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| 2 Minutes for Mile High Sticking, amirite? |
HC Lugano 4 - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 2
HC Lugano put on the pressure early, getting a couple of chances in the first minute. Play started to shift in the Russian clubs favour for a bit, as they managed to get a couple shots on goal. Five minutes into the period, Dario Burgler almost had the opening goal. James Wisniewski's point shot managed to bounce off Burgler near the crease, but the puck slid just wide of the post. Yekaterinburg had the first powerplay of the game moments later, but could not get anything going on the man advantage. Lugano found themselves on the powerplay minutes later, and they didn't disappoint. Wisniewski wired one from the point past Ivan Lisutin just seconds into the man advantage, putting the Swiss squad up 1-0. Lugano found themselves back on the powerplay two minutes later, but weren't as successful. Yekaterinburg got their second powerplay chance minutes later, when a two-on-one for Lugano resulted in Sebastien Reuille running into Lisutin. Just as the powerplay expired, Dmitry Monya deked past the HC Lugano defence and beat Elvis Merzlikins with a backhand shot. Patrik Zackrisson had a chance late in the period, fighting off two defenders for a partial breakaway, but could not beat Lisutin. The first period ended with both teams tied 1-1.
HC Lugano once again started the period putting on the pressure, but it was Yekaterinburg with the best chance. Monya received a pass behind the Lugano defence was in alone against Merzlikins. This time Merzlikins won the duel, stopping Monya with his right pad. A Yekaterinburg powerplay didn't result in anything (other than Nikolai Timashov checking Max Lapierre into the boards). HC Lugano went back to controlling most of the play once they were back to even strength. It took a little while for their play to pay off though, as Raffaelle Sannitz would end up tipping Ryan Wilson's blast into the Yekaterinburg net halfway through the period. Ryan Gardner extended HC Lugano's lead a minute later by tucking a loose puck past Lisutin. That was the end of Lisutin's night, as Vladimir Sokhatsky came in to replace him. HC Lugano was awarded a powerplay soon after their goal, but could not capitalize on it. Yekaterinburg failed to score on a powerplay late in the period, as the period ended with HC Lugano up 3-1.
The third period was relatively uneventful to start. HC Lugano had a man advantage about five minutes in, but didn't muster much on it. Yekaterinburg was award a powerplay moments later, as Steve Hirschi was called for slashing Artyom Gareyev (although it was a questionable call, as Gareyev may have embellished). It worked out for Gareyev though, and 21 seconds into the powerplay, one-timed a loose puck past Merzlikins to pull the Russian squad to within one. HC Lugano was called for another penalty minutes later, but managed to kill it. Ryan Vesce had a chance to put Lugano back up by two when Linus Klasen found him alone in the slot, but Vesce shot missed the net. HC Lugano had a goal called back seconds later, when a faceoff was considered unfairly done and the play was whistled dead. Yekaterinburg was put a man down when Yegor Zhuravlyov was called for slashing. The Russian squad managed to kill off the penalty, while getting a chance of their own (Rok Ticar's shot was stopped). Yekaterinburg poured on the pressure as timed ticked away, with few chances to show for their effort. Klasen scored on the empty net near the end, as HC Lugano beat Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 4-2 to open the tournament.
Players of the game: James Wisniewski (HCL), Dmitry Monya (AVT)
Wisniewski played a great game. He opened the scoring, added an assist, and show that he still has his offensive instincts from years ago. It's weird to say that a guy that played under eleven minutes should get the node, but when Dmitry Monya was on the ice, he was noticeable (in a good way). His only goal was one for the highlight reel.
Dinamo Minsk 7 - Team Canada 4
It was feisty before the puck even dropped, as Dmitry Ambrozhichik and Gregory Campbell hacked at each other on the opening faceoff. The Chris DiDomenico giveth and the Chris Didominic taketh early in the game, first by drawing a slashing call to put Canada on the powerplay, then getting a slashing call of his own to make it four-on-four. Dinamo Minsk would benefit from this, as Kirill Gotovets fed a streaking Alexander Materukhin in the slot, who proceeded to one-time the puck past Drew MacIntyre to open the scoring. Team Canada again looked to have shot themselves in the foot moments later, when on a delay penalty call for Minsk, Canada was caught with too many men on the ice. Team Canada would tie the game, as Andrew Ebbett buried a one-timer from the slot. Canada soon found their legs after the goal, controlling the puck for the most part. It lead to Dinamo Minsk taking a couple of penalties in succession, giving Canada about a 45-second two-man advantage. This was more than enough for the Canadians. Max Noreau blasted a point shot past Ben Scrivens to put Team Canada up a goal. the game. Still on the powerplay, Mason Raymond would buried a loose puck, extending the lead for Canada. Jacob Micflikier had a couple of chances soon after, but it wasn't to be. His first chance was a two-on-one that was stopped by Scrivens, then moments later he tipped a point shot that ended up hitting the post. Minsk responded late in the period. A scramble in front of the Canadian net saw Evgeny Kovyrshin whack home a rebound to pull the Belarusian squad to within a goal. The first period finished with Team Canada up 3-2.
The second period started slowly, with both teams not getting much in the way of shots. It picked up about four minutes in, starting with Cory Emmerton streaking down the wing, but having his shot batted away by the glove of Scrivens. The Minsk goalie stayed sharp moments later, stopping Micflikier's one-timer from the slot. Minsk managed to turn the puck back up ice. Their transition almost lead to a goal, with Matt Ellison's shot skirting wide of an empty net. Team Canada went back on the attack, getting a couple of chances for their effort. Penalty trouble started to dispute Canada's flow, as Colby Genoway and Campbell were called for slashing one after the other. While Minsk could not convert on the first powerplay, they did not squander the second one. Evgeny Lisovets wired a one-timer past MacIntyre, tying the game at 3-3. Both teams would exchange chances, with neither being able to break the deadlock. Canada did catch a break late in the second, as Andrei Stas was called for slashing. Team Canada could not do much with in the remaining time in the period, as both teams headed into the second intermission tied 3-3.
Team Canada's powerplay continued into the third period, and there was just enough time left for them to capitalize on it. Micflikier found a streaking Noreau in the slot, who proceeded to deke out Scrivens and tuck the puck home. DiDomenico had a chance to extend Canada's lead, as he was sprung for a breakaway. Scrivens was up for the challenge though, and stopped DiDomenico's backhand attempt. Canada kept up the pressure for a bit, but failed to add another goal. Dinamo Minsk would find a way to tie the game. A give-and-go resulted in Dmitry Korobov deflecting Nikita Komarov's return pass into Team Canada's net. Minsk was rejuvenated by the goal, as they kept the pressure up on Team Canada. A hook by DiDomenico would give the Belarussian squad a powerplay. Despite playing poorly for most of the man advantage, Dinamo Minsk did manage to capitalize on it. Rob Klinkhammer's centering pass eventually found Kovyrshin for his second goal of the game. Soon after it was Canada's turn on the man advantage, as Materukhin was called for slashing. DiDomenico had a chance early on the powerplay, but Scrivens kept with him and stopped his shot. Team Canada managed to move the puck around, but had little to show for it. Once play was back to even strength, it didn't take long for Minsk to add another one. Roman Graborenko's point shot was stopped, but Sergei Drozd was alone near the net and tucked home the rebound. Minsk kept up the pressure, not allowing Canada to get much in the way of offense. Komarov would seal the game with a long range empty netter. With the game basically done, DiDomenico decide to his penalty total, getting called for roughing in the last minute. Dinamo Minsk played out the rest of the game, winning the high-scoring affair 7-4.
Players of the game: Evgeny Kovyrshin (DIN), Maxime Noreau (CAN)
Both his goals may have been more of being in the right place at the right time, but there is no doubt Kovyrshin's play around the net helped Minsk win the game. Noreau, the Canadian captain, was expected to be the quarterback of the powerplay, and he delivered. Both his goals came on the man advantage.
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