Davos-Goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni and Dynamo-Striker Dimitri Afanasenkov, who scored the 3:1

Directly from the outset of the Spengler Cup, HC Davos had to accept their first set back in their quest for the Cup. The hometown heros lost ground early to the Dynamo Moscow having been out-shot 4 to 1. However, all is not lost for the team from the Bündner Valley...

Dynamo continually putting on the pressure

In 2007 the HC Davos also lost its kick-off game of the tournament 2:3 against Mannheim. Unintentionally repeating history, this year the HCD bête-noir is the Dynamo Moscow. Despite a continually close score, it was clear the dominant Russians exerted non-stop control over the game which they went on to win 4:1.
With 10 minutes remaining, the HCD stepped up their game and began to play with considerably more urgency in an attempt to even the score. However, Moscow left-winger, Dimitri Afanasenkow, scooped up a lost puck in the Davos zone and managed to gain the all important 3:1 advantage, closing the door for good on any hopes of a Davos comeback.

Davos happiness short-lived

During the Powerplay shortly after the game's halfway point, the HC Davos, which in 2007 finished the tournament in last place, was able to level the score after Gennadi Rasin managed Moscow's first goal. It was Sandro Rizzi in the 31st minute of play who, working against the general flow of the game was able to make good his shot on his second approach to the net
However the equalizer lasted for only 103 seconds when Mattias Weinhandl following the sensational set-up by Petr Cajanek put Moscow in the lead again 2:1. The final nail in the Davos coffin came in the final ten seconds of the game when former NLA player, Eric Landry (Lausanne, Basel, Bern) scored the fourth point shooting into an unguarded goal cage.


Dynamo Moscow - Davos 4:1 (1:0, 1:1, 2:0).

Vaillant Arena. -- 6746 spectators (sold out). -- SR Stricker/Zalaski (Sz/Ka), Kohler/Müller (Sz). -- Goals: 12. Rasin (Kaljuschni, Sinowjew/ disqualification Ambühl) 1:0. 31. Rizzi (Niinimaa, Guggisberg/ disqualification Wyschidkewitsch) 1:1. 33. Weinhandl (Cajanek) 2:1. 56. Afanasenkow (Pestuschko) 3:1. 60. (59:50) Landry (Weinhandl) 4:1 (unguarded goal). -- penalties: 5 times 2 minutes against Dynamo Moscow, 6 times 2 minutes against Davos.

Dynamo Moscow: Jeremejew; Rasin, Schitnik; Denissow, Rachunek; Rylow, Wyschidkewitsch; Budkin, Walentenko; Kaljuschni, Sinowjew, Jatschmenew; Landry, Weinhandl, Cajanek; Pestuschko, Nepriajew, Afanasenkow; Schitikow, Goroschanski, Tolpeko.

Davos: Genoni; Gianola, Grossmann; Blatter, Naumenko; Furrer, Jan von Arx; Niinimaa; Riesen, Reto von Arx, Sykora; Bürgler, Marha, Daigle; Guggisberg, Rizzi, Ambühl; Salmelainen, Sonnenberg, Pohl; Taticek.

General Notes: Davos without Della Rossa, Leblanc, Müller, Stoop (not registered), Gerber, Dino Wieser and Marc Wieser (all additional replacements). -- goal posts-/crossbar: 2. Ambühl, 15./49. Afanasenkow. -- 60. (59:25) Timeout Davos, till 59:50 without Goalie.