Switzerland – Russia 0:5 (end) | France2 – Canada2 3:2 (1:0 after SO) | Belarus – USA 1:6 (end)
Slovakia2 – Czech Republic 2:3 (after OT)
after shootout (1:0)
France2
3:2 (1:1, 0:0, 1:1 – 0:0)
Canada2
Friday 09.05.2014, 15:45 • Chizhovka-Arena, Minsk, Belarus • World Championship
     
    Brayden Schenn and Stephane Da Costa are named players of the game. (18:16:30)
     
    What a game as France did their best and comes out victorious to defy the odds and beat Team Canada.
     
    Game over.
     
    65:00
    France has won after the penalty shoot-out.
    PIERRE-EDOUARD BELLEMARE beats Reimer and Team France rewrites history here in Minsk as Team Canada falls in the opener for the first time in about forty years!
     
    Bellemare beats Reimer!
     
    Read looked for the five-hole of Huet and the former NHLer closed it quickly.
     
    Stephane Da Costa fanned on the original shot following his move and then fired the puck into the skates of Reimer.
     
    Same by Monahan, only a little quicker. Huet made the stop anyway.
     
    Julien Desrosiers tried a backhand move and a shot to the five-hole, Reimer makes the stop.
     
    Kyle Turris denied by Huet.
     
    Start of shootout.
     
    Team Canada will take the first shot as the shootout is about to begin.
     
    Shootout coming up here in the opening game of the tournament.
     
    65:00
    Overtime finished.
     
    64:36
    France had a man down iwth Myers on the puck, but Auvitu was right there in front to steal the pass.
     
    63:45
    MacKinnon has his shot blocked by Manavian and the puck is cleared by Treille.
     
    63:07
    Nicolas Besch almost got on a breakaway, but pressured by one of Canadian defensemen, his shot wasn't good enough to beat Reimer.
     
    62:42
    Ellis was looking for Hodgson in front, but the latter didn't get a shot away.
     
    62:28
    Kadri with a shot from the right wing, pad save made by Huet.
     
    62:01
    Ellis carried it in, circled around the net with it and then set up Reilly for a shot, but it went wide.
     
    61:01
    An attempt on goal by Besch is stopped by Huet who made it look easy.
     
    60:55
    MacKinnon got deep into the zone, but failed to get a shot away.
     
    60:18
    A shot by MacKinnon is blocked, Turris can't fire on the rebound.
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    There will be overtime at the Chizhovka-Arena following a tandem of goals scored in the third frame. First off, Florida Panthers rearguard Erik Gudbranson gave his team a comeback lead and as France outshot Canada 10-9 in front of 6,780 spectators, Senators prospect Stephane Da Costa scored his second of the night on a powerplay.
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    59:58
    Team France calls a timeout.
     
    59:58
    Tyler Myers set up his teammate from Buffalo Cody Hodgson to try and beat Huet for a buzzer beater, but the Swiss-based netminder got over in a hurry and stopped the shot.
     
    58:58
    Stephane Da Costa crossed the blue line with the puck and tried to fire it on goal, but lost it in the process.
     
    58:46
    French captain Meunier looked to beat Reimer short side from the right circle, but the Manitoba native got his glove on it to keep the game tied.
     
    58:16
    Guttig keeps the puck in the Canadian zone, but also on the Canadian sticks, too.
     
    57:28
    Auvitu fired one on net and then Stephane Da Costa found Fleury in front, but the Lausanne forward wasn't able to get a shot away.
     
    56:50
    Burrows had a couple of great chances thanks to his positioning, but the puck didn't find a way to him.
     
    56:10
    Bieksa got to the puck in a firing range on a 4-on-3 situation for Team Canada, but it was blocked by Chakiachvilli in front.
     
    55:59
    Another counter-attack by France ended up with Roussel looking for a deflection by Teddy Da Costa in front, but he didn't get one as his teammate was tied up with a defenseman.
     
    55:23
    Icing called against France as the latest goal-scorer DaCosta send it down the ice off the glass in his own zone.
     
    54:10
    Canada had the puck in the French zone for about a minute now, but the Blue team is able to clear it out and go for a change.
     
    53:10
    Guttig led the puck into an odd-man rush, but he was called for offside by the linesman.
     
    52:35
    Goal for Team France!

    What a response by the French team! Another powerplay goal against James Reimer as the puck got free after a battle behind his net and got right in front for STEPHANE DA COSTA to pick it up, make a move on the Maple Leafs goalie and backhand the puck home with him out of position. France ties the game, 2-2 with just about seven minutes left in regulation.
     
    52:15
    Jason Garrison (CAN) heads to the sin bin as he gets called for slashing.
     
    52:12
    Turris set up MacKinnon with the puck in the zone, but the latter lost his balance and fell which led to a counter-attack by the French team at the end of which Teddy Da Costa put it just wide of the net on a quick one-timer from the left circle.
     
    50:42
    Goal for Team Canada!
    Team Canada takes a come-from-behind lead midway through the third period! There are just nine minutes left, but a shot by ERIK GUDBRANSON found a way through the five-hole of Cristobal Huet, off the post and off the goalie's back and then just crossed the goal line and even though he did his best to reach back for the puck in time, he got to it a little bit too late.
    Assisted by Nathan MacKinnon.
     
    50:42
    A shot by Gudbranson squeezed through Huet's five-hole and then bounced off of Huet's back and just crossed the goal line. The ref must call to confirm the goal.
     
    49:55
    Now France was on a counter-attack with Roussel leading the charge, but his shot was tipped and the rebound was picked up by Team Canada.
     
    49:31
    Pressure on goal by Team Canada resulted in a good shot by Hodgson that was tipped aside by Huet.
     
    48:20
    Now Hodgson forced one as the puck bounced right to the front of Huet following the Buffalo Sabre's forecheck, but the veteran netminder kept it out.
     
    47:40
    Neither of the teams can get settled on the puck, no chances are the result.
     
    46:38
    Now Ward had the puck point-blank in front of the wide-open net, couldn't get a shot away though.
     
    46:23
    Chimera dumped one on goal looked for Ward to tip it, but the latter didn't.
     
    45:52
    Myers fired one from the top of the circle, save by Huet, but the shot draws a crowd as the Canadian forwards were looking for a possible rebound.
     
    45:44
    What a move by MacKinnon to get around Meunier, but the Avalanche rookie is stopped by Huet.
     
    45:26
    Canada has the puck and France is just getting it out of the zone right now.
     
    44:30
    Auvitu decided to blast the puck from the left circle, Reimer made an uneasy save.
     
    44:07
    Odd-man rush for Team France, but Fleury's shot was not as dangerous as the French team needed.
     
    43:46
    Gudbranson fires it wide and it goes back to the blue line where Ellis grabs control of it.
     
    43:18
    Long shot by Myers blocked by Amar right after Canadian entry of the French zone.
     
    42:25
    Great cross-ice feed by Teddy Da Costa, but Desrosiers only fires it wide of the target.
     
    42:05
    Turris punched Amar right in his face during this scrum, but no penalty will be called by the officials.
     
    41:56
    44 seconds left on the Brouwer minor with Bieksa long gone from the penalty box.
     
    41:40
    Team France can't get anything going on this powerplay.
     
    41:03
    Following a blocked shot by Teddy Da Costa, the puck is cleared down the ice.
     
    40:39
    But Brouwer goes right back into the penalty box after he slashed Huet. This two-man-advantage will be much longer for France.
     
    40:28
    Brouwer is back on the ice without Team France even getting a shot on net. Good job by the Canadian penalty-killing trio.
     
    40:01
    27 seconds of a five-on-three left for Team France.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Third period will begin at 6:23 EET.
     
    The margin of shots on goal was higher in the second as Team Canada outshot the opposition 13-6, but both teams played quality hockey again and Cristobal Huet was awesome in keeping the puck out of the net. Brayden Schenn and Jason Garrison were the most frequent of his challengers, but they are still limited to the goal that was scored late in the first.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:59
    Bellemare looked to beat the buzzer with a one-timer from the right side, but Reimer makes another kick save and that's it for the period.
     
    39:50
    So far there were shots by Fleury and Auvitu, none of them got on net.
     
    39:21
    Teddy Da Costa draws a penalty and Kevin Bieksa heads to the penalty box for tripping. A long 5-on-3 coming up for France.
     
    38:42
    Desrosiers set up Meunier with a cross-ice feed, the captain fired it wide.
     
    38:27
    The called penalty is a minor against Troy Brouwer (CAN) and the call is slashing.
     
    38:27
    Another skirmish during a delayed penalty, Huberdeau and Besch almost went at it following a battle along the boards.
     
    38:05
    Treille looked to set up Bellemare in front, but the pass wasn't right on the tape and the French team lost the zone quickly.
     
    37:16
    Kadri was one man from all alone against Reimer, but Amar did his best and kept him from getting his best shot off. Hodgson, however, came in fishing for the rebound and he poked the puck free from the reach of Huet which drew a crowd and an altercation that had to broke up by the officials.
     
    36:56
    Scheifele and Garrison weren't on the same page there and it almost sprung a French breakaway, but the Jets rookie himself got back to preven that from happening.
     
    36:23
    Coast to coast plays, but no shots fired in the last sequence.
     
    35:37
    Good shot from a great position by Stephane Da Costa, Coburn proved that he is a top defenseman by tipping it up over the net.
     
    34:57
    Read with a shot from the right side set up by Schenn, Huet keeps it out of the net.
     
    34:27
    Gudbranson fanned on a pass on his own blue line and now he has to hustle back to keep Team France from going on a counter-attack.
     
    34:05
    Kadri carried the puck in all the way to the doorstep, Huet snags it with the catching glove.
     
    33:55
    MacKinnon has been great tonight and now he got rid of two French players in the neutral zone, played a little give-and-go with Burrows and fired the puck on net, but Huet makes another stop and now covers up for a draw in the French zone.
     
    33:34
    Icing called against Team Canada.
     
    33:08
    Ward carried the puck in now the Canadians have it back in the French zone.
     
    32:24
    Huet sure changed the momentum and now Team France could profit from it as Fleury was sent on a breakaway by a Canadian mistake in the neutral zone, but neither him nor Bellemare got it past Reimer.
     
    32:04
    What a sequence! Brayden Schenn had two great opportunities to give his team the lead, first getting stopped on a rebound attempt, then firing the puck from point-blank range. Then the puck got to the right circle where Morgan Rielly wasted no time and fired it looking for the top corner, but Cristobal Huet made what could be the save of the year jumping all the way across the crease and steering it aside with his glove. Now it's gloved after a long drive by Turris.
     
    30:50
    Raux failed to clear it the first time he tried, now it's finally back in the neutral zone.
     
    30:12
    Kadri's shot kicked out by Huet and Garrison fanned on it in front of the net.
     
    30:00
    Anthony Guttig (FRA) called for interference and that's a two-minute infraction.
     
    29:57
    Ellis clears it for a second consecutive icing-call against Team Canada.
     
    29:44
    A low shot from a good distance by Fleury and Reimer responds by kicking it out with his far pad.
     
    29:17
    Ellis looked to spring Huberdeau with a long pass, but Team France intercepts it.
     
    29:09
    Desrosiers fired the puck from the right wing, Reimer gloves it even though it would have gone wide nonetheless.
     
    28:46
    Myers with a blast from the blue line, but the Texas-born rearguard missed the net.
     
    28:30
    Impressive shoulder save by Huet, stopping the young Nathan MacKinnon.
     
    28:05
    A shot by Garrison was meant to get deflected in front, but it didn't and now Canada has to go back to the neutral zone.
     
    27:46
    Brian Henderson plays the puck for an icing against France.
     
    27:35
    Reimer with another stop and another faceoff ensues right in front of him.
     
    27:25
    Guttig got the back to the doorstep, where a Canadian picked it up, but the eventual counter-attack didn't get past the French blue line.
     
    27:01
    Reimer covers up after the puck bounced his way from the corner.
     
    26:42
    Long shot by Fleury steered aside by Reimer, Bellemare got to it first and looked to set up Stephane Da Costa, but the puck went right between his legs and out of the Canadian zone.
     
    26:24
    Huge pile-up in the French doostep as Monahan, Huberdeau and Rielly were looking to dig the puck out and get it past the goal line, but Huet said no and kept it out while lying on the ice.
     
    26:00
    France clears the puck and top-notch forechecking by Treille and Meunier causes trouble again.
     
    25:33
    A one-timer by Brayden Schenn kicked aside by Reimer.
     
    25:13
    Ellis has the puck deep in his own zone, great PK by Team France.
     
    25:02
    Garrison fired one again and this time, Huet has to make a save and he does, despite a couple of bodies right in front of him.
     
    24:46
    One-timer by Garrison from the blue line goes just wide after a tip in front.
     
    24:28
    The puck is cleared right away and Reimer gives it to Ellis for a counter-attack.
     
    24:22
    Canada built up a pressure and drew a penalty, Stephane Da Costa (FRA) gets a two for elbowing.
     
    23:47
    Gudbranson shoots it down the ice and Canada gains the zone.
     
    23:39
    Team Canada is offside.
     
    23:08
    Ritz destroyed pretty much everything that was in his way, first unintentionally shooting the puck up into Bieksa's face and then colliding with an official in the corner. No shots fired.
     
    22:24
    Guttig failed to get his stick on the pass by Chakiachvilli, icing is called by the refs.
     
    21:50
    A lot of neutral ice action early in the second, Huberdeau was now denied entry into the French zone.
     
    21:10
    Great pass to the front for Brouwer, but Stephane Da Costa prevailed defensively and started a counter-attack right away.
     
    20:35
    Team France with another strong start into the period as they keep Canada in the Canadian zone despite a lost draw.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Both teams are back on the ice, the puck will be dropped again in one minute.
     
    Tune back in for the second period at 5:34 EET.
     
    The opening period saw the French team put in huge effort and even outplay Team Canada at times and that led to a 1-1 tie and a 10-10 tie in shots on goal. Huet has been outsanding in the net, while Reimer looked a little unsure facing some shots, but neither had a chance to stop those that got past the goal line and into the back of the net.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:44
    Goal for Team Canada!
    And we're all tied here in Minsk as Team Canada responds with a powerplay goal of their own. With sixteen seconds left on the clock, BRAYDEN SCHENN one-timed the puck following an awesome feed by Hodgson and the shot just flew past Huet who had no chance to stop it. The younger of the two Schenn brothers beats the buzzer and he and his teammates sure hope this is the momentum changer they were looking for.
    Assisted by Cody Hodgson and Jason Garrison.
     
    19:29
    Bellemare won the faceoff for France and the puck is cleared.
     
    19:25
    Laurent Meunier (FRA) gets his second minor of the game, this time it's a hooking call.
     
    19:21
    A long shot by Garrison on a delayed call is kicked out of danger by Huet.
     
    18:47
    A one-timer by Read is blocked by the French defense and then the puck is cleared, but not for an icing.
     
    18:03
    Canada trying to turn the momentum their way before the period-ending horn, but Team France has been great defensively all night long.
     
    17:03
    Goal for Team France!
    A powerplay goal for Team France to give the opening game an unlikely scenario in which the French team opens the scoring late in the first! STEPHANE DA COSTA buried it top shelf into the open net following a great wrister from the blue line by Auvitu and a huge screen in front of Reimer by Roussel. The Binghamton Senator makes it 1-0 with just about three minutes left on the clock. What a critical goal!
    Assisted by Yohann Auvitu and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
     
    16:40
    Bellemare got the puck on net and Reimer covered up just before Fleury could get to it.
     
    16:28
    Joel Ward keeps the French team in their zone by his outstanding forecheck.
     
    15:52
    Alexandre Burrows (CAN) called for tripping following a big chance for Team France.
     
    15:15
    Burrows fired one from a great position and Kyle Turris had a great opportunity to put the rebound into the open net, but it somehow stayed out as Huet stays perfect and quick in the net.
     
    15:15
    Stephane Da Costa took it away from MacKinnon, but lost control of the puck as the Nova Scotia native was able to get back quickly.
     
    14:35
    Meunier fired one from the left circle and Reimer had problems handling the puck with his catching glove.
     
    14:25
    Read lost the puck in the corner and Team France can go the other way.
     
    14:03
    French team finally able to get it out.
     
    13:35
    Ward's line has the French team locked in its own zone, but no dangerous shots have been fired.
     
    13:01
    Garrison fired the puck along the boards, but the linesmen call offside.
     
    12:54
    Neither of the teams able to get control of the puck and the refs blow the play dead following a battle along the boards.
     
    12:10
    Gudbranson found Brouwer in a point-blank range and the latter hit the crossbar!
     
    11:40
    Long drive by Teddy Da Costa got deflected by a Canadian player and Reimer just steered it aside by his pads.
     
    11:10
    Bellemare had a good position to fire the puck, but lost control of it defended by Coburn.
     
    10:55
    Odd-man rush for Team France, Stephane Da Costa fired the puck on Reimer and he covered it just in time before Fleury got to the crease.
     
    10:30
    Treille received the puck on the doorstep, but Read managed to prevent him from getting a shot away.
     
    10:03
    Ward set up Scheifele for a shot and a deflection by Chimera on the doorstep sends the puck over the bar.
     
    09:38
    Roussel tried to find a way into the zone, but Ellis took care of him.
     
    09:22
    Huge hit on Ritz along the boards by the tallest player of the tournament, Tyler Myers.
     
    09:00
    Henderson got it out, but lost it at the Canadian blue line.
     
    08:47
    Huet has to hold on to this one after Bieksa sent it on goal. Faceoff in the French zone.
     
    08:34
    Garrison set up beautifully and his blast goes just wide of Huet's net.
     
    08:18
    Turris fired one from a bad angle, Huet controlled the puck with his pads.
     
    07:45
    Canada had the puck in the corner of the offensive zone, a shot by Gudbranson now tipped wide in front of Huet.
     
    07:08
    Scheifele carried it in and sent one through the crease, good job by Team France to deny Ward an opportunity to tip the puck.
     
    06:46
    The faceoff will be in French offensive zone following a commercial break.
     
    06:36
    Meunier is out of the box and he immediately got it to Reimer's crease. What a penalty kill by Team France.
     
    06:25
    Great pass to Rielly intercepted by Manavian, what a goal-saving play.
     
    05:58
    Great job by Treille and Chakiachvilli again as they set up Janil in a position to clear the puck.
     
    05:28
    Ellis carried the puck in, but Treille stole it away from him and Chakiachvilli was able to send it down the ice.
     
    05:06
    France gets it to the neutral zone.
     
    04:47
    Kadri with a great shot from the right circle, Huet got over in a hurry to stop that one.
     
    04:36
    Powerplay for Canada, Laurent Meunier gets called for tripping.
     
    04:28
    MacKinnon doing wonders with the puck, but Treille did a better job defensively, preventing it from getting to Turris in front of the wide-open net.
     
    03:56
    A big shot from a great position at the top of the circle by Garrison, but Huet could only watch as it went wide of the target.
     
    03:46
    Team France looking better out there, Kadri now got the puck into the zone along the boards, but Brouwer lost it immediately.
     
    03:28
    Icing against Canada as Coburn intercepted Bellemare's pass and shot it all the way down the ice.
     
    03:15
    Great forechecking by Team Canada forces a French icing.
     
    02:54
    What a save by Reimer who robbed Roussel of a sure goal on the doorstep and immediately, some pushing and shoving ensues as Roussel does what he's good at.
     
    02:49
    Both goalies with great saves now.
     
    02:26
    Treille received the puck in a great position in front, but Coburn got to him quickly and poked the puck out of danger.
     
    02:06
    What a great move by German-based Meunier to get rid of two defending players in the neutral zone, but the play is whistled down as one of his teammates was offside.
     
    01:50
    The puck is cleared again and Huet has to play it this time.
     
    01:27
    Burrows got the puck out and then Turris shot it into the endzone behind Huet.
     
    01:19
    First powerplay coming up, Tyler Myers (CAN) called for holding.
     
    01:02
    Reimer had to be sharp now to keep the game scoreless. What an opportunity for Bellemare and Stephane Da Costa, but the Maple Leafs starter was quick in net to stop a couple of dangerous shots.
     
    00:44
    Canada got the puck out quickly, but Team France has possession again.
     
    00:21
    Meunier carried the puck into the offensive zone, but Desrosiers lost it after receiving a pass.
     
    00:01
    Canada wins the draw.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Turris and Meunier on the opening faceoff.
     
    Captains Meunier and Bieksa shake hands and everything is ready for the opening puck-drop.
     
    Bieksa and Garrison on the D with Turris, Burrows and MacKinnon up front are the opening line of the Canadians.
     
    Manavian and Amar in the defense and forwards Treille, Meunier and Desrosiers form the opening lineup for Team France.
     
    Former NHLer Cristobal Huet leads his team onto the ice and heads for his net immediately, Canada is on the ice as well.
     
    The referees are on the ice and both teams will arrive in no time.
     
    Pre-game warmups are in progress right now.
     
    The coaches are Dave Henderson for Team France and Dave Tippett for Team Canada.
     
    Starting lineups:

    France: Huet (Hardy) – Manavian, Amar "A", Auvitu, Besch, Janil, Chakiachvilli, Dieude Fauvel – Y. Treille, Meunier "C", Desrosiers – Fleury, S. Da Costa, Bellemare "A" – Roussel, Guttig, T. Da Costa – Henderson, Ritz, Raux – Tardif.

    Canada: Reimer (Scrivens) – Bieksa "C", Garrison, Coburn, Myers, Ellis, Gudbranson, Rielly – Turris "A", Burrows, MacKinnon – Hodgson, Brouwer, Kadri – B. Schenn, Huberdeau, Read – Chimera "A", J. Ward, Scheifele – Monahan.

    Referees: Kaval, Patafie – Fluri, Schrader..
     
    The opening faceoff is set on 4:45 PM Eastern European Time. We will be back with the lineups shortly.
     
    While France hasn't won their opener since reappearing in the elite division in 2008, Canada lost their first game of the event last time in 1978 when Finland defeated it 6-4 in Prague.
     
    Canada and France met the last time in Finland in 2012 when the hegemon beat its opponent 7-2. Despite a 30-save effort by netminder Fabrice Lhenry, Jamie Benn scored the game-winning goal just thirteen minutes into the first period.
     
    Last year, Canada almost lost to Slovenia in the preliminary round, but avoided the upset and took the game in overtime. The last time Team Canada actually lost while being a huge favorite was in 2000 when Norway beat them 4-3 in St. Petersburg.
     
    The odds are stacked against the French team, but they were in the same situation last year against Russia and came out victorious as Antoine Roussel scored the game-winner of a 2-1 game.
     
    David and Goliath meet on the opening day of the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk, Belarus. The Canadians, led by captain Kevin Bieksa, will look to prove their role of the gold-medal contender against France, an underdog with an unpredictable roster that includes NHL forward Antoine Roussel.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 15:45.
    Commentary by

    Radoslav Vavřina

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 18. S. Da Costa (Auvitu, Bellemare), 53. S. Da Costa, dec. p.s. Bellemare – 20. B. Schenn (Hodgson, Garrison), 51. Gudbranson (MacKinnon)

    France2: Huet (Hardy) – Manavian, Amar "A", Auvitu, Besch, Janil, Chakiachvilli, Dieude Fauvel – Y. Treille, Meunier "C", Desrosiers – Fleury, S. Da Costa, Bellemare "A" – A. Roussel, Guttig, T. Da Costa – B. Henderson, Ritz, Raux – Tardif.
    Canada2: Reimer (Scrivens) – Bieksa "C", Garrison, Coburn, Myers, Ellis, Gudbranson, Rielly – Turris "A", Burrows, MacKinnon – Hodgson, Brouwer, Kadri – B. Schenn, Huberdeau, Read – Chimera "A", J. Ward, Scheifele – Monahan.
    Referees: Kaval (USA), Patafie (USA) – Fluri (SUI) , Schrader (GER).
    Attendance: 6,780