MINSK, 6 April (BelTA) – The Belarusian national ice hockey team beat Finland 3-2 in Turku in the run-up to the 2018 IIHF World Championship, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Pavlovich opened the scoring midway through the first period.
In the second stanza the hosts scored twice during their 25 shots on Belarus' net. Sergei Drozd tied it up in the 31st minute of the game. Dave Lewis' team had to play shorthanded a lot, but held the score intact through to the final hooter.
In the overtime Artur Gavrus failed his attempt to score after facing the Finnish goalie one-on-one. Soon after the Finns received a penalty and Egor Sharangovich sent home a third to put a full stop in the game.
The second game is scheduled to take place in Hameenlinna on 6 April. The Belarusian team will then play in Switzerland on 13-14 April. Dave Lewis' men will also host Denmark in Grodno on 20-21 April, and Norway in Zhlobin and Bobruisk on 27-28 April.
Belarus will open the 2018 IIHF World Championship against Sweden in Copenhagen on 4 May. In the preliminary round Belarus will also face France, Russia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria.
