play that carries over to the second period. Shots on goal in the 1st period: RUS 5, BLR 4. 2nd period begins at 22:35 MSK, 21:35 EEST, 20:35 CEST.
		The teams are returning to the ice and the 2nd period will start shortly. Russia begins the period on the power play, with 1:40 left in Korobov's minor.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:33	The Russians move it around on the power play, Shipachyov's drive from the point is blocked.
	20:58	Finally a shot from Malkin is caught and held by Koval with :42 left in the penalty.
	21:07	The Russians move it around on the power play again, Anisimov denied on the doorstep, :33 left in the penalty.
	21:25	The zone was cleared but a long Russian shot is again handled and covered by Koval, down to :15 left in the penalty.
	21:35	Now the Belarusians ice it, which will kill the rest of the penalty.
	23:35	The Russians move it around the zone again, Burmistrov takes a wrister from the right wing boards that's right on Koval, he holds on again. All Russia so far this period.
	23:43	Now a centring pass and a quick one-timer from Kulyomin looks labelled for the top corner but Koval swats it away with the glove.
	23:48	Now Russia with a penalty in the attacking zone, Viktor Tikhonov for holding. Belarus to the power play, 0/2 and shotless in the first period.
	24:27	Belarus with some pressure, they finally get a shot, but the Russians clear the zone.
	25:00	Sergei Kostitsyn with a shot blocked, then Plotnikov quick the other way on a shorthanded rush, doesn't get a shot but takes some time off the clock.
	25:51	Just as the penalty expires Geoff Platt takes a shot that's blocked. 1 shot on goal and a few more blocked for Belarus that power play.
	26:22	Puck out of play in the Belarus zone, faceoff inside.
	26:43	Icing Belarus.
	27:05	Russian shoot-in attempt deflects out of play, faceoff outside the Belarusian line.
	27:31	Belarus's Dmitri Korobov is called for tripping in his own zone. Russia to the power play, 0/2 today.
	28:50	The Russians move it around the outside but so far no shot gets to the net.
	29:25	Yakovlev cuts in front and backhands it wide, then Belarus ice it, which should do it for the penalty.
	30:13	Sergei Kalinin rushes down the right wing, tries to cut in on goal but is kept to the outside and Koval handles and covers it.
	31:41	Burmistrov and then Shipachyov both with shots, not sure if they were blocked or got through to Koval, but finally the puck comes to him and he covers.
	31:47	Pass to Zaripov off the draw, his shot hits Koval, then the puck is cleared out of play by Alexei Yefimenko and he's called for delay of game. Russia to the power play again, 0/3.
	32:46	Goal for Team Russia! They finally cash in on the power play. Behind the net it was Tikhonov to Shipachyov, then out front to SERGEI PLOTNIKOV, and he one-times it from the low slot through the legs of Koval to open the scoring. Power-play goal. Assists: Vadim Shipaychov, Viktor Tikhonov.
	33:45	A long shot on Koval, who holds on. Shots now 11-2 Russia this period.
	34:02	A Russian shot goes off the crossbar and out of play, faceoff outside.
	34:50	Now a dangerous-looking shot by Chudinov deflects just wide.
	35:47	Goal for Team Russia! Sergei Plotnikov picks the pocket of a Belarusian player trying to break out of the zone, he then quickly spun around and sent a backhand pass to VADIM SHIPACHYOV, who chipped it in and it's 2-0. Plotnikov deserves the credit on that one. Assist: Sergei Plotnikov.
	36:14	Now the Russians drive hard to the net again, there's a big collision and Vitali Koval goes down. It looks like he's injured his knee and he's leaving the game.
	36:14	Interesting turn of events here, as Kevin Lalande takes over in goal for Belarus. Faceoff outside the zone.
	36:37	The Russians not letting up their relentless pressure, but play is stopped for a goalcrease infringement. Faceoff outside the zone again.
	37:00	Long wrister from Medvedev, Lalande turns it to the corner.
	37:56	Kuzentsov with a shot, right on Lalande holds on.
	38:32	Russia's Yegor Yakolev gets a minor penalty for shooting the puck out of play, so Belarus goes to the power play, 0/3 in the game.
	38:54	Icing Belarus, as they continue struggle to generate offence, especially on the power play.
	39:14	The puck deflects out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff outside.
	39:32	Hard wrister from Kirill Gotovets from the top of the circle, right on Bobrovsky holds on.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		The Russian assault on the Belarusian goal was relentless that second period in more ways than one. They finally solved Vitali Koval by scoring twice, then knocked him out of the game. Kevin Lalande now in goal for Belarus, who will start the 3rd period with :33 more of power-play time. Shots on goal in the 2nd period: RUS 13 (17), BLR 3 (8). 3rd period begins at 23:28 MSK, 22:28 EEST, 21:28 CEST.
		The teams are returning to the ice and the 3rd period will start shortly. Belarus will begin the period on the power play, as :33 remains in Yakovlev's penalty.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:40	Russia now back at full strength. Belarus 0/4 now on the power play with 2 total shots.
	41:35	Scramble around the Belarusian goal, Lalande is down, Tikhonov tries to backhand it in but can't put it away.
	42:14	Finally a shot from the boards goes on Lalande, who covers this time.
	42:31	Kirill Govets with a brilliant move, cuts in from the left wing right in on Bobrovsky, tries to beat him with a backhander but is denied. Belarus's best scoring chance of the game.
	42:46	Icing Belarus.
	42:56	Icing Belarus again.
	43:04	Dadonov with the puck off the draw, spins around and shoots, blocker save Lalande.
	43:30	Back the other way, the puck is deflected out of play in the Russian zone, faceoff inside.
	45:49	Goal for Team Belarus! Kitarov led the rush down the right wing, stopped at the hashmarks at passed across the middle to VLADIMIR DENISOV streaking in and, he beat Bobrovsky high glove side to get Belarus on the board. As badly as they've been outplayed, they're not out of this game. Assists: Alexander Kitarov, Dmitri Koborov.
	47:05	Offside Russia. This crowd is really re-energised by that goal, making noise throughout the commerical break.
	47:24	Russia back to the attack, slapper from Denis Denisov right on Lalande, who covers.
	47:48	Yevgeni Malkin leads a dangerous rush through the zone, then tries to make a pass to Tikhonov headed to the side of the net but it's knocked away.
	48:12	Then another Russian rush denied, icing Belarus.
	48:25	An interception in the Russian zone and a Belarusian 2-on-1, Volkov to S Kostytsyn, tries to go back to Volkov but it's broken up without a shot.
	48:45	Then Russia back the other way and a save by Lalande. What end-to-end action!
	49:16	Icing Russia.
	49:50	Stretch pass misses and it's icing Russia again, as these teams are trying for the long bombs.
	49:58	Yet another icing call against Russia. That breakout pass keeps missing.
	50:28	Slapper from Geoff Platt, hits Bobrovsky in the chest and he covers it. The crowd really into it now, with the wave going around the arena a moment ago.
	50:41	Platt again tries to go upstairs, hits Bobrovsky in the shoulder.
	51:01	Now a Russian rush, Malkin an Tikhonov again, save Lalande and we've got a mix-up after the whistle.
	51:01	Viktor Tikhonov is getting a slashing penalty, and I'd bet it was on Lalande, which led to the skirmish. Belarusian power play, 0/4 but they've got energy right now.
	51:50	Russians fire it the length of the ice to kill some time.
	52:20	Korobov shoots high, then Russia clears the zone again.
	52:55	Yevenko the wrister from the point, pad save Bobrovsky and the Russians clear again, which will do it for the penalty.
	53:20	The power play is over but Andrei Stepanov heads to the net with the puck, ties to beat Bobrovsky five-hole but is denied.
	53:24	Right off the faceoff, Andrei Kostitsyn gets the puck, shoots once, save Bobrovsky, gets his own rebound back and another save by Sergei Bobrovsky.
	53:49	Icing Belarus.
	53:55	One-time blast from the point by Chudinov deflects wide.
	54:47	Icing Russia.
	55:40	Icing Russia again.
	55:52	A pass back to the point misses and Belarus must go back to their own end to retrieve the puck.
	56:18	The puck goes out of play in the neutral zone, faceoff at centre ice.
	56:33	Play in the Belarusian zone. Anisimov with a couple of whacks at it, the first one is blocked, second is right on Lalande, who covers.
	56:58	Tikhonov had the puck behind the net, centres out front to Malkin and Kevin Lalande denies him twice from point-blank, finally covering it.
	57:05	Icing Belarus.
	57:37	Denisov's blast from the point hits Lalande square in the mask, and play is stopped immediately.
	57:59	Icing Russia. We'll now start to watch for Kevin Lalande going to the bench ... might be a bit early yet. He stays for now.
	58:33	Play moves into the Russian zone, Lalande heads to the bench for a 6th attacker.
	59:03	Malkin leads the puck out to centre and flips it into the Belarusian zone.
	59:23	Belarusians back the other way, Sergei Kostitsyn's wrister hits Bobrovsky and he holds on.
	59:23	Timeout Belarus.
	59:56	They were trying to generate something behind the net, then back to the point, Platt's shot was blocked, then Stepanov's long shot hits Bobrovsky in the chest. Only 3.6 left now.
	60:00	Game over.
		The Belarusians with a frantic push in the third period to make a game of this, but it was Russian dominance in the second period, where they scored twice, that decided this game. Nevertheless, the Belarusian fans give their team quite an ovation, and why not? They finish 3rd in the group and are off to the quarterfinals, where they will face Sweden. Russia will play either Czech Republic or France, whose game is still in progress.
		Players of the game: BLR – Kevin Lalande, who entered the game in goal in relief and stopped every shot he faced. RUS – Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped 17 of 18 in goal for Russia, and had to come up big a few times in the 3rd.
		The Russian national anthem is now playing.
		That's all for Group B, but Group A is not quite done over at Chizhovka Arena, so click on Czech Republic-France, who are now in overtime. And don't forget we'll have all four quarterfinal games on Thursday. (22:12:53)

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 33. Plotnikov (Shipaychyov, Tikhonov), 36. Shipachyov (Plotnikov) – 46. Denisov (Kitarov, Korobov)

Russia: Bobrovsky (Vasilevsky) – D. Denisov, Chudinov, Medvedev (A), Kutuzov, Yakovlev, Belov, Zubarev – Plotnikov, Kalinin, Shipachyov – Tikhonov, Malkin, Kulyomin (A) – Zaripov (C), Anisimov, Shirokov – Dadonov, Burmistrov, Kuznetsov. Coach: Oleg Znarok

Belarus: Koval (Lalande) – Korobov, Graborenko, V. Denisov (C), Gotovets, Yevenko, Usenko, Karev – Volkov , S. Kostitsyn (A), Kovyrshin – Platt, Stas, A. Kostitsyn (A) – Ugarov, Stepanov, Kitarov – Yefimenko, Osipov. Coach: Glen Hanlon

Referees: Nord (SWE), Patafie (USA) – Carnathan (CAN), Suominen (FIN)

1st period
	05:41
	08:37
	14:20
	19:39
1st intermission
2nd period
	23:48
	27:31
	31:47
	32:46
	35:47
	38:32
2nd intermission
3rd period
	45:49
	51:01
Final