Dinamo Riga take surprise lead

Dinamo Riga goalie Edgars Masaļskis kept the puck out of the goal against CSKA.

Dinamo Riga goalie Edgars Masaļskis kept the puck out of the goal against SKA.

ST. PETERSBURG — Dinamo Riga have shocked SKA, taking a 1-0 lead in their best of five Western Conference quarterfinal.

In their last meeting, SKA humiliated Dinamo Riga 8-1 and although no one was expecting such a score-line again on this occasion, SKA were still expected to cruise. However, nobody bothered to tell Dinamo Riga who shocked their hosts with their 2-0 victory.

Playing with a more youthful roster, Dinamo Riga are expected to turn around quicker than their opponents when the sides match up again this evening. To win again tonight would stack the odds in Dinamo Riga’s favor with games 3 and 4 scheduled to take place at home in [private_supervisor]Riga.

As can be expected come playoff time, the intensity lifted, matching what had been on show in Vancouver, something that obviously played into Dinamo Riga’s hands, seeing that so many of their squad had been involved in Olympic campaigns.

The defense of both teams was exemplary in the opening stages, with the opening goal only coming when SKA committed the cardinal sin of hockey. On a power play late in the opening period, SKA let down their guard, only for Miķelis Rēdlihs to intercept the puck to score the short-handed goal.

The goal greatly lifted Dinamo Riga’s awareness with passes and defensive patterns working with ease. Edgars Masaļskis was having a fine night in goal, but thanks to a staunch defense he did not have too much asked of him.

Dinamo Riga fans had to wait until the final minute to know the result was beyond doubt, with SKA forced to pull their goalie in a desperation move. For the third time in four games, Dinamo Riga took full advantage with Martin Kariya sending the puck into the back of an empty net.

Saturday’s home game is already sold out with Sunday’s game still up in the air. If Dinamo Riga win this evening and again on Saturday their will be no need for Sunday’s game. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]Riga.

As can be expected come playoff time, the intensity lifted, matching what had been on show in Vancouver, something that obviously played into Dinamo Riga’s hands, seeing that so many of their squad had been involved in Olympic campaigns.

The defense of both teams was exemplary in the opening stages, with the opening goal only coming when SKA committed the cardinal sin of hockey. On a power play late in the opening period, SKA let down their guard, only for Miķelis Rēdlihs to intercept the puck to score the short-handed goal.

The goal greatly lifted Dinamo Riga’s awareness with passes and defensive patterns working with ease. Edgars Masaļskis was having a fine night in goal, but thanks to a staunch defense he did not have too much asked of him.

Dinamo Riga fans had to wait until the final minute to know the result was beyond doubt, with SKA forced to pull their goalie in a desperation move. For the third time in four games, Dinamo Riga took full advantage with Martin Kariya sending the puck into the back of an empty net.

Saturday’s home game is already sold out with Sunday’s game still up in the air. If Dinamo Riga win this evening and again on Saturday their will be no need for Sunday’s game. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]Riga.

As can be expected come playoff time, the intensity lifted, matching what had been on show in Vancouver, something that obviously played into Dinamo Riga’s hands, seeing that so many of their squad had been involved in Olympic campaigns.

The defense of both teams was exemplary in the opening stages, with the opening goal only coming when SKA committed the cardinal sin of hockey. On a power play late in the opening period, SKA let down their guard, only for Miķelis Rēdlihs to intercept the puck to score the short-handed goal.

The goal greatly lifted Dinamo Riga’s awareness with passes and defensive patterns working with ease. Edgars Masaļskis was having a fine night in goal, but thanks to a staunch defense he did not have too much asked of him.

Dinamo Riga fans had to wait until the final minute to know the result was beyond doubt, with SKA forced to pull their goalie in a desperation move. For the third time in four games, Dinamo Riga took full advantage with Martin Kariya sending the puck into the back of an empty net.

Saturday’s home game is already sold out with Sunday’s game still up in the air. If Dinamo Riga win this evening and again on Saturday their will be no need for Sunday’s game. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]Riga.

As can be expected come playoff time, the intensity lifted, matching what had been on show in Vancouver, something that obviously played into Dinamo Riga’s hands, seeing that so many of their squad had been involved in Olympic campaigns.

The defense of both teams was exemplary in the opening stages, with the opening goal only coming when SKA committed the cardinal sin of hockey. On a power play late in the opening period, SKA let down their guard, only for Miķelis Rēdlihs to intercept the puck to score the short-handed goal.

The goal greatly lifted Dinamo Riga’s awareness with passes and defensive patterns working with ease. Edgars Masaļskis was having a fine night in goal, but thanks to a staunch defense he did not have too much asked of him.

Dinamo Riga fans had to wait until the final minute to know the result was beyond doubt, with SKA forced to pull their goalie in a desperation move. For the third time in four games, Dinamo Riga took full advantage with Martin Kariya sending the puck into the back of an empty net.

Saturday’s home game is already sold out with Sunday’s game still up in the air. If Dinamo Riga win this evening and again on Saturday their will be no need for Sunday’s game. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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