OMSK, Russia — Dinamo Riga have assured themselves a place in the playoffs with a 5-3 away win over Avangard.

The win all but assured their place in the play-offs, which was confirmed later in the evening when Torpedo suffered a 4-1 defeat at home at the hands of Sibir. Torpedo were the only team that could overtake Dinamo Riga but needed to win their three remaining games. The win also continues a [private_supervisor]fine 2010 for Dinamo Riga who now hold the strongest record in the New Year.

After a long break for the Olympics, it was Dinamo Riga who got proceedings back underway for the final three round-robin matches. Unlike most teams who have had most of their players training with little game time of late, Dinamo Riga took full advantage of having had the majority of the squad playing at a higher level in Vancouver.

This played dividends early with Lauris Darzinš starting proceedings for the guests in just the second minute, hooking up with Martin Kariya to claim the first goal of the night. Avangard struck back with one of their own midway through the period, before pushing further ahead in the 14th, leaving Dinamo Riga to play catch up hockey. And catch up they did, with Martins Karsums completing a high-scoring period by adding his name to the score-sheet in the 19th minute.

Little could divide the two teams in the second period, with neither team able to create enough pressure on goal, seeing the period pass with little action. For a while the final period was looking like following in a similar fashion.

With nearly eight minutes up in the third period, Dinamo Riga were delivered a blow when the home side added their third to once again go ahead. Given their lack of creativity on offense since the end of the first period, their was little to suggest Dinamo Riga would be able to turn things around in the final period. However, like he has all season with his team in need, Marcel Hossa lifted the tempo, tying the game up once again with under three minutes remaining, with thoughts beginning to turn to over-time. However, Hossa would have little to do with it, following up with his 34th goal of the season less than 2 minutes later.

This now put the onus back on Omsk who were staring down the barrel of defeat. Out of desperation they pulled their goalie, but as is so often the case, the move backfired with Janis Sprukts taking advantage of an empty goal to further push out the score.

Dinamo Riga can now breath a little easier going into Friday’s game against one the leagues foremost franchises, Baris Ak Bars. The victory has also sent a clear warning out to the rest of the teams in the playoffs that Dinamo Riga should not be taken likely come playoff time. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]fine 2010 for Dinamo Riga who now hold the strongest record in the New Year.

After a long break for the Olympics, it was Dinamo Riga who got proceedings back underway for the final three round-robin matches. Unlike most teams who have had most of their players training with little game time of late, Dinamo Riga took full advantage of having had the majority of the squad playing at a higher level in Vancouver.

This played dividends early with Lauris Darzinš starting proceedings for the guests in just the second minute, hooking up with Martin Kariya to claim the first goal of the night. Avangard struck back with one of their own midway through the period, before pushing further ahead in the 14th, leaving Dinamo Riga to play catch up hockey. And catch up they did, with Martins Karsums completing a high-scoring period by adding his name to the score-sheet in the 19th minute.

Little could divide the two teams in the second period, with neither team able to create enough pressure on goal, seeing the period pass with little action. For a while the final period was looking like following in a similar fashion.

With nearly eight minutes up in the third period, Dinamo Riga were delivered a blow when the home side added their third to once again go ahead. Given their lack of creativity on offense since the end of the first period, their was little to suggest Dinamo Riga would be able to turn things around in the final period. However, like he has all season with his team in need, Marcel Hossa lifted the tempo, tying the game up once again with under three minutes remaining, with thoughts beginning to turn to over-time. However, Hossa would have little to do with it, following up with his 34th goal of the season less than 2 minutes later.

This now put the onus back on Omsk who were staring down the barrel of defeat. Out of desperation they pulled their goalie, but as is so often the case, the move backfired with Janis Sprukts taking advantage of an empty goal to further push out the score.

Dinamo Riga can now breath a little easier going into Friday’s game against one the leagues foremost franchises, Baris Ak Bars. The victory has also sent a clear warning out to the rest of the teams in the playoffs that Dinamo Riga should not be taken likely come playoff time. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]fine 2010 for Dinamo Riga who now hold the strongest record in the New Year.

After a long break for the Olympics, it was Dinamo Riga who got proceedings back underway for the final three round-robin matches. Unlike most teams who have had most of their players training with little game time of late, Dinamo Riga took full advantage of having had the majority of the squad playing at a higher level in Vancouver.

This played dividends early with Lauris Darzinš starting proceedings for the guests in just the second minute, hooking up with Martin Kariya to claim the first goal of the night. Avangard struck back with one of their own midway through the period, before pushing further ahead in the 14th, leaving Dinamo Riga to play catch up hockey. And catch up they did, with Martins Karsums completing a high-scoring period by adding his name to the score-sheet in the 19th minute.

Little could divide the two teams in the second period, with neither team able to create enough pressure on goal, seeing the period pass with little action. For a while the final period was looking like following in a similar fashion.

With nearly eight minutes up in the third period, Dinamo Riga were delivered a blow when the home side added their third to once again go ahead. Given their lack of creativity on offense since the end of the first period, their was little to suggest Dinamo Riga would be able to turn things around in the final period. However, like he has all season with his team in need, Marcel Hossa lifted the tempo, tying the game up once again with under three minutes remaining, with thoughts beginning to turn to over-time. However, Hossa would have little to do with it, following up with his 34th goal of the season less than 2 minutes later.

This now put the onus back on Omsk who were staring down the barrel of defeat. Out of desperation they pulled their goalie, but as is so often the case, the move backfired with Janis Sprukts taking advantage of an empty goal to further push out the score.

Dinamo Riga can now breath a little easier going into Friday’s game against one the leagues foremost franchises, Baris Ak Bars. The victory has also sent a clear warning out to the rest of the teams in the playoffs that Dinamo Riga should not be taken likely come playoff time. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]fine 2010 for Dinamo Riga who now hold the strongest record in the New Year.

After a long break for the Olympics, it was Dinamo Riga who got proceedings back underway for the final three round-robin matches. Unlike most teams who have had most of their players training with little game time of late, Dinamo Riga took full advantage of having had the majority of the squad playing at a higher level in Vancouver.

This played dividends early with Lauris Darzinš starting proceedings for the guests in just the second minute, hooking up with Martin Kariya to claim the first goal of the night. Avangard struck back with one of their own midway through the period, before pushing further ahead in the 14th, leaving Dinamo Riga to play catch up hockey. And catch up they did, with Martins Karsums completing a high-scoring period by adding his name to the score-sheet in the 19th minute.

Little could divide the two teams in the second period, with neither team able to create enough pressure on goal, seeing the period pass with little action. For a while the final period was looking like following in a similar fashion.

With nearly eight minutes up in the third period, Dinamo Riga were delivered a blow when the home side added their third to once again go ahead. Given their lack of creativity on offense since the end of the first period, their was little to suggest Dinamo Riga would be able to turn things around in the final period. However, like he has all season with his team in need, Marcel Hossa lifted the tempo, tying the game up once again with under three minutes remaining, with thoughts beginning to turn to over-time. However, Hossa would have little to do with it, following up with his 34th goal of the season less than 2 minutes later.

This now put the onus back on Omsk who were staring down the barrel of defeat. Out of desperation they pulled their goalie, but as is so often the case, the move backfired with Janis Sprukts taking advantage of an empty goal to further push out the score.

Dinamo Riga can now breath a little easier going into Friday’s game against one the leagues foremost franchises, Baris Ak Bars. The victory has also sent a clear warning out to the rest of the teams in the playoffs that Dinamo Riga should not be taken likely come playoff time.[/private_subscription 1 year]

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