This was a first for Belarus, something they had never accomplished in 15 years at the world championships.
But beating the United States, 5-2, on Thursday didn’t just mark the Belarusians’ first-ever triumph over Team USA at the IIHF World Championship. It also moved them into first place in Group B with 10 points, one ahead of both the U.S. and Russia.
The Americans, who were bidding for their first four-game winning streak to start the worlds since 1939, had won all five previous meetings with Belarus at the worlds.
Devils' prospect Artur Gavrus scored his second goal of the tournament, picking up his fourth point (2g-2a) in as many games and helping to spark the underdogs to their third win.