Team Denmark has plenty of NHL talent to ice and they're ready to break through onto the Olympic scene. Frederik Andersen of the Toronto Maple Leafs is their goalie. Frans Nielsen of the Detroit Red Wings, Mikkel Boedker of the San Jose Sharks, Jannik Hansen and Philip Larsen of the Vancouver Canucks, Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets are also NHL talents that are representing Denmark. Nicklas Jensen of the New York Rangers and Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Columbus Blue Jackets are American Hockey League talents, NHL prospects, representing Denmark. Belarus has a goalie with AHL experience in Kevin Lalande, 29, drafted in 128th overall in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL draft by the Calgary Flames. Geoff Platt, 31, is an undrafted forward who played parts of three seasons in the NHL with Columbus and the Anaheim Ducks before pursuing a career overseas. Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn also play for Belarus. Andrei was drafted 10th overall in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens, Sergei in the 7th round, 200th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2005. Belarusian Defenseman Oleg Yevenko is an undrafted defenseman who’s played three AHL seasons, the latest of which is with the Calder Cup winning Cleveland Monsters. Kirill Gotovets, drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009 and eventually traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, never made the NHL. Former Red Wings coach Dave Lewis is the coach for Team Belarus.
Denmark starts fast
Nicklas Jensen scored a goal at 2:46 of the first period, a fast start to the game. Red Wings center and Denmark's captain Frans Nielsen was on the ice for the goal but did not get an assist. Mikkel Boedker did, though. Denmark didn’t let off the gas after that, keeping the play in the Belarus zone. Mikkel Boedker skated through the Belarus team, and into the Belarus goalie while trying to score. The Belarus goalie, Lalonde ended up staying in the game, the Belarusian crowd cheering that he’s good to go. The play has intensified as both teams try to outmuscle each other. Belarus scored on a 3-1, thanks to winning a battle on the boards against Denmark. The game is tied 1-1 in the first, the goal scored at 11:50 of the first period by Alexander Pavlovich. Artyom Volkov scores a shorthanded goal for Belarus, 2-1 Belarus at 17:08 of the first period. The favorited Denmark is down 2-1 after the first period of play. The shots are 10-7 Denmark after one. Andersen looked rusty in goal, his lateral movement not up to speed.
Belarus started the 2nd period off with a scoring chance a minute and a half in. Belarus followed that up with a shot off the post that triggered the goal light. The replay showed just how close that shot was. Denmark forward Jesper B. Jensen gave a nasty hit to Belarus forward Artur Gavrus. A Danish forward was injured after that, Morten Madsen was hit by Alexander Pavlovich. It's become a bit of a track meet after those hits. Scoring chances are being traded either way, but no goals and plenty of physical play. Denmark's power play involves a lot of puck movement, but Belarus killed off a penalty, that ended around the 2:10 left mark of the 2nd period. The Danes kept the puck in the zone and the pressure was on Belarus, but Nicklas Jensen takes a slashing penalty. Artur Gavrus makes it a 4 on 4 for the remainder of the second period in what has been an exciting game. The score remains 2-1 Belarus after two. The Danes will need to surge back in the third to avoid an upset.
Belarus puts the game away
Denmark started off the third period with having to kill off a penalty, starting about two minutes into the period. After a ferocious scramble in front of the net, Sergei Kostitsyn scores to put the Belarusians ahead 3-1! The play was reviewed, and it is a goal for Belarus. The Danes are on the verge of being upset! In 2014 they lost after being favored against Slovenia, now it's looking like that fate will repeat itself for Denmark. At 8:24 into the third period, Danish forward Nikolaj Ehlers had a nice scoring chance. Tempers are starting to flare midway through the third period as a scrum breaks out. Andrei Stas makes it 4-1 for Belarus, who looks to have an upset over Denmark secured. Stas scored at the 53:17 mark from Geoff Platt. Mikkel Boedker goes to the box during a power play for Denmark after getting involved in a scrum as well as another Belarusian player. Andrei Stas got two for Checking from Behind as well as a ten-minute misconduct while Boedker got a two-minute minor for roughing. Jannik Hansen scores for Denmark, making it 4-2 at the 58:41 mark. Assists come from Nikolaj Ehlers and Frans Nielsen. Too little too late for Denmark as Belarus seals the upset with an empty netter from Sergei Kostitsyn at the 59:24 mark, Belarus wins 5-2.
Denmark just wasn't able to overcome a motivated Belarus team. Denmark's stars started to shine too late into the game. Ehlers, Nielsen and Boedker all had one assist. Jannik Hansen and Nicklas Jensen had the goals. Although Nikolaj Ehlers and Boedker had chances among others, they were unable to add to the score. Sergei Kostitsyn, Andrei Stas, and Alexander Pavlovich led the way for Belarus. Frederik Andersen was very shaky in goal for Denmark, which was unexpected. It looks like Denmark will yet again miss out on the Olympics in 2018 due to this loss.