Continental Cup: Unwelcome guest

Rouen and Yunost fates cross again after one year: a special night for Dragons and their fans: after a brilliant debut against Asiago, Rodolphe Garnier’s guys face reigning champion Yunost full of enthusiasm and with belief to make a remarkable page in Rouen history. On the other side, Yunost again holds a little hope to secure the Cup in Minsk. Both dreams pass through this decisive match. Ile Lacroix is packed and noisy, small patrol of Yunost fans is overwhelmed by passionate French fans. Last year in Minsk this match ended 4-2 for Yunost, but now the Dragons’ spirit is at the top.

With the same lines and goalies, Oksa and Lhenry, the teams open the first period in a fantastic atmosphere: Finnish Ilpo Salmivirta makes the first conclusion and it seems clear the French haven’t any reverential awe. But veteran goalie Fabrice Lhenry knows it won’t be a quiet night: Oleg Tymchenko twice and Armands Berzins test Rouen guardian reflexes. Yunost soon takes control of the puck, in a typical Zakharov’s team style, but Rouen tries not to be overwhelmed in its quarter, letting few shots towards Lhenry, always ready to block the puck, avoiding dangerous rebounds. Coach Garnier knows power play situation is the favorite Yunost weapon, so his players try to avoid any penalty. At 19.50 Guenette has on his stick the opening goal but incredibly wavers and, with the net opens, shot a weak puck allowing Oksa’s recovery.


Another great chance at the second period onset: Oksa deflects the puck to the bar on a Desrosiers hit on a perfect Guenette assist. All bad things don’t come in three's for Rouen: at 20.56 Oksa is probably hidden because Marc Andrè Thinel's shot is not irresistible but ends in Yunost net through the legs of Finnish goalie. The arena is a volcano, Mulle has another chance at 25, Oksa deflectes with pad, Rouen forwards are unleashed, Guenette and Thinel seem like NHL players, Lhenry the best Christobal Huet blocking all Yunost shots enhancing his great condition with a superb reflex on Zakharov shot and then on Voroshilov. Oksa answers at 32 on a Guenette instantly shot. The perfect Rouen night is brutally burst by the Yunost's tie: Lhenry blocks a shot but not the puck, it dances between the goalie pads and Sergei Zadelenov is the quickest to put on net. Tuomo Elomo misses the second goal and Yunost strikes again: defender Andrei Bashko receives from Tymchenko and with a good movement passes Lhenry and sends in the net. French reaction is vehement but confused while now Yunost can play his preferred style and before the end of period Andrei Bashko again, served by captain Maksim Slysh seems to put the word “end” on host’s hopes.

Fans are admirable and also in last period try to urge on the team, and their heroes answer: at 42:59 on power play Carl Mallette reduces for Dragons after some uncertain seconds, with Yunost complaining for a cage’s movement. But Czech referee Jan Hribik allows the goal. Ile Lacroix overheats again but the Belarusian fireman is now Igor Voroshilov at 49.25, finishing a team counterattack. This is the final nail on Rouen’s coffin: team hasn’t the force to re-emerge from a two goals gap. One year after, at the other side of Europe the battle between the two teams ends with same result, but this time Yunost can’t celebrate anything more than a victory: Continental Cup is on the way to Donetsk. Rouen can blame itself for not having killed the game while dominating but can be proud to have engaged a stronger opponent until the end.
' Yunost has a completely different intensityoa comparing with level we are used to, and we suffered this difference - said coach Rodolphe Garnier - but we can take all the games as a useful experience. We weren't the best after game with Asiago and we aren't so poor now, we are aware of our value'
Yunost coach Mikhail Zakharov is extremely satisfied: 'we knew Rouen plays very well on power play, so I wanna praise my team for the great work on short-handed situations, but I wanna praise also my collegue Garnier, his team plays really well. Tournament is still alive for us, obviously many favourable coincidences have to happen, but who knows...

MVP: Mika Oksa – Julien Desrosiers
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