Plot remains open in Group B

Before its first faceoff, the game`s implication was different for both teams. While Finland now chooses its quarterfinal`s opponent, Belarus is the only team in the current set up of top four teams in the Group B who`s presence in the knock-out phase has not been sure yet.

To be specific, should Slovakia in its last game beats USA with a three-point victory, Belarus would get out of playoff positions, if at the same time does not pick up more than one point out of the last two games against Finland and Norway.

After all, the need for score was not desperate on either side - Finns do not must score during the group phase anymore, and Belarus has one more shot. Paradoxically, the most nervous had to be people in Slovakia, because any victory of Belarus would mean end of the championship to its national team.

The tension in Slovakia increased even more in the 46th minute, when so far an unadvanteruous game brought the first goal and it was in Finland`s net. Yevgeni Kovyrshin sent a hard slapshot towards Finnish goalie Pekka Rinne and ended out his long no-goal series.

Rinne is hard to beat. Photo: Roman Kantor.

Team Suomi immediately increased the tempo, but soon was sent to a two-men shorthanded. However Belarus did not use its chance to double its lead, so the opponent transferred the game-play back to Belarusian defensive zone.

And eight minutes before the horn, just when Belarus was penalized for playing with too many men, Finland its powerplay converted by Joonas Donskoi - 1:1

Only 56 seconds later, Finns turned the score over. Although Topi Jaakola`s slapper from the blue line missed the net, it rebounded from the boards back ahead Koval`s net to Teemu Hartikainen`s stick - 2:1.

To make the third session even wilder, half a minute to go and while playing in sex men with the empty net, Belarus ties the score up. Alexei Kalyuzhny, inspired by success story of Kovyrshin, also tried a slapshot and forced the overtime.

During the extra five minutes of play, the lions of Finland were bombarding Koval`s net actively, but did not score and the game`s destiny had to be decided within shootouts.

As Belarus converted just one of two, and Finland all three, the game winning goal goes to Joonas Donskoi.

Influence of the result on the current standings in Group B is very limited. Finland remains the third, now having 14 points, Belarus fourth with eleven. As Slovakia`s record on the fifth place is eight points, the drama is not over yet. Slovakia still will have a chance to replace Belarus in the quarterfinals, if gets three points against USA tomorrow, and at the same time Belarus loses to Norway in regulation.

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