Jean-Guy Trudel: Best player of the game

Team Canada lived up to expectations, clearly defeating the dishevelled Dynamo Moscow by a convincing 6 goals to 3. Tomorrow's Final match for the Cup will take the shape of a revenge match for both teams. Even with a victory tonight, the HCD can no longer expect to reach the Final...

Initial Davos defeat was one too many

With their 1:4 defeat in the opening match against Moscow, the HC Davos relinquished valuable points permitting Canada to overtake them in the march for the final. Being 7 points behind the Canadians, there is no way Davos can make up enough ground to take their place in the Final.

Eight minutes into the game, there was little realistic doubt to the outcome. The highly focused team from North America quickly took the lead 2:0 thanks to Toms and Trudel. Dynamo on the other hand had trouble finding their game. The star studded ensemble seemed to be skating aimlessly across the ice. In light of the KHL Club's potential, this performance looked more like they were boycotting than playing one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament.

Servettien Aubin the new Top Scorer

There was one scene that was symptomatic of the disappointing performance by the Muscovites. In the 8th minute and without any intervention from the opposing team, defender Gennady Razin simply lost the puck. For what seemed like endless seconds, he stumbled over the puck, involuntarily handing Trudel a welcomed gift, the latter being only too happy to make the most of it. With this unintentional slap-stick performance the Ukrainian player gave the impression that he had been indulging in Davos' nightlife a touch too much the previous evening.

During long phases of the game, the 11 time Spengler Cup winner Team Canada looked like they were leading the unmotivated Russians by the nose. In addition Sean Simpson's team was able to capitalize on the various penalties, scoring three Powerplay goals. By the 43rd minute, Canada was leading 6 goals to 1. Making the most of the opponent's passive way of playing, Serge Aubin, who is under contract to Genève-Servette, moved himself to the top of the Scorer's Table with a total of 6 points. The captain of the incumbent champions had scored yet another goal as well as an assist.

Dynamo Moscow - Team Canada 3:6 (0:2, 1:3, 2:1).

Vaillant Arena. -- 6746 spectators (sold out). -- SR Stricker/Prugger, Wehrli/Wirth. -- Goals: 4. Toms (Heins/ disqualification Weinhandl) 0:1. 8. Trudel 0:2. 31. Harrison (Ritchie, Roest/ disqualification Jatschmenew) 0:3. 34. (33:25) Weinhandl (Cajanek) 1:3. 35. (34:10) Jackman (Pittis) 1:4. 39. Kariya (Clarke, Aubin/ disqualification Karamnow) 1:5. 43. Aubin (Toms) 1:6. 56. Neprajew (Afanasenkow) 2:6. 68. Schitikow 3:6. -- Penalties: 9 times 2 minutes against Dynamo Moscow, 4 times 2 minutes against Team Canada.

Dynamo Moscow: Biriukow; Razin, Schitnik; Rachunek, Denissow; Rylow, Walentenko; Isajew, Budkin; Schitikow, Sinowjew, Jatschmenew; Weinhandl, Cajanek, Landry; Pestuschko, Neprajew, Afanasenkow; Tolpeko, Karamnow, Goroschanski.

Team Canada: Machesney; Dupont, Harrison; Jackman, Scalzo; Clarke, Heins; Kwiatkowski, Kemp; Ritchie, Roest, Isbister; Fata, Pittis, Trudel; Kariya, Aubin, Toms; Vigier, Robitaille, Domenichelli.

Translation: Olivia Kaferly