The second day saw both games be close games, and both finished with the same score! The first game saw the newbies Mountfield HK take on an Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg team that was looking to reverse course after losing their first game. The second game was the always hyped up HC Davos and Team Canada matchup.
Mountfield HK 4 - Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 3
The action started as soon as the puck dropped, with Rudolf Cerveny getting a chance in the first couple of seconds. The opening goal would go to Yekaterinburg though, as Dmitry Monya tipped Nikolai Timashov into Mountfield HK's net. The Czech squad had a chance to tie the game, when Nikita Shchitov went off for tripping. The powerplay was what they needed, as Richard Jarusek snapped on past Vladimir Sokhatsky to tie the game. Mountfield HK's play would give Yekaterinburg some trouble. The Russian squad started to get called for penalties midway through the period, starting with Tommi Kivisto going off for hooking. Just a minute after killing off that penalty, Yekaterinburg would see another defenseman, Michal Cajkovsky, called for holding. Mountfield HK once again had a couple of chances while up a man, but nothing would come of it. Yekaterinburg had a chance just after their penalty expired, with a two-on-one that resulted in Jan Buchtele getting stopped by Patrik Rybar. Mountfield's cycle game gave then a few chances, but none would find the back of the net. Their play though did result in another powerplay, with Yekaterinburg's Dmitri Megalinsky getting called for holding. Mountfield couldn't do much with it, as Yekaterinburg's aggressive penalty kill made it difficult for the Czech team. Seconds after that penalty expired, it would be the Russian club getting a chance on the man advantage. Mountfield HK managed to kill off their penalty as the period expired. Both teams headed into the intermission tied 1-1.
Buchtele got the best chance for Yekaterinburg to take the lead early in the second, receiving a pass in the slot. Rybar was once again there to stop him though, preserving the tie. The Russian club would go on the man advantage minutes later, when Michal Dragoun was called for high sticking. Mountfield managed to kill off their penalty though, and went back on the attack. A point shot by Blaz Gregorc would be tipped by Roman Kukumberg and into Yekaterinburg's net, giving Mountfield HK a 2-1 lead. Yekaterinburg pushed back, trying to tie the game. Kivisto had the best opportunity, receiving the puck cross-ice, but his attempt would miss a fairly wide open net. The Russian squad kept up their attack, and while they could not find the back of the net, they did managed to draw a penalty. Yekaterinburg did get a couple shots on net, but could not beat Rybar and the Mountfield penalty kill. Mountfield would get their first crack on the powerplay in the second when Anatoli Golyshev was called for holding. The penalty ended up being a blessing in disguise for Yekaterinburg, as seconds after stepping out of the box, Golyshev scored. The Russian club had one more chance on the powerplay late in the period, when Dragoun was called for holding. The powerplay was what Yekaterinburg needed. Cajkovsky's point shot found it's way past Rybar and into the Mountfield HK net. The period ended with Yekaterinburg up 3-2.
Alexander Torchenyuk had a chance to extend Yekaterinburg's lead a minute into the third, but could not jam the puck past Rybar. Yekaterinburg was awarded a powerplay moments later, but despite moving the puck around well, they could do nothing with it. Mountfield HK had their chance with the man advantage minutes later, when Denis Mingaleyev was called for hooking. It ended up with Yekaterinburg getting the best chance in those two minutes, with Torchenyuk's short side attempt being stopped. Shots would be exchanged, but it wasn't until 12 minutes into the period when a goal was scored. Ales Pavlas blast from the faceoff dot was stopped, but Kukumberg was right there to put home the rebound, tying the game in the process. The momentum kept going Mountfield HK's way, as minutes later Torchenyuk was called for slashing. The Czech club's puck movement on the powerplay paid off, as Jarusek potted home a rebound to put Mountfield in the lead. Yekaterinburg caught a break late, when Dragoun would once again make himself familiar with the penalty box. The Russian squad could not capitalize on the man advantage, and pulling the goalie for an extra attacker afterwards wasn't much help. Mountfield HK held on to win the game 4-3.
Players of the game: Richard Jarusek (MHK), Nikolai Timashov (AVT)
When Mountfield was on the powerplay, Jarusek was gold. He scored twice on the man advantage, one of which was the game winning goal. Timashov was Yekaterinburg's best defenseman this game. He played well at both ends of the ice, finishing with an assist for his efforts.
HC Davos 3 - Team Canada 4
The home team started out strong, as HC Davos got a couple of chances early. Zach Fucale stood strong in the Canadian net though, not letting anything get by him. Team Canada would catch a break about five minutes in, when Tuomo Ruutu got called for slashing. Canada's only chance on the man advantage came off the stick of Jacob Micflikier, whose one-timer was stopped by Gilles Senn. HC Davos went on a powerplay of their own seconds after killing their penalty, as James Sheppard went off for slashing. Canada did well in killing off the penalty though, and did such a good job, that seconds after stepping out of the box Sheppard went right back in for tripping. HC Davos did not squander this powerplay chance. Some great puck movement led to a scramble in front of the net, where Per Ledin buried a rebound to put the home team on the board. Team Canada went on a powerplay a minute later, thanks to Daniel Rahimi getting called for a slash. They got a couple of chances this time, but could not convert on any of them. Team Canada continued to get chances when even strength play returned. They did managed to break though, as Mason Raymond deflected Chay Genoway's slap-pass into the Davos net. Both teams exchanged shots for the remaining minutes of the period, but neither broke the deadlock. The period closed with Team Canada going on a powerplay, as Beat Forster was called for hooking. The first period ended with both teams tied 1-1.
Starting the period on a powerplay, Team Canada managed to get a few shots. They did draw another penalty in the process, as Ledin was called for holding. They had a couple of chances in the short time they has a two man advantage, along with the remaining time on Ledin's penalty, but Team Canada could not convert on any of them. Canada maintained their attack when it went back to even strength, getting a multitude of good chances. Senn did what he could though, stopping shots (and a pass) in order to keep the game tied. HC Davos looked to have caught a break when Gregory Campbell got called for slashing Senn. A bad line change by Davos on the powerplay led to Cory Emmerton getting sprung on a breakaway. Emmerton made good on his chance, snapping it past Senn's glove to put Team Canada in the lead. Gregory Sciaroni would get a breakaway as the powerplay expired, but failed to get a shot on net. Andreas Ambuhl would get a chance off the rush, but rang his shot off the post. HC Davos went back on the powerplay midway through the period, when Blake Parlett took out a streaking Dino Wieser. HC Davos could not convert on the man advantage, and to make it worse, Felicien du Bois would head to the back near the end of the powerplay and not return to the game (there was nothing noticeable on the play that indicated he was hurt). Both teams continued to exchanged shots, but neither goalie was willing to let anything by them. The second period ended with Team Canada up 2-1.
The third period was relatively slow for this game, and didn't really pick up until about five minutes in, when HC Davos had a couple of chances near the crease. The host team's efforts would pay off, as Rahimi snapped a shot from the point past Fucale, tying the game. HC Davos' fortunes took a turn for the worst a minute later, when Forster was called for delay of game after flicking the puck into the crowd. It didn't take long for Team Canada to capitalize on the man advantage. Mcflikier carried the puck to the high slot and snapped a shot that beat a screened Senn. HC Davos put on the pressure after that goal, looking to tie the game again. They would not have any luck, and the increase in intensity would see a couple of post-whistle scrums. Weiser would be penalized in one of them, as he went to the box for slashing. Team Canada got a few shots on the powerplay, but could not convert on the man advantage. Luckily for them, Ambuhl was called for boarding just after Wieser's penalty expired, giving the Canadians another powerplay. Team Canada didn't waste this attempt, as Genoway's point shot was tipped by Andrew Ebbett on it's way to the back of the net. Now down by two, HC Davos took a time out to regroup. It took a couple of minutes, but the Swiss club would respond. Marc Wieser fed a streaking Ledin in the slot, and all Ledin needed to do was redirected it into the Canadian net. The ice opened up for a bit, as Dino Wieser and Shaun Heshka were called on coincidental roughing minors. It opened up a bit more a minute later, when Noah Schneeberger was called for hooking. The powerplay wasn't miuch help for Canada, as they failed to convert on it. HC Davos looked like they were going to finish the game shorthanded, as Simon K was called for holding and tackling Raymond to the ice. Raymond didn't leave unscathed though, as he was also sent to the box (for roughing). HC Davos managed to pull Senn in the last minute, making it a 5-on-4. It was all for naught though, as Team Canada held on to win the game 4-3.
Players of the game: Per Ledin (HCD), Chay Genoway (CAN)
Not often the two players awarded the best players of the game are the same as mine, but they are here. HC Davos' reinforcement's nose for the net helped the Swiss club in this game. Ledin tapped home two goals for the host. Genoway was one of Canada's best defensemen this game. He finished with two assists.
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