31.12.2009
From Belorussia with Love
Anderi Mezin was selected as the best goalie of the tournament
Another win by a Dynamo team at the Spengler Cup. Following the success of Dynamo Moscow in 2008, the 2009 New Year's Eve winner is the Belorussian team Dynamo Minsk. They overcame the motivated hosts by beating HC Davos 3:1.
A game of missed opportunities
In the sold-out Vaillant Arena with 6746 spectators present it wasn't the fatigue of the hosts from the prior day's game where they defeated the Mannheim Eagles that was the deciding factor of the day. Rather the HC Davos saw victory because of missed opportunities.
For example, at the beginning of the second period HC Davos had an advantage of five players against three Misnsk players, but were still not able to score a goal. Kolnik managed to score the Davos face-saving goal at the beginning of the third period. But by that time, Minsk had already been leading 2:0 due to the goals made by Kulakow (9) and Koschetkow (25). Nevertheless, right up to the final buzzer Davos still had multiple prime chances to score an equalizer. However, instead of making a goal which would have sent the game into extra time, Minsk's Meleschko hit a final shot in the 60th minute which sailed into the empty Davos goal. Putting the last nail in the coffin for Davos, the final score stood as 3:1 in favour of the Belorussians.
HC Davos - Dynamo Minsk 1:3 (0:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Vaillant Arena. - Attendance: 6746 (sold out). -- Referee Kurmann/Bulanow (Sz/Russ), Arm/Wehrli. -- Goals: 10. Kulakow (Peltonen, Platt) 0:1. 25. Koschetkow (Tschupris, Warlamow/disqualified Helfer) 0:2. 41. Kolnik (Salmonsson/ disqualified Peltonen) 1:2. 60. (59:27) Meleschko 1:3 (empty goal). -- Penalties: 4 times 2 minutes against Davos, 5 times 2 minutes against Dynamo.
Davos: Genoni; Naumenko, Forster; Ramholt, Grossmann; Jan von Arx, Back; Helfer; Guggisberg, Reto von Arx, Kolnik; Widing, Setzinger, Salmonsson; Bürgler, Rizzi, Dino Wieser; Duca, Taticek, Clarke; Joggi.
Minsk: Mesin; Westcott, Jokela; Lintner, Ljutkewitsch; Beschko, Antonow; Saulietis, Ternawski; Kulakow, Platt, Peltonen; Michaljew, Stas, Meleschko; Tschupris, Warlamow, Koschetkow; Kowyrschin, Sadelenow, Demkow.
General Notes: Davos without Sciaroni, Marha (both injured), Marc Wieser (not in line up/surplus). 43. Shot from Reto von Arx hit the cross bar. Davos without a goalie from 59:09. (Si)
Translated by Olivia Kaferly
