Group B: The Latvians defeated the Czech hockey players and Norway at the WC and have their second win

Update: 17.05.2023 18:36

Riga (Latvia) – The hockey players of Latvia followed up the World Championship in the basic group B with Monday’s overtime win over the Czech team and beat Norway 2:1 today in Riga. The home team claimed their second success of the tournament thanks to two goals in the second period in 39 seconds, the opponent could only reduce. The winning goal was scored by forward Toms Andersons in the 24th minute.

Already in the fourth minute, Oldena got in front of the home goalkeeper Šilovs, but he was unable to overcome him. A series of power-ups followed, but none of the opponents took advantage of the numerical advantage. Just before the break, Valkvae Olsen was finishing a separate renumbering of three to two, Šilovs caught him and dealt with Berg-Paulsen’s subsequent backhand stop.

At the beginning of the second period, he didn’t convert Abols’ huge chance, but he didn’t have to be sad for long. Berg-Paulsen went to the penalty bench a moment later, and when it seemed that he would serve the full two minutes, his punishment was shortened by three seconds by the active Abols. Only a short time later, Keninš charged Andersons with a pass from one circle to the other and the latter made it 2:0 with a shot from the first.

In the middle of the match, the Latvians had a unique opportunity to almost definitively decide the match, but the opposite was true. They wasted a five-on-three power play lasting 102 seconds, and the moment when the number of players on the ice equalized was reduced in the 35th minute by Hoff, who took it upon himself to end the game in a two-on-one renumbering and shot past Šilovs.

After a cautious start to the third period, Nörstebö could equalise, the home team defended with some luck. The Norwegians then had a power play at their disposal, but goalkeeper Haukeland immediately sent the puck into the audience while trying to pass, so it was played four on four. The Latvians used the space on the ice when they prepared a chance for Balinskis, but he did not beat Haukeland face to face.

The end of the match offered dramatic moments. Norwegians were needlessly weakened in the 57th minute by fouling Martinsen. In the power play, Daugavinš shot very well without preparation, but Haukeland kept the Norwegians’ chances of a turnaround. However, exactly after 58 minutes had been played, home team Zile also committed a foul against the rules. Norway called a time-out and subsequently played without a goalkeeper. Despite the final pressure and 71 seconds of a six-on-four power play, the Northerners did not change the score.

Group B (Riga)

Latvia – Norway 2:1 (0:0, 2:1, 0:0)

Goals and assists: 24. Abols (Balcers, Daugavinš), 24. Andersons (Keninš) – 35. Hoff (H. Salsten). Referees: Bloski (Kan.), Schrader (Germany) – Davis (USA), Niittylä (Fin.). Exclusion: 7:8. Usage: 1:0. Viewers: 6872.

Assemblies:

Latvia: Shilov – Balinskis, Zile, Mamčić, Jaks, Chukste, Freiberg, Cibulskis – Daugavinš, Abol, Balcers – Dzierkals, Batna, Roberts Bukarts – Keninš, Smirnovs, Anderson – Indrašis, Djerinš, Rihards Bukarts – Krastenbergs. Coach: Vitolinš.

Norway: Haukeland – Nörstebö, Lilleberg, Johannesen, Engeland Andersen, Krogdahl, Kasastul, Hansen – Valkvae Olsen, Vikingstad, Berg-Paulsen – Olden, Trettenes, Martinsen – E. Salsten, KA Olimb, Haga – Vesterheim, H. Salsten, Hoff. Coach: T. Johansson.

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