Volkov blanks Bison in Dynamo derby. December 22 round-up
The two most recent editions of this Dynamo derby finished in Minsk’s favor. Both games were decided by special teams, with the Muscovites struggling to convert their power play chances and then crashing hard on the PK.
Dynamo Moscow 2 Dinamo Minsk 0 (0-0, 1-0, 1-0)
Today’s encounter began with another failed power play attempt from Alexei Kudashov’s team. After Minsk killed Ilya Shinkevich’s penalty, the teams then played almost a full 10 minutes without a break. It was full-blooded, high-tempo stuff as well and much of the action was evenly contested by the two teams.
The next break in play brought a double minor for Dinamo Minsk after Sergei Boikov’s high stick caught John Gilmour. In the previous games, that would surely have brought a goal for the Bison; this time, though, Moscow held firm and the first period ended goalless.
The home team was in penalty trouble again the second period when Jordan Weal, Kirill Gotovets and Andrei Mironov followed each other into the box. A long spell of 3-on-5 play could not grind down Dynamo’s defense this time, although it did take the post to deny Pavel Varfolomeyev a breakthrough goal. Instead, Mironov broke the deadlock late in the middle frame with a well-worked goal.
In the third period, Minsk had more of the play. However, both goalies were called upon to make big stops, most notably when a single shift saw first Ivan Muranov then Vladimir Alistrov go clean through on the opposition net. On both occasions, the goalies had the answers. Indeed, neither netminder would be beaten again in the game: Dynamo Moscow’s second goal, scored by Muranov, went into an empty net as Minsk made one last push to try to salvage something.
