HC Dinamo Minsk secured their first victory in the series against HC Dynamo Moscow in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), BelTA has learned.
Minsk Arena hosted the opening game of the series. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko attended the game. The pre-game show featured a performance by the Russian band In2Nation, while the Dinamo choir performed their version of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall – titled as We Don’t Change Our Preparation – in a pre-recorded video. The match was dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, with NOC President Viktor Lukashenko dropping the ceremonial first puck.
Vadim Moroz returned to HC Dinamo Minsk lineup after recovering from an injury. In the first period, the Minsk side enjoyed a clear edge in shots on target, but the teams went into the first intermission scoreless at 0-0. The Minsk Bisons were able to turn their advantage into goals after the break, with Yegor Borikov netting the first goal of the playoff. The hosts opened the third period with a two-man advantage, and Darren Dietz made no mistake on the power play.
Just four minutes later, Minsk once again proved their prowess on the power play, with captain Andrei Stas getting on the scoresheet to the delight of his teammates. Moscow managed to pull one goal back shortly before the final buzzer, but there was no time left for a comeback. The game ended 3-1, handing the Minsk Bisons the lead in the series to four victories. The second game will also take place in the Belarusian capital on 26 March, with face-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
