BLR 1:6 USA | Belarus - USA (World Championship)

World Championship

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)

final

Belarus

1:6 (0:1, 1:3, 0:2)

USA

Friday 09.05.2014, 19:45 • Minsk Arena • World Championship

		That is all for tonight from Minsk Arena, Belarus. Good night! (22:07:38)
		Best player from Team Belarus is Mikhail Grabovski, best player from Team USA is Jimmy Hayes.
		It looked like an even game for more than half an hour, but USA decided it with three goals in the last minutes of the second period. Stepanov lit the fire of chance with goal to make it 1:4, but that was it. USA utilized from power-play in the third period to secure comfortable win in their opening game.
		First match of Belarus at this WCH in Minsk is over, USA take deserved victory 6:1.
	60:00	Game over.
	59:36	Koltsov and Kitarov were going against one last defender, but the pass got blocked and Thomas didn't have to make any save.
	58:55	Johnson fights for the puck and gets it, feeds it to Trouba on the blue line, but no shot comes from this.
	57:39	Andrei Kostitsyn (BEL) is heading to the penalty box.
	56:57	Goal for Team USA! Unlucky moment for Graborenko. JAKE GARDINER with a huge snapshot made Mezine block hist shot, but the puck went straight to skates of Graborenko and back to the net. Assisted by Gaudreau and Kevin Hayes.
	56:31	Gaudreau went for a powerful slapshot, but it got blocked and the puck went over the net behind the board.
	56:15	Face-off on the left side of Andrei Mezin after Denisov (BEL) gets another minor penalty.
	54:58	Goal for Team USA! Team USA utilize the opportunity of playing against only three skaters and grabs back lead by four goals! Johnson made a weak shot, but he made Mezin perform a save and collects the puck again, feeds it to JACOUB TROUBA who fired it past Mezin! Assisted by Gaudreau and Johnson.
	54:20	Fine combination of Belarussian players ends with minor penalty for Andrei Kostitsyn (BEL), who made a stupid foul in the attacking zone.
	53:46	Americans in the control of the puck, but they don't have to score, so the don't hurry anywhere.
	53:03	Denisov (BEL) and Nelson (USA) get both minor penalty for roughing.
	53:03	Both Johnson and Smith could go for the empty net, but both of them wasted their chances. There is a small fight after that as they seemed to push Mezin in their efforts for rebound.
	52:42	Stas stole the puck and tried to punish mistake by defenders who went to change, but hi didn't have enough speed and had to shoot just after crossing the blue line, Thomas had clear view and no problem with this one.
	51:41	Tough American defense in the neutral zone seem to be to much for their opponents at the moment.
	50:52	Yevenko tried his luck, but defenders didn't even let him finish it with a shot.
	50:35	Mezin had to be prepared, but no shot went his way after all.
	49:49	Huge traffic in front of Thomas and smaller fight after that, but without any penalties this time. Puck will be dropped in the neutral zone.
	49:22	Stepanow, lonely goalscorer, with another effort, but without any chance of succeeding this time.
	49:16	Puck is behind the net of Andrei Mezin, but his opponents not.
	48:41	Icing called against Belarus.
	47:49	Dekeyser missed open net! The puck slipped of his stick and went wide, Mezin was nowhere to find!
	47:31	Yevenko managed to push the puck to the neutral zone again.
	47:03	Puck went to the neutral zone but Americans are already back.
	46:33	Johnson is again operating on the right side, he has the puck, but can't find anyone in a shooting position.
	45:51	Denisov (BEL) got minor penalty for cross-checking.
	45:40	Signalized call against Belarus, Americans hold the puck.
	44:51	The some call on the other side now.
	44:37	Icing by Team USA.
	44:25	Face-off in front of Thomas, fans are chanting "Shaybu, shaybu".
	43:07	Petry blocked a hard shot, hid the puck under his body and got it to safer position.
	42:33	Yefimenko didnt succeed with his effort, Thomas may remain calm.
	42:01	Vince Trocheck sneaked past defender and prepared for shot, but lost it just at the last moment.
	41:14	Stepanov was blocked with a solid hit on the board and lost the puck.
	40:49	Thomas forced to a fine pad save, buck went over the board.
	40:25	Smith got puck on the blue line, but couldn't cross it, because he was slower than his teammates.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Next period begins at 21:28 CET.
		We saw a very interesting period with four goals in last six minutes. Jimmy Hayes and Gaudreau scored twice in the space of one minute to take a 3:0 lead for their team, McDonald added fourth only two minutes later and it looked like the game is decided, bit Belarus managed to pull one back with only four seconds remaining on the clock.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:56	Goal for Team Belarus! Crowd goes wild in Minsk Arena as Belarus score their first goal in power-play with just four seconds left to play in the second period! Home players controlled the puck, Kalyuzhny passed it down to Grabovski who immediately found unguarded ANDREI STEPANOV who beat Thomas with energic one-timer! Assisted by Grabovski and Kalyuzhny.
	39:22	Minor penalty for Smith (USA) for highsticking.
	39:15	Geoff Platt plays very good match, out skates defender on the right side and forces Thomas to shoulder save.
	38:41	Thomas makes a vital save and covers the puck.
	37:42	Goal for Team USA! Jimmy Hayes with a beautiful pass! Hayes rounded the net, turned around a passed the puck through the traffic in front of the net to find COLIN MCDONALD who had easy job to shoot the puck behind Mezin who couldn't move this fast! Assisted by Jimmy Hayes.
	37:07	Faceoff in front of Mezin.
	35:54	Goal for Team USA! What a shock for Belarus, they have now mountain to climb! JOHNY GAUDREAU buried it under the crossbar and gave Mezin no chance whatsoever to make a save! Assisted by Jeff Petry.
	34:59	Goal for Team USA! Second goal of the game and second puck in the net of Andrei Mezin! Danny Dekeyser rounded the net and found Trouba on the top of the circle. Trouba made one-timer and JIMMY HAYES was in the right spot to took a deflection! Assisted by Trouba and Dekeyser.
	34:24	Matt Donovan had clear chance, was alone between the circles, but wasn't able to even make the shot as the puck was coming from the wrong side for left handed defender.
	33:10	Wasted chance for Sergei Kostitsyn who received puck in the middle but fell after a hit by opponent.
	32:45	Puck went over the board, there will be face-off in the attacking zone of Team USA.
	31:43	Shore feeds Jimmy Hayes with a nice backhand pass, but Jimmy did as his brother and missed the net in good position.
	30:59	Belarus already at full strength, but Kevin Hayes had a good scoring opportunity, but just couldn't finish his backhand effort and puck goes into the corner.
	30:37	Belarus under heavy pressure, but American players make no shots.
	29:41	Hard shot by Jones from the right circle, but there was no space and Mezin was prepared. Puck is at the other side now.
	29:02	Puck is in the neutral zone after short fight.
	11:20	Minor penalty for Belarus for too many men on the ice.
	28:40	Geoff Platt in better position now, got some speed by the right border and tried another wristshot, but Thomas blocked it with his left pad.
	28:09	Geoff Platt tried a wrester just after the face-off, but hit only skates of closest defender.
	27:48	Thomas with easy save, but he had to cover the puck and hold it. Kostitsyn brothers forced another face-off in the attacking zone of their team.
	27:15	Offside by Team Belarus.
	26:31	Kitarov intercepted bad pass behind the net, forwarded puck to Yefimenko who was at the left post of the net, but Thomas showed some incredible speed and perfect save!
	26:04	Good forechecking by Platt and Koltsov who gained the possession behind the net, but couldn't keep the puck long enough.
	25:19	Mezin with easy sliding save, but the puck is still in the corner.
	25:04	Offside called agains Belarus.
	24:43	Belarus have another good start into the period. Kalyuzhny was again alone at the blue line, got the puck and entered the attacking zone, but couldn't decide whether to shot or pass the puck, which he lost in the end.
	23:45	Another chance for Belarus! Kitarov was completely free between the cirlcers, got puck from the right side and hit one timer, but missed the net!
	23:14	Koltsov with a deflection that went just wide!
	22:45	Icing by Team USA.
	22:33	Byealrussian defenders have the puck now and wait for their colleagues.
	21:32	Sergei Kostitsyn could sprint into a chance, but he was already tired after a long shift and gave the puck away easily.
	20:28	Kalyuzhny feed puck to Stepanov into the right circle, but Stepanov made a really weak wristshot that went terribly wide.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Next period begins at 20:35 CET..
		First period is over, USA lead in their opening game 1:0 against Belarus. Nelson opened the score in the power-play after a foul by Kalyuzhny, but the defense of Belarus remained strong in all other cases. Stasenko was pretty close to score on the other side of the rink, but he didn't find a way to beat Thomas in the net in both his chances.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:59	Last save for Mezin.
	19:15	Mezin couldn't get the puck out of Belarus own zone, but Americans made nothing of his mistake.
	18:57	Thomas dropped the puck after blocked shot, but covered it before anyone could reach for it.
	18:00	Trouba with another backhand shot from close distance, but Mezin was sure this time.
	17:50	Johnson made a backhand pass to Johnson who didn't get the puck in ideal position but made one timer which surprised Mezin, who just managed to block the puck!
	17:05	Nikolai Stasenko got puck in the attacking zone from one of his teammates and went for a wristshot, Thomas wasn't sure where the puck was, but found it under his body.
	16:16	Americans have the puck in the neutral zone and don't rush to make another attacking effort.
	15:28	Wingels had speed on the left side and could go for a shot, but he waited too long and lost the puck just moment before he made the shot.
	14:51	Mezin covers the puck which appeared dangerously close to his net.
	14:30	Andrei Kostitsyn couldn't hold onto the puck and lost it in the attacking zone.
	14:17	Mezin makes another vital Save and face-off follows.
	14:06	Puck is behind American net, but no icing is called.
	12:22	Goal for Team USA! First goal of the match comes in the power-play. Johnson fakes a shot, puts the puck to the right where Smith finds BROCK NELSON in front of the net and Nelson opens the score with and easy shot into the empty net! Assisted by Smith and Johnson.
	11:52	Kalyuzhny (BEL) gets minor penalty for tripping. Before he went to penalty box, Kevin Hayes had a great scoring opportunity when Johnson find him with a swift pass and Hayes slightly deflected the puck, but it went just wide.
	11:04	Tim Thomas collected puck behind his net and left it to defenders.
	10:57	Mezin with weirdly looking glove save dropped the puck in front of his net, Wingels got to it first but couldn't find a place in the net and looked for support, but his pass didn't find any teammate.
	09:19	Jimmy Hayes skated by the right board and pushed himself in front of Mezin, who made save but left the net open. Hayes couldn't finish and fell.
	08:22	Two passes across the rink and Kitarov found himself between the circles with a puck in shooting position, but he failed and Thomas didnt have to make a save.
	07:37	Couple of harder hits, but Mezin has the puck now. He passes is to his defenders.
	06:39	Trocheck got behind the blue line but lost the puck when looking for shot. He stole it back again but had to go to the neutral zone.
	06:10	Visiting team at full strength.
	05:53	Graborenko with the puck trying to find a way to cross the blue line.
	05:21	Puck is behind the net of Mezin.
	04:34	What a chance for Stepanov! Andrei Stepanov was alone face-to-face with Thomas, tried backhand deke but missed the right post by inches!
	04:10	Belarus have great start to the match and overplays their opponent now! Trocheck (USA) with minor penalty and power-play to Belarus.
	03:45	Andrei Kostitsyn in yet another chance, but Thomas was fast enough to block the shot!
	03:27	First chance for Belarus! Grabovski took the puck into the attacking zone and let it for Andrei Stepanov who shot immediately, but Thomas was at his place!
	02:35	Stapleton and Trouba had the puck behind the net of Andrei Mezin, but they dent manage to get into shooting position.
	01:50	Team Belarus in the attacking zone, but couldn't make anything of it. Americans with the possession now.
	01:09	Sergei Kostistsyn stole the puck in the neutral zone and headed straight to Tom Thomas, but he had no support and had to fire the puck into the corner.
	00:06	Nelson won the opening face-off, but home players have the puck now.
	00:01	Game started.
		Crows is chanting "Belarus, Belarus" and cheers hockey players, who just came from their locker room.
		2014 IIHF World Championship has now officially started!
		President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and IIHF president, René Fasel, entered the rink to say their opening speeches.
		After a marvelous presentation about Belarus, the home of this championship, we see a flag parade.
		The opening ceremony of 2014 IIHF World Championship starts now!
		Starting lineups: Belarus: Mezin – Stasenko, Korobov, Denisov, Yevenko, Karev, Graborenko, Usenko, Ugarov – Kalyuzhny, Stepanov, Grabovski – Kostitsyn A., Kostitsyn S., Kitarov – Platt, Stas, Koltsov – Yefimenko, Volkov, Kovyrschin USA: Thomas – Trouba, Dekeyser, Jones, McCabe, Petry, Gardiner, Donovan, Hayes J. – Johnson, Nelson, Smith – Trocheck, Gaudreau, Abdelkader – Stapleton, Wingels, Mueller – Hayes K., McDonald, Shore Referees: Frano, Sindler – Kilian, Suominen.
		Both teams are already on the ice and the anticipation of big match is in the air!
		Belarus will be without any doubt an underdog in this game, as they will compete one of the favorites of the whole tournament. Their fans in sold-out Minsk Arena will be hoping for better results this year, as Belarus "dodged the bullet" last year, when they avoided the relegation just by one point. Balearus, led by coach Glen Hanlon, can again rely on goalkeepers Koval and Mezin, as well as other experienced players like Grabovski and Kostitsyn brothers. Peter Laviolette brings a mix of talented skaters around experienced Tim Thomas in the net. Seven of his players came through U.S. National Team Development program, seventeen of them went to college. American head coach has one KHL players on his team, Tim Stapleton from Ak Bars Kazan, all other members of the team are playing in the USA.
		Welcome to Minsk Arena to the first game of team Belarus! Minsk is all ready as well as fans – tickets are sold-out, you can see Belarusian flags all over the city and everybody is looking forward to this evening!
		Welcome. Game starts at 19:45.

Commentary by

Lukáš Kratochvíl

@LukasKratoch

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 40. Stepanov (Grabovski, Kalyuzhny) – 13. Nelson (Smith, Johnson), 35. Hayes J. (Trouba, Dekeyser), 36. Gaudreau (Petry), 38. McDonald (Hayes J.), 55. Trouba (Gaudreau, Johnson), 57. Gardiner (Gaudreau, Hayes K.)

Belarus: Mezin – Stasenko, Korobov, Denisov, Yevenko, Karev, Graborenko, Usenko, Ugarov – Kalyuzhny, Stepanov, Grabovski – Kostitsyn A., Kostitsyn S., Kitarov – Platt, Stas, Koltsov – Yefimenko, Volkov, Kovyrschin

USA: Thomas – Trouba, Dekeyser, Jones, McCabe, Petry, Gardiner, Donovan, Hayes J. – Johnson, Nelson, Smith – Trocheck, Gaudreau, Abdelkader – Stapleton, Wingels, Mueller – Hayes K., McDonald, Shore

Referees: Frano, Sindler – Kilian, Suominen

Attendance: 13600

1st period
	04:10
	11:52
	12:22
1st intermission
2nd period
	11:20
	34:59
	35:54
	37:42
	39:22
	39:56
2nd intermission
3rd period
	45:51
	53:03
	54:58
	56:57
	57:39
Final