No Joy in Minsk

Dynamo Minsk - HC SLOVAN Bratislava 2:0 (0:0, 0:0, 2:0)

Goals: 42. Jafimenko (Stas), 60. Micflikier

Complete statistics HERE.

Lineups:

HC Dinamo Minsk: Haugen – Krajíček, Goroško, Meech, Šinkievič, Filičkin, Černook – Micflikier, Platt, Kaľužny – Irgl, Surový, Gavrus – Meleško, Stas, Jefimenko – Dadonov, Zacharov, Kitarov, Kirjuščenkov.

HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Kopřiva  – Sersen, Škoula, Mihálik, Kutlák, Sigalet, Štajnoch – Vondrka, Bližňák, Miklík – Bartovič, J. Mikúš, Kukumberg – Hudáček, Ölvecký, Netík – Bakoš, T. Mikúš, Daňo. Substitutes: R. Mráz, Kolena

Coming into the game on the back of two defeats from their opening games, SLOVAN started positively and were decidedly the better team on the ice. Our first major chance came in the 2^nd minute, when J. Mikúš found himself in front of goal, only for the defensemen to intervene at the last moment. Goaltender Haugen had to work hard to keep out Martin Bakoš’s shot, then was at full stretch to stop Kutlák’s effort, immediately followed by a shot from Netík which hit the right-hand post. Another chance fell to Ölvecký, tearing away towards Haugen, but the latter anticipated his feint. In the 18^th minute it was Miklík’s turn to fail to beat Haugen from close range, completing a period in which the visitors could count themselves unlucky.

Slovan continued their strong performance in the second period, but didn’t create as many chances as in the previous period. The home side did threaten in the 27th minute, when Irgl’s touch found Kopřiva’s post. At the other end, Miklík fired just wide in a powerplay. Minsk also threatened Kopřiva in their own powerplay, but the Czech stood firm in his KHL debut.

Alas, a defensive mistake at the start of the final period gave Jefimenko the puck, and he beat Kopřiva at the second attempt – 1:0. The goal spurred on the hosts, and it was only the left post that prevented a second goal in the 46^th minute, then eight minutes from the end, Kopřiva saved superbly with the mitt from Micflikier’s shot. Slovan tried determinedly to find an equalizer in the closing stages, but they were held back by Kukumberg’s foul with three minutes remaining. Right at the end, Micflikier shot into the empty net during our powerplay, sealing a 2:0 victory for Dynamo.

Rostislav Čada: Today we played our best game so far in the KHL season. The first two periods we were better than the home team. We created a lot of chances which we didn’t convert, which proved decisive. The result was really decided by one error in the third period which resulted in a goal. We’re disappointed to be leaving Minsk without at least a point.