First period performance ensures Denmark the win

Denmark took a big step in avoiding relegation by defeating Belarus 3:2. At 27:03 Morten Green fired on a slapshot and scored shorthanded which gave his team a huge 3:0 lead. Nicklas Hardt was on the assist while the play turned out to be the game-winner.

Denmark probably couldn't even imagine how the game would go on and how hard-fought the win today will be.

Nicklas Hardt collected two assists today as he was also the part of the play that put the Danes up front. At 6:32 Hardt and Kim Staal set the puck up for Philip Larsen who fires an ace from the blue line. It was the first powerplay of the game, and Denmark were already 1 for 1.

Philip Larsen added an assist for the second goal when Nicklas Jensen was the scorer at 14:57. Mikkel Boedker picked the deflected shot from Larsen and sent a blind pass into the middle, Jensen was the first just outside the crease and crashed the net to double the lead.

At the point when he conceded 3 goals on 21 shot Andrei Skabelka decided to bring in a pair of fresh legs between the pipes. Wise choice putting Vasili Belinski in play. No goals allowed, 12 saves with 31:53 on the ice. Danish forwards just couldn't find the way to put the puck into the net.

In just four minutes Belarus stroke twice and got back in the game. Konstantin Koltsov reduced the lead to two at 32:10 with a beautiful goal from the faceoff circle into the upper right corner. Oleg Goroshko passed into the Danish zone.

Soon after, at 36:36 Roman Graborenko could say "Thank you very much!" after a mistake from the defense. Simon Nielsen skated behind his net to play the puck, but came under a lot of pressure. The puck went against the boards to Graborenko who fired a one timer as he received it, and Belarus is back. With style!

Andrei Stas added the assist on the play.

Stats show how inferior Belarussians were to their opponents in the first period, with shots being largely in favour of Denmark, 15:1.

Simon Nielsen finished the game with 17 saves on 19 shots. Nicklas Jensen was awarded the best player for team Denmark, scoring a goal. Roman Graborenko was the best player on the opposing team, also with a goal.

Video courtesy of International Ice Hockey Federation

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