USA – Czech Republic 3:4 (end) | Russia – France2 3:0 (end) | Canada2 – Finland 2:3 (end)
Sweden2 – Belarus 3:2 (end)
final
Sweden2
3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 1:0)
Belarus
Thursday 22.05.2014, 20:00 • Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus • World Championship
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 21:00 EEST local time in Minsk, 20:00 CEST.
     
    Warm welcome and good evening everyone for another 2014 IIHF WC game. Finishing the action-packed hockey day in Minsk are Sweden versus the tournament hosts Belarus.
     
    Sweden
    Sweden finished second in Group A, with 18 points, but due to their defeat to Canada they were behind them in the final standings. Their overall best player, the most effective scorer was Joakim Lindstrom with 8 points (4+4). Linus Klasen was accurate as well adding as well 8 points (2+6).

    In net Anders Nilsson was excellent, he kept his saves percentage over 93% and was the fifth best netminder of the tournament.

    Past games:
    Italy – Sweden 1-5
    Canada – Sweden 3-2
    Sweden – Slovakia 3-1
    Sweden – France 2-1
    Norway – Sweden 1-2
    Sweden – Czech Republic 4-3 SO
    Sweden – Denmark 3-0.
     
    Belarus
    The hosts celebrate their historic success. The first time on home soil and immediately they're in the quarters. They finished third in the standings with 12 points.

    Individually – Mikhail Grabovski collected 8 points (4+4) as well as Sergei Kostitsyn (4+4), while Alexei Kalyuzhny has 6 (1+5). Another player that comes to the eye with statistics is Nikolai Stasenko who spent 25 minutes in the penalty box.

    In net, the Belarus coach decided to equally play Vitaly Koval and Kevin Lalande. While Lalande has more ice-time, he also got the chance to stay between the pipes in the decisive game against Latvia the other day. Also, his SVS% is at 96.36 and allows only 0.66 goals per game.

    Past games:
    Belarus – USA 1-6
    Belarus – Kazakhstan 4-1
    Switzerlad – Belarus 3-4
    Finland – Belarus 2-0
    Belaurs – Germany 5-2
    Latvia – Belarus 1-3
    Russia – Belarus 2-1.
     
    Tonight's scratches:

    SWEDEN:
    - Linus Ullmark (G)
    - Daniel Rahimi (D)
    - Jonas Ahnelov (D)

    BELARUS:
    - Vitali Koval (G)
    - Ivan Usenko (D)
    - Konstantin Koltsov (F)
    - Mikhail Grabovski (F).
     
    Starting lineups:

    Sweden: Nilsson (Eriksson) – Fransson, Ekholm, Lindstrom, Moller, Backlund – Burstrom, Andersen, Jarnkrok, Nyquist, Klasen – Erixon, Gustafsson, Hjalmarsson, Sjogren, Ericsson – Nygren, Lundqvist, Axelsson, Rasmussen, Danielsson.

    Belarus: Lalande (Mezin) – Denisov, Yevenko, Platt, Kalyuzhny, Stas – Korobov, Graborenko, Kostitsyn A., Kostitsyn S., Kitarov – Stasenko, Gotovets, Ugarov, Osipov, Stepanov – Karev, Yefimenko, Volkov, Kovyrshin.

    Referees: Bulanov (RUS), Ronn (FIN) – Dehaen (FRA), Semjonov (EST).
     
    Belarus will miss out on their biggest star Mikhail Grabovski. How will it affect them and can they cope with it? We'll see in the next 60 minutes...
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:03
    Belarus win the opener but after a few secods hand the puck over to the Swedes.
     
    00:32
    Seems like Lindstrom played the puck in from the right to Oskar Moller in the slot whose one-timer was not at all bad, but Kevin Lalande is there to make the save and force the draw.
     
    00:54
    After some time on the boards, Linus Klasen finally got the net from the right, but was lined with the goal line, so his shot didn't mean much.
     
    01:45
    A fine start for the Swedes, Belarus still shotless and the play is mostly inside their zone or with the Swedes building on.
     
    02:12
    Lundqvist had the game's first huge opportunity. He sped in through the middle and fired one up towards the net, the puck hit the left post and ricocheted out to the right, but the Swedes couldn't put the puck in the back of the net.
     
    03:28
    Andrei Stas stole the puck at the blue line in the Swedish zone, but couldn't retain possession.
     
    03:54
    Another huge opportunity for the Swedes with the puck coming through open ice for Gustav Nyquist in the slot, but he missed the net just wide to the left alone with the goalie.
     
    04:07
    Icing Sweden clearing the puck.
     
    04:43
    Jimmie Ericsson (SWE) will go to the box for interference, Belarus will have tonight's first powerplay.
     
    05:04
    Three huge opportunities for Belarus! Before the Swedes cleared, Sergei Kostitsyn had two shots from close range in the slot and then they had another one from the left post, but Anders Nilsson was magnificent.
     
    05:41
    Another interference call, this time on Sergei Kostitsyn (BEL).
     
    06:29
    4-on-4 the Belarussians aren't so dominant in the zone as Sweden again has more possession.
     
    06:43
    Team Sweden is back at full strength. Their powerplay now.
     
    07:12
    A shot from high slot by Sweden, cleared by Belarus.
     
    07:26
    And there comes another clearance.
     
    07:41
    With a second to go, Belarus cleared yet another puck from the zone to mark a huge penalty kill they had.
     
    08:03
    Seems like the Belarussians opted for a dump-in, but it was too quick so they get called for icing on the right wing.
     
    08:20
    Calle Jankrok had an opportunity coming down through the middle and the right of the slot, but his backhander got safely to Lalande's glove.
     
    Technical timeout.
     
    08:33
    Belarus win another faceoff in their zone getting the lead in that segment 5-2.
     
    09:07
    Kevin Lalande saves in the end as the slider from the right gets to Oscar Moller in the left circle and he blasts a one-timer, Lalande couldn't control the rebound but in the end covered the puck to stop the play.
     
    10:24
    As the Swedes try to penetrate the zone nad establish the offense on the right sideboards, the Belarussians clear and try to go for the attack.
     
    11:07
    Andrei Kostitsyn tries to go for a wrap around over and exit on the right, but Nilsson covers the angle not allowing Belarus to find the back of the net.
     
    11:53
    Nikolai Stasenko (BEL) gets called for interference.
     
    12:13
    Joakim Lindstrom fires from the blue slightly to the right, Lalande makes the save and deflects aside.
     
    12:25
    Belarus clear the puck and set up in the defensive zone.
     
    13:16
    Linus Klasen from the right boards tries to feed in to the slot, no shot could have been made, Belarus manage to clear.
     
    13:41
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    Following a shot from the blue line in the middle, NICKLAS DANIELSSON picks up the rebound on the right just before the crease and scores into the empty net while Sjogren was in the middle before Lalande to screen him. Powerplay goal.

    Assists: Mattias Ekholm, Linus Klasen.
     
    14:52
    Sweden continue in the same manner, building on the attacks and trying to extend the lead, while Belarus defend most of the time.
     
    Technical break.
     
    15:26
    Belarus try to go on the offense, Andrei Stepanov tries to send a backdoor pass from the endboards on the right wing back to the blue line, but the Swedes steal the puck and keep possession.
     
    Shots on goal: SWE 10 – BEL 2.
     
    17:04
    Two entrances by Belarus to the zone finish with them losing possession right at the blue, still can't organize anything within the zone.
     
    17:36
    Another shot by Sweden from the right blue line, sends it wide to the right on a one-timer.
     
    19:00
    One mintue left in the period. The game is mostly between the goals with neither team creating serious opportunities.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    The first period is over, Sweden lead 1-0, although it could have easily been more. The Swedes were dominant throughout the whole period, but couldn't capitalize on a few huge opportunities. Belarus were dominant for a short time during their powerplay, but that ended quickly. They had three close-range shots but that was literally everything serious that Anders Nilsson had to face.
     
    Shots on goal: SWE 10, BEL 3
    Penalties: SWE 2, BEL 4
    Powerplay: SWE 1/2, BEL 0/1.

    We'll be back for the second period at around 20:44 CET, 22:44 MSK, 14:44 EDT.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:20
    A clear penalty for Sweden as Mathians Ekholm (SWE) tripps Geoff Platt right in front of the referee and behind Nilsson.
     
    21:14
    With a minute gone by, Belarus weren't able to generate anything in the zone, their powerplay deteriorated. Most of the time the puck is even in their zone.
     
    22:08
    The Swedes clear and put high forecheck on the Belarus defense.
     
    22:20
    Team Sweden is back with five on the ice as Ekholm skates on.
     
    22:50
    Erixon sends the shot way over Lalande into the netting from the left on the blue.
     
    23:36
    Belarus with some action in the zone, but two shots from the high slot get deflected by Nilssen.
     
    24:37
    Johan Fransson dashed in through the middle, though couldn't beat Lalande on a chipped shot.
     
    25:01
    Belarus fire from the left wing towards as Vladimir Denisov sends the puck from the blue, but on the rebound no one could deflect the puck past Anders Nilsson.
     
    25:39
    Goal for Team Belarus! GEOFF PLATT scores as the Belarussians break quickly through the left alley, Alexei Kalyuzhny dashed in, sent the puck to the right where Platt could score in the empty net, while the defenseman in front was helpless.

    Assist: Alexei Kalyuzhny.
     
    26:57
    Gustav Nyquist tries his luck closing on Lalande from the right, but couldn't lift the puck enough so the score remains tied.
     
    Commercial break.
     
    27:47
    The play mainly in the neutral zone with occasional visits to attacking zones by either team, but no shots so far.
     
    28:08
    A centering pass to Alexei Kalyuzhny on the right post meets Nilsson's pads and deflects out.
     
    28:41
    Andrei Kalyuzhny got his shot blocked on the blue line but then Andrei Kostitsyn tried to come down from the left and slide it in, somehow the netminder deflects and the defense clears.
     
    29:21
    Belarus got their courage back – constantly they put pressure on their opponent, Andrei Kostitsyn now again shot from the left wing, Nilsson had to stretch to keep it out.
     
    29:39
    Sweden fire from the blue on the right, the shot comes wide just a snatch to the same side and the Swedes can't keep possession in the zone, but the Belarussians clear to them in their own zone.
     
    30:34
    Oleg Yevenko (BEL) gets the call for delaying the game as his clearance behind the net went directly out of the rink.
     
    Sweden are 1 for 2 on the PP tonight.
     
    30:54
    After a clearance, the Swedes are right back in as Linus Klasen receives a feed from the middle and finds space to shoot, Lalande keeps his head cool.
     
    31:29
    After Rasmussen kept the puck for long in the left circle – Nyquist in the other received his pass over the one but his shot deflected off Lalande.
     
    31:46
    Belarus win another faceoff and clear. They're doing great on faceoffs and have won a fair change of them tonight.
     
    32:34
    Team Belarus is playing at full strength.
     
    33:36
    The Swedes hit the post! As the Swedes broke one-on-one with the netminder, they try to lob him, hit both posts and the puck ricochetes out.
     
    34:14
    Goal for Team Belarus! Jubilant atmosphere on the bench and in the arena as the hosts take the lead. ALEXEI YEFIMENKO scores his first on the tournament as he makes it through the scramble before the net.

    Assist: Geoff Platt.
     
    Technical timeout.
     
    35:13
    A fine feed from Andrei Kostitsyn entering the zone from the right, but the shot didn't make it throug and was a bit wide. Belarus are flying now and could capitalize on it if they score another one before the intermission.
     
    37:09
    Sweden will go on another powerplay, Alexander Kitarov (BEL) gets the call for hooking.
     
    37:27
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    We're tied again. Another powerplay goal for Sweden seems to go to GUSTAV NYQUIST who fired from the blue line and Jimmie Ericsson was screening Lalande in the slot.

    Assist: Mikael Backlund, Joakim Lindstrom.
     
    37:54
    We could have witnessed another score change, but the shot from the right in the zone didn't go past Nilsson.
     
    39:00
    One minute to go.
     
    39:02
    Sergei Kostitsyn tries to find Andrei in the zone, from the right in the slot on another break, but the Swedes block the pass in the waning moments.
     
    39:47
    Kalyuznhny tries his luck from the blue, but so far couldn't find any.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    40 minutes behind us, brilliant play by Belarus in the second part of the middle frame. They even saw the lead for a short period as the Swedes score their second goal on the powerplay. Playing before the home crowd will for sure push them to the limit, but can Belarus eliminate Sweden. It's not impossible... Stay with us!
     
    Shots on goal: SWE 6 (16), BEL 9 (12)
    Penalties: SWE 2 (4), BEL 4 (8)
    Powerplay: SWE 2/4, BEL 0/2.

    We'll be back at 21:34 CET, 23:34 MSK. 15:34 EDT.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:27
    The Swedes start off the period with a shot from the right circle wide to the right post.
     
    41:08
    Two dangerous opportunities for Belarus before the net, but neither finds the beck of the net. Both from close range, the first in the slot, deflects the puck wide to the left and then from the life sideboards they close up to the goal, but Nilsson makes another stop.
     
    42:08
    Sergei Kostitsyn fires from the left circle with two defensemen in front, Nilsson makes the pad save and the defense controls the rebound.
     
    43:24
    The puck hits the linesman in the head so he'll receive some medical assistance by the Belarussian bench.
     
    The ref is fine so the game can continue.
     
    43:33
    Icing Belarus after winning the faceoff in the neutral zone and clearing.
     
    44:26
    Jimmie Ericsson shoots from the right wing and the puck deflects of the defenseman in front, could have fooled Lalande but fortunately for his team he manages to close the angle and keep the net intact.
     
    45:46
    As the Swedes keep the puck in the zone without the shot, the Belarussians will break with Ugarov leading and dropping the pass for Sergei Kostitsyn though his shot from the blue gets blocked by Nilsson's pads.
     
    Technical timeout. Everyone could use a break now, bombastic third period so far.
     
    46:55
    Belarus clear the puck as Sweden are putting perssure. But they're quickly back in.
     
    47:22
    Oskar Muller was trying to break through the middle and into the zone, but was closed down and marked by two defensemen and loses possession.
     
    48:44
    Right in front of the ref, Niclas Andersen (SWE) tripps Alexei Ugarov in the Swedish zone, and Belarus will go on the powerplay. Can they score their first PP goal tonight?
     
    48:50
    The puck slides out for a few seconds due to a mistake on the blue line.
     
    49:39
    After a couple of shots, most of them blocked, Sweden clear the zone. Lalande leaves the net to play the puck, sends a sloppy pass to no one and that's – icing.
     
    49:56
    With :50 to go, Belarus struggle to get the possession back, while the supporters in the stands yell "Shaibu, shaibu" wanting their team to score the leader.
     
    50:44
    After the initial pressure from Belarus, they can't capitalize on the powerplay and Sweden is complete.
     
    51:06
    Icing Belarus.
     
    51:42
    Joakim Lindstrom centers the puck from the left post, no one can slide it in behind Lalande, Moller was on the shot and then Lindstrom finds Moller once more who can't put it in whole Backlund was screening Lalande – the shot came from the slot.
     
    52:41
    Penalty shot for Belarus. A huge mistake in the defense sees Kalyuzhny take over the puck and Ekholm could only obstruct him to stop him from scoring one-on-one.
     
    Kalyuzhny takes the puck calmly through the middle and in low slot tries to deke Nilsson out and go for the five-hole but Nilsson stones him cold.
     
    53:06
    Lalande had to react once again on the shot from the right, and the ricocheted shot from the slot, but the Belarus goalie is calm.
     
    53:38
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    MATTIAS EKHOLM redeems for the penalty shot he caused. He took the puck on the blue line on the right, sped down the zone and circled the net exitting on the left and beating Lalande with the backhander.

    Unassisted.
     
    54:52
    Belarussian forward falls down in the zone after a clash with the Swedish defenseman, the crowd thinks it should draw a penalty but the referees wouldn't agree.
     
    55:23
    Moller keeps the puck in the zone, goes through the slot and looks to feed in from the right with two forwards waiting in the slot, but the tip in only met with Lalande's pads and deflected off.
     
    56:16
    The Swedes now rely on time which is their ally, so they keep the puck within their grasp for as long as possible. Before commiting an icing like this one.
     
    57:05
    A diagonal pass from the neutral zone tries to find Andrei Kostitsyn in the zone but he couldn't receive it well on the right sideboards.
     
    57:45
    Geoff Platt was waiting for the feed in the middle, couldn't put the puck behind Nilsson.
     
    58:00
    Two minutes left in the third period.
     
    58:36
    Belarus struggle to leave the zone and establish an offense. Lalande still in net.
     
    58:53
    Kevin Lalande leaves the net to get the extra attacker on the ice.
     
    59:21
    The Swedes take the puck out, but couldn't score on an empty net. The game is slipping out of Belarussian hands.
     
    59:48
    A dump in by Belarus for no one, Sweden take over for some time.
     
    59:53
    Timeout Belarus.
     
    There are seven Belarussian players on the ice currently. The Swedes protesting, but I guess it won't bring any penalties, only someone will go to the bench.
     
    59:53
    Belarus lose the draw in the attacking zone and Sweden are in the semis.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    A goal in each period assures the win for Sweden, with the last coming in a 5-on-5 play their first in the game. The Swedes were doing better in that final period of play, but Belarus had their chances. The game could have easily gone the other side, only the Swedes had a bit more luck. Belarus can be proud of themslves and their fans for sure are.
     
    Shots on goal: SWE 9 (25), BEL 11 (23)
    Penalties: SWE 2 (6), BEL 0 (8)
    Powerplay: SWE 2/4, BEL 0/3.
     
    Best players:

    SWE – Gustav Nyquist
    BEL – Geoff Platt.
     
    Due to the fact Belarus finished their appearance here in Minsk at the IIHF World Championship – Sergei Kostitsyn, Mikhail Grabovsky and Alexei Kalyuzhny were named their best players.
     
    With the sounds of "Du gamla, du fria" I send you my greets and hope you've enjoyed the broadcast. We're back in Minsk Saturday when semifinals will be played.

    Semifinals pairings:
    Czech Republic – Finland
    Russia – Sweden.
     
    Thank you for following the game with us tonight, until next time, goodbye! (22:18:33)

    Alan Ilijic

    Goals and assists: 14. Danielsson (Ekholm, Klasen), 38. Nyquist (Backlund, Lindstrom), 54. Ekholm – 26. Platt (Kalyuzhny), 35. Yefimenko (Platt)


    Sweden2: Nilsson (Eriksson) – Fransson, Ekholm (G, A), Lindstrom (A), Moller, Backlund (A) – Burstrom, Andersen, Jarnkrok, Nyquist (G), Klasen (A) – Erixon, Gustafsson, Hjalmarsson, Sjogren, Ericsson – Nygren, Lundqvist, Axelsson, Rasmussen, Danielsson (G).
    Belarus: Lalande (Mezin) – Denisov, Yevenko, Platt (G, A), Kalyuzhny (A), Stas – Korobov, Graborenko, Kostitsyn A., Kostitsyn S., Kitarov – Stasenko, Gotovets, Ugarov, Osipov, Stepanov – Karev, Yefimenko (G), Volkov, Kovyrshin.

    Referees: Bulanov (RUS), Ronn (FIN) – Dehaen (FRA), Semjonov (EST)