Belarus hits the empty net to win over Slovenia

The only exciting part of the first period occurred on start of its second half. In time 10:08, Andrei Stas of Belarus scored the game`s first goal. He sent an unexpected and hidden wristshot from the ideal shooting position on top of the circles which found the Slovenian starting goalie Robert Kristan surprised.

Slovenia answered more than quickly. Thirty-four seconds after Belarus opening goal it was 1:1 already. After unsuccessful 2 on 1 by Slovenia, Jeglic skated in from the second wave and finished the puck rebounded by Belarus goalie Kevin Lalande to the net.

However the equal score lasted less than one hundred seconds only. Slovenian`s inconsecutive attitude to defending made Andrei Stas able to shot twice from near the net. And as he only hit Kristan`s gear twice they let Andrei Kostistsyn to shoot twice as well. The fourth rebound shot was successful yet and changed the score to 2:1.

Emotions in this important game. Photo: Roman Kantor

If majority of the first period was not so much exciting, the play was changing up and down, at least. But on start of the second period Andrei Kostistsyn scored again and Slovenians stopped following the tempo by Belarus at all.

For next long minutes they were locked in its defending zone and very lucky they did not cash in any more goals. Picture of the play equaled just in the last seven minutes of the period. Slovenians, now awake again, got a couple good scoring opportunities. However they lost the period 1:0 anyway and had to start up the last twenty minutes while losing 3:1.

Every point earned during the Preliminary Group Stage is of high value to Slovenia in a manner to keep its Top Division citizenship. Exactly like if this was going in heads of green-and-white bobcats, because the play in the third period looked exactly the opposite to the second. Now they are Slovenians keeping possession of the puck in the attacking zone, preparing themselves scoring chances.

And they are successful, after twelve minutes in the third period. Anze Kopitar passes the puck to Tomaz Razingar who then sends it across Lalande`s goalie-creese when it finds the stick of Ziga Pance. Pance shoots by wrist over Lalande`s shoulder and inflames the spark of Slovenian hope - 3:2

Lalande busy. Photo: Roman Kantor

During last tens of minutes, both teams called for a time out to discuss tactics for the period`s ending and one minute to go, Kristan left the ice Slovenia to play with empty net, which was even empowered by a late power play 39 seconds before the horn. However Slovenians lost the puck in the attacking zone and Alexander Kitarov ran away and hit the empty net to close the score at 4:2.

During last tens of seconds, both teams called for a time out to discuss tactics for the period`s ending and one minute to go, Kristan left the ice Slovenia to play with empty net, which was even empowered by a late power play 39 seconds before the horn. However Slovenians lost the puck in the attacking zone and Alexander Kitarov ran away and hit the empty net to close the score at 4:2.

Slovenian NHL-star player Anze Kopitar thinks Slovenian puck-movement was rather poor during the first half of the game. "But in the second half we played well. Next time we need play like that just from the start," he said just after the game.

 

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