🇷🇺 Russia 2-0 Belarus 🇧🇾
Euro Hockey Challenge
VTB Arena, Moscow 🇷🇺
Saturday, 24 April 2021

In the second of two 2020-21 Euro Hockey Challenge duels between the nations, the Russian Olympic national team proved too strong for Belarus, earning a confident 2-0 victory at the VTB Arena in Moscow.

Russia came out with energy and intent during the opening shifts. Immediately taking the initiative, our players quickly began piling the pressure on Belarus, with opposing goalkeeper Konstantin Shostak having to make a series of tough saves to deny our players on the crease. Nikolai Kovalenko, Pavel Kukshtel and Vladislav Yefremov all came particularly close, with the trio wasting excellent opportunities.

The Belarusians were threatening on the counter-attack, though, and Ivan Bocharov pulled off a wonderful point-blank stop with his right pad to somehow prevent the puck from crossing the line following a goalmouth scramble. Not long later, Shane Prince smacked the crossbar for the away team with a rasping wrister.

The breakthrough was made by the Russians in the penultimate minute of the first period on the powerplay.

Alone on the left flank, Ivan Morozov connected with a wonderful pass from SKA Saint Petersburg teammate Vasili Podkolzin, carefully lifting the puck into the far corner from a tight angle.

The second stanza saw both teams create a number of promising chances.

Midway through the frame, Belarus seemed to be taking the initiative as they started to press Russia with intent near Bocharov’s net, but they contrived to concede their second goal when on the powerplay in the 31st minute.

Simply too strong for his markers, Pavel Kraskovski battled his way to the crease, taking the puck around the stranded Shostak and expertly sliding it in.

The Belarusians spent the majority of the remainder of the second period searching for a response. Thankfully, Bocharov was on top form for the home team, making tricky saves with the likes of Prince and Artyom Demkov proving to be threatening for Belarus.

Belarus subsequently ran into penalty trouble in the ensuing third period. Nevertheless, Shostak’s heroics were keeping the away team in the match, with the solid 21-year-old goaltender conjuring impressive saves to give his side a fighting chance.

In the closing minutes, Bocharov did have to make challenging stops with the Belarusians forcing the issue, in particular against Francis Paré with his right pad. However, despite Shostak being pulled for the extra skater, Belarus couldn’t hit the jackpot and Russia calmly saw the game out.

Russia will next be in action in the Euro Hockey Challenge on the road in Switzerland. The two games away from home are scheduled for 30 April and 1 May.

BOXSCORE
1st Period
15:48 – 🇷🇺 PEN – Kraskovski, interference
17:19 – 🇧🇾 PEN – Nesterov, high sticking
18:41 – 🇷🇺 PP GOAL – Morozov (Podkolzin)

2nd Period
29:55 – 🇷🇺 PEN – Kovalenko, interference
30:43 – 🇷🇺 SH GOAL – Kraskovski (Pylenkov, Sergeyev)

3rd Period
40:26 – 🇧🇾 PEN – Antonov, cross checking
43:31 – 🇧🇾 PEN – Usov, tripping
49:57 – 🇧🇾 PEN – Shostak, delay of game

GOALTENDERS
W: 🇷🇺 Bocharov (18-18)
L: 🇧🇾 Shostak (32-34)

SHOTS ON GOAL
🇷🇺 13+13+8 = 34
🇧🇾 4+9+5 = 18

ROSTERS
🇷🇺 Goaltenders: Ivan Bocharov, Ivan Fedotov. Defence: Viktor Antipin, Kirill Kirsanov, Mikhail Naumenkov, Yuri Pautov, Danil Pylenkov, Rushan Rafikov (A), Andrei Sergeyev. Forwards: Zakhar Bardakov, Georgi Ivanov, Nikolai Kovalenko, Pavel Kraskovski (C), Pavel Kukshtel, Kirill Marchenko, Danila Moiseyev, Ivan Morozov, Vasili Podkolzin (A), Ilya Safonov, Vladislav Tsitsyura, Vladislav Yefremov.
🇧🇾 Goaltenders: Danny Taylor, Konstantin Shostak. Defence: Andrei Antonov, Stepan Falkovski (A), Dmitri Korobov, Nikita Mitskevich, Vadim Shechin, Ilya Solovyov, Dmitri Znakharenko (C). Forwards: Andrei Belevich, Artyom Demkov, Sergei Drozd, Danila Karaban, Yevgeni Kovyrshin, Stanislav Lopachuk, German Nesterov, Francis Paré (A), Shane Prince, Mikhail Stefanovich, Ilya Usov, Artem Zhuk.

Article Credit: FHR
Photo Credit: FHR – IIHF – HHOF – IOC