1SV 3:5 1FR | Slovakia2 - France2 (World Championship)

World Championship

Slovakia2 – France2	3:5 (end)	\|	Switzerland – Belarus	3:4 (end)	\|	Czech Republic – Canada2	3:4 (end)
Russia – USA	6:1 (end)

final

Slovakia2

3:5 (1:0, 2:1, 0:4)

France2

Monday 12.05.2014, 15:45 • Chizhovka Arena, Minsk • World Championship

		The final buzzer has sounded, and in a simply unbelievable match the Slovaks have been defeated by ice hockey minnows France 5-3! No one expected that, but you can't say that the French didn't deserve it. Baptiste Amar got the French on the board sandwiching a Ladislav Nagy double for Slovakia, and it was Amar who got France back into it in the third period after Miroslav Satan got Slovakia's third in the second. Antoine Roussel made it a tied game before Damien Fleury put France ahead, and Roussel with his second iced it with only seconds to go. Thanks for following the game with us, and join me again soon for Russia against the USA at the 2014 IIHF World Championships! (18:09:26)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:50	It's now the final few seconds with France writing another fantastic chapter in their history!
	59:32	Goal for Team France! ANTOINE ROUSSEL picks up the puck, charges towards the empty net and from close range smacks it in with ease! It's going to be another French upset, it's 5-3!
	59:20	It's another French icing as they desperately try to keep the puck away from danger
	59:06	Cristobal Huet dives on the loose puck after it came thundering in from the point
	58:47	France commit icing. And Jan Laco has promptly being pulled for the extra skater with time running down!
	57:23	France take their timeout, they need cool heads as they close in on yet another historic victory
	57:13	Miroslav Satan's fierce pass across the crease just goes untouched! You can be sure that the Slovaks will simply lay siege to their opponents' goal now
	56:18	Goal for Team France! This is simply unbelievable! The giant killers are at it again! Jan Laco fails to hold on to the puck as it travels into him at some pace, it pops out to DAMIEN FLEURY and he tucks it into the right hand corner! It's already 4-3! Assists- Teddy Da Costa and Anthony Guttig
	55:03	The French are showing remarkable courage here and they're back to full strength
	54:09	Valach! Juraj Valach has two seriously powerful slappers blocked before they can get to the net!
	53:28	A goalmouth scramble erupts on the French crease and Cristobal Huet does well to somehow freeze the puck!
	53:03	And the Slovaks have taken a timeout, they know that this is too good of an opportunity to miss
	53:03	Incredibly just after having scored on a five on three themselves, the French have now given away one! For high sticking Antonin Manavian has been penalised
	52:51	The Slovaks are completely bewildered but they do have a powerplay here to grab the initiative back! Pierre Edouard Bellemare for interference has been sent to the penalty box
	50:56	Goal for Team France! What a game, the French have come back from the dead to level in the space of a few seconds! ANTIONE ROUSSEL expertly tips in an Nicolas Besch slapshot from the point to leave Jan Laco helpess! Powerplay goal and it's 3-3! Assists- Nicolas Besch
	50:30	Goal for Team France! This time they do make it count! BAPTISTE AMAR from the high slot takes aim and clinically wrists into the left hand corner! Powerplay goal and it's 3-2! Assists- Anthony Guttig
	50:03	Guttig! Just how did he miss! Anthony Guttig standing directly on the doorstep is picked out but not for the first time today a complete air shot is taken!
	49:22	Marek Daloga has been punished for holding and France have their second five on three of the day!
	49:01	Pierre Edouard Bellemare winds up but his monstrous slapshot is charged down by flying Slovakian bodies!
	48:40	Juraj Valach for hooking has been called and France have an important powerplay to try and get back into things
	48:24	Satan! The legendary Miroslav Satan cuts in from the right flank, drifts all the way to the left but with Cristobal Huet flying out from his net Satan is put off effectively!
	48:02	Juraj Mikus tries his luck from the point with a strong slapshot and the puck doesn't go far wide at all!
	46:54	And for the second time in a minute it's icing from Slovakia
	46:01	Slovakia ice the puck. France aren't having as many opportunities as in the first, the Slovaks must of had a stern talking to during the second intermission
	44:21	Hrivik! Marek Hrivik drives the French defence crazy, twisting and turning all over the place but his wraparound attempt seems to clang off the right hand post!
	42:52	Marincin! Martin Marincin spins excellently with the puck cutting to the high slot, snaps the puck in on net but Cristobal Huet kicks away!
	41:19	The puck gets stuck right upon the boards behind the Slovak net and the referees blow on the play. If they manage to get even more shots on goal they have a real chance to claw this one back
	40:01	The third and crucial period is underway! Despite being down by two goals the French have so far been very impressive
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play- Shots on target- 13-18 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 17-10 Penalty minutes- 10-6
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:53	Just like the first it's been a fast and furious period and we're now into the final few seconds of it
	39:29	Da Costa! What a fantastic chance to again give France belief of a comeback! On the doorstep Teddy Da Costa finds himself one on one, he waits patiently for the goalkeeper to commit but Jan Laco stands his ground and makes a magnificent save!
	38:41	Tatar! He's missed by the entire French defence skating powerfully on to the crease, but up close he fails to beat Cristobal Huet!
	37:25	That well needed goal has reinstored Slovakian confidence, just like in the first period they're able to keep possession of the puck for long periods
	36:11	Goal for Team Slovakia! The Slovaks are extremely clinical when they need to be! Patient interchange play is finished off by MIROSLAV SATAN who slaps past Cristobal Huet exactly on the right faceoff circle, powerplay goal and it's 3-1! Assists- Michel Miklik and Marek Hrivik
	35:39	Nicolas Besch for holding though has been called and Slovakia have a powerplay here to get back on track
	35:08	Tomas Tatar tries to get something going, but his low wrister from distance is blocked at source. The French have done a brilliant job in this period of not allowing their opponents any space to create whatsoever
	33:36	Teddy Da Costa skates all the way around the net, backhands the puck across the crease but a teammate just like Tomas Marcinko a moment ago takes a swing at thin air!
	32:48	In the nick of time Jan Brejcak whacks away a bobbling puck on the Slovakian crease! And it goes all the way down for icing
	32:01	Tomas Marcinko takes a complete air shot on the slot feeding off a clever pass from behind the net! Had he made contact he could well have scored!
	30:51	Slovakia have to do something to get the game back under control again as they come back at full strength
	30:05	Bellemare! Skating with purpose right into the slot Pierre Edouard Bellemare's fierce shot into the left hand post is just about saved!
	28:51	Martin Marincin this time for interference is off to the penalty box and the French have two minutes to keep the heat on their opponents
	28:49	Da Costa! Stephane Da Costa again is the troublemaker, twisting exactly like he did just a few seconds ago and this time Jan Laco has a harder job of repelling it!
	28:09	Stephane Da Costa spinning sharply on the left whips in a testing shot that Laco pushes well wide!
	27:37	The much improved French commit icing
	27:23	Slovakia drift offside. They aren't looking too solid defensively and this game could turn nasty if they aren't careful
	26:23	Goal for Team France! You have to say it's been coming! BAPTISTE AMAR with plenty of traffic in front of him puts in an heavy effort from the point that travels all the way in off the right hand post, powerplay goal and it's 2-1! Assists- Julien Desrosiers and Teddy Da Costa
	26:15	Fleury! What a play by Damien Fleury! He leaves the whole Slovak defence spinning as he bullies his way through but he's stoned by Jan Laco at point blank range!
	25:17	France ice the puck as they looked to release an onrushing forward right down the other end of the ice
	24:42	France don't look disheartened by that second goal and they've earned themselves a powerplay to get back into things, Karol Sloboda for hooking has been punished
	23:31	Goal for Team Slovakia! With their first meaningful attack of the period they make it two! A wonderful Miroslav Satan pass from the right hand boards finds LADISLAV NAGY at the far post who taps home with ease, it's 2-0! Assists- Miroslav Satan
	22:40	Nicolas Ritz breaks into the zone, with defenders in front of him sends in an early wrist shot and Jan Laco comfortably covers
	22:00	Tomas Tatar is back into the action and it's a five on five hockey game again
	21:09	Da Costa! Teddy Da Costa swings his stick back, slaps the puck with all his might from the blue line and just misses the net!
	20:01	Tomas Tatar for charging just as the buzzer went off in the first stanza is sitting in the penalty box, leaving the French on the powerplay for the beginning of the second
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Statistics after the first period- Shots on target- 6-6 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 6-5 Penalty minutes- 6-4
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:30	We're now into the final 30 seconds of a breathless opening period
	19:08	Laco! Excellent glove save from the Slovakian goalkeeper! Damien Fleury on the tip of the crease shows great skill to get his stick right around the puck, but Jan Laco spectacularly flashes leather!
	18:51	Bellemare! Pierre Edouard Bellemare picks up pace charging down the left flank, puts in a hard wrister that netminder Jan Laco does well to freeze!
	18:03	The French will be disappointed to have not even created clear cut chances during that extended powerplay and the Slovaks are back at full strength
	18:01	Cristobal Huet makes a shocking error right behind his net and only just gets away with it! The Slovaks could have incredibly had a second shorthanded goal right there!
	16:28	The puck trickles its way to the left of the Slovakian slot, but the slapper in towards the far post files into the boards! That should have been kept on target!
	16:03	Martin Marincin for tripping has given the French a fantastic five on three powerplay chance to reply immediately!
	15:36	Goal for Team Slovakia! It's come in unexpected circumstances but the Slovaks have finally struck! LADISLAV NAGY skates away shorthanded all on his own down the right, wrists in powerfully and the goalkeeper is left helpless! Shorthanded goal and it's 1-0! Assists- Karol Sloboda
	14:32	For high sticking David Skokan has been penalised and the French have their first powerplay out of nothing
	14:08	Nagy! The French are caught out horribly defensively on the left flank, Ladislav Nagy is left completely unmarked baring down goal but Huet gets his chest in the way!
	12:53	The French skate away on a pacy counterattack but they can't make the right decision at the vital moment. They are barely seeing any of the puck at all
	12:27	Daloga! Mark Daloga slaps the puck as hard as he can from the point, but with the netminder panicking it flies inches over the bar!
	10:34	Radoslav Tybor charging into the zone wriggles free, is fed at the high slot but Cristobal Huet pads it away! He's being called into action regularly
	08:52	The French are now again back at full strength, but they can't keep breaking the rules needlessly
	08:11	Satan! Hanging right on the right faceoff circle Miroslav Satan shoots hard looking for the near post, but the puck travels only inches wide! The Slovaks are doing a good job of keeping the game in their opponents' zone
	06:52	The French are already getting into penalty trouble, Brian Henderson for hooking has now been called
	06:28	Auvitu! From a really promising position on the doorstep Yohann Auvitu slaps the puck only into the goalkeeper! He could have done better there!
	04:40	Tomas Tatar this time from the left of the crease wrists in with pace looking for the far post but the goalkeeper pads it away! And the French are now back to full strength having defended well
	02:40	Yorick Treille for holding has been sent to the penalty box and the Slovaks have a very early powerplay to put the pressure on
	01:33	Tatar! Tomas Tatar has the first big opportunity of the game as he skates down two on one on the right, takes the shot on himself and the netminder holds on!
	00:01	We're underway! Slovakia will be looking to avoid any upsets today
	00:01	Game started.
		The teams are now out on to the ice and we're ready to get underway!
		Starting lineups: Slovakia: Laco (Janus)- Daloga, Sloboda, Hrivik, Nagy, Satan- Marincin, Brejcak, Viedensky, Tatar, Panik- Valach, Svarny, Miklik, Reway, Marcinko- Ceresnak, Stastny, Mikus, Tybor, Skokan France: Huet (Hardy)- Manavian, Amar, Treille, Meunier, Desrosiers- Auvitu, Besch, S Da Costa, Bellemare, Roussel- Chakiachivili, Janil, Fleury, Guttig, T Da Costa- Dieude Fauvel, Berthon, Henderson, Ritz, Raux Referees: Kaval, Patafie, Rantala, Dedioulia, Fluri.
		Slovakia lost their opener 3-2 to the Czechs before they got thrashed by Canada 4-1. The French started fantastically, beating the Canadians 3-2 after penalty shots, but they then came back down to earth losing 2-1 to Italy.
		This is how Group A looks before today's game. 1. NOR W2 L0 GS 7 GA 3 PTS 6 2. SWE W2 L0 GS 7 GA 3 PTS 5 3. CAN W1 L1 GS 6 GA 4 PTS 4 4. CZE W1 L1 GS 6 GA 6 PTS 3 5. ITA W1 L1 GS 2 GA 4 PTS 3 6. FRA W1 L1 GS 4 GA 4 PTS 2 7. SVK W0 L2 GS 3 GA 7 PTS 1 8. DEN W0 L2 GS 3 GA 7 PTS 0
		Slovakia just back in 2012 went all the way as far as the final eventually losing to the Russians, but it is a proud hockey nation and they will be looking to perform well this time. Their opponents today France aren't the strongest, but they are real giantkillers having already beaten Canada this year.
		Good afternoon and welcome to this 2014 IIHF World Championship Group A match between Slovakia and France. These two teams have had an up and down tournament so far, and this game could turn out to be pivotal.
		Welcome. Game starts at 15:45.

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 16. Nagy (Sloboda), 24. Nagy (Satan), 37. Satan (Miklik, Hrivik) – 27. Amar (Desrosiers, Costa), 51. Amar (Guttig), 51. Roussel (Besch), 57. Fleury (Costa, Guttig), 60. Roussel

Slovakia2: Laco (Janus)- Daloga, Sloboda, Hrivik, Nagy, Satan- Marincin, Brejcak, Viedensky, Tatar, Panik- Valach, Svarny, Miklik, Reway, Marcinko- Ceresnak, Stastny, Mikus, Tybor, Skokan

France2: Huet (Hardy)- Manavian, Amar, Treille, Meunier, Desrosiers- Auvitu, Besch, S Da Costa, Bellemare, Roussel- Chakiachivili, Janil, Fleury, Guttig, T Da Costa- Dieude Fauvel, Berthon, Henderson, Ritz, Raux

Referees: Kaval, Patafie, Rantala, Dedioulia, Fluri

1st period
	02:40
	06:52
	14:32
	15:36
	16:03
1st intermission
2nd period
	20:01
	23:31
	24:42
	26:23
	28:51
	35:39
	36:11
2nd intermission
3rd period
	48:40
	49:22
	50:30
	50:56
	52:51
	53:03
	56:18
	59:32
Final