Group B: Kazakhstan defeated Norway after raids, Switzerland – Slovenia 7:0

Update: 13.05.2023 18:56

Riga (Latvia) – Hockey players of Kazakhstan defeated Norway 4:3 in the match of the basic group B of the World Cup after separate raids. In the first appearance of both teams at the tournament, the northerners squandered a two-goal lead in Riga. With the contribution of two goals from striker Michael Haga, they led 2:0 and 3:1, but it was still not enough for them to win. Kazakh captain Roman Starchenko scored the winning goal in the sixth series of raids. Switzerland beat newcomer Slovenia 7-0. Strikers Denis Malgin (2+1) and Gaëtan Haas (0+3) shone in Riga with three points, Leonardo Genoni picked up a clean sheet. Four times the winners prevailed in overtime.

The Norwegians had an excellent start to the game. Halfway through the first period, they already had a two-goal advantage on their side. In the fifth minute, Trettenes only headed into the goal structure, but in the eighth minute he opened the scoring with his first goal of the day, Haga, and Björgvik Holm increased the score 78 seconds later. But the opponent was able to respond when Muchametov successfully ended the three-to-two renumbering with a shot without preparation.

The Northerners were significantly more active in terms of shooting in the second half as well, and it seemed that they had the match under control after the Hague’s second power play of the day in the 22nd minute. The opposite was true. That was all for today from their side. Eirik Salsten and Vikingstad did not take advantage of further chances, while Orechov took advantage of a power play in the 36th minute and reduced the score. Michajlis could have equalized before the break, but he failed.

The Kazakhs sensed a chance and in the 52nd minute punished the opponent’s indiscipline again – Michajlis got the hang of it and equalized. When the Norwegians themselves did not use the numerical advantage right away, the decision was made in the setup. The Norwegians won the five-minute overtime with shots between the posts 4:0, but they did not score the desired winning goal. Although Olden was able to respond to Starčenk’s first successful attempt from the third series in the raids, he was unable to do so later in the sixth series.

The Slovenians kept pace until the opening goal. The goalless score was changed at the end of the 13th minute by Malgin, who took advantage of the first numerical advantage in the game with a shot from the first after 11 seconds and quickly returned the sinner Tičar to the game.

“It was balanced until the first power play. Then I had the feeling that the level of our game dropped a bit,” Slovenian striker Nik Simšič told the official website of the tournament. “We played well at times, we had chances, but we have to work on making better use of them,” he added.

Only 33 seconds later, Moser hung up and ensured peace in the ranks of the highly favored Swiss. Simčič could decrease, Haas could increase, but the situation did not change until the first break. “We were ready from the very beginning and we didn’t stop playing until it was over,” boasted the experienced Swiss striker Andres Ambühl.

Urbas failed to enter the second half, the Slovenian goalkeeper Krošelj, who has played for extra-league Mlada Boleslav for the last five seasons, excelled at Bertschy and Thürkauf’s chances. The Slovenians did not use the power play, the Swiss, on the contrary, punished them and the star striker and captain of the team Niederreiter gave them a three-goal lead in the 33rd minute.

The third period turned into a concert by the Swiss. At the end of the 42nd minute, Malgin took advantage of another numerical advantage, less than two minutes later Thürkauf struck from another power play. Miranda added the sixth goal halfway through the final act, and Bertschy completed Slovenia’s debacle. Genoni kept a clean sheet thanks to 17 hits.

“We played good power plays today. We have great players for that and we tried to pass the puck quickly, but I think it could be a little better. But we are still playing and getting to know each other,” said Malgin.

“We knew they had excellent power plays. And they also punished us in them. We have to be more careful, especially with fouls in the offensive zone,” emphasized Slovenian captain Jan Urbas.