BELARUS IN THE WIN COLUMN TO CLOSE OUT WJAC

Belarus stormed back in the third period to finish the World Junior A Challenge on a winning note, on the strength of a 5-3 victory over Germany.

Despite a scoreless first period, the action was far from being even. Belarus carried the play for all twenty minutes, outshooting Germany 15-6 and getting a number of quality scoring chance.

Belarus’ best chance came on a two-on-one rush, which ended up with Artem Demkov getting a one-timer away from the hash marks, but Germany’s goaltender Etienne Renkewitz anticipated the pass and was able to get across in time to kick the puck out.

Belarussian pressure finally led to a goal at the start of the second period, as Demkov finished off a pretty 3-way passing play at 1:31 for a 1-0 lead.

But the momentum changed soon after. Belarus gave Germany three straight power plays and while they were unable to score, it allowed the German side to get their game back on track. At 11:24, while at full strength, a good forecheck led to the tying goal. After turning over the puck deep in the zone, Steven Rupprich centered the puck to Martin Buchwieser who fired a quick shot past Belarus goaltender Vitali Trus.

At 16:42, Germany got the lead. Alexander Oblinger gained the blue line and was able to send a hard wrist shot past Trus. Shots on net in the second period were a reflection of Germany’s resurgence as they dominated 17-6, en route to taking a 2-1 lead.

Belarus was much sharper from the start of the final frame. At 10:51, Andrei Stas evened the score at 2-2. Only sixty-nine seconds later, at 12:00, Belarus had taken the lead on a power play goal by Yuri Eliseenko.

Belarus was back on the power play a few minutes later, a two-man advantage, when Stas registered his second of the night. Belarus had turned a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead in a matter of minutes. David Wolf (Germany) and Igor Voroshilov (Belarus) exchanged late goals to make the final 5-3.

Many of the players in this game will be representing their respective countries at the World Junior Championship, Division 1A and 1B, looking to find their way back in the World Championship pool next year, which will be in Ottawa.