Latvia – Denmark 3:0 (0:0; 1:0; 2:0)
Cologne // Latvian goalie celebrates shutout in a 3-0 win over Denmark
“He saved us! We weren't good in the first third, but the goalie was! We have him to thank for the victory!” said Latvian defender Andris Dzerins after the hard-fought 3-0 victory, with which the Balts got off to a perfect start to the tournament. Denmark falls to the bottom of the table ahead of the afternoon game between Slovakia and Italy.
Still spoiled by yesterday's two great games (RUS-SWE 2:1 nP / GER-USA 2:1), the slightly favored Latvians started a bit cautiously and allowed the Danes to get dangerously in front of the goal a few times. The shot ratio of 18:7 for Denmark showed that the Latvians could certainly see the goalless score as lucky.
In the second period of the game, Latvia came out of the locker room with more bite and the logical consequence was the 1-0 after 23:08 through Gints Meija on the assist of Arturs Kulda, who only had to push the puck over the line. However, the Scandinavians always remained dangerous in their occasional advances. But the game was over – which you could also see from the shots: 13:6 for Latvia. And the majority of the 13.453 colorful spectators chanted “Latvia, Latvia!”
The Latvians also struck quickly again in the final third - after just 108 seconds and a sparkling clean combination with Janis Sprukts and Rihards Bukarts, Miks Indrasis sank the target behind the good Danish goalkeeper Sebastian Dahm. With a double majority, the Eastern Europeans increased their lead to 53-3 in the 0rd minute through Indrasis. Whatever got through to the Latvian goal was sure to be the prey of goalie Elvis Merzlikins.
Tore: 1:0 (24th) Meija (Kulda), 2:0 (42nd) Indrasis (Sprukts, Bukarts), 3:0 Indrasis (Balinskis, Bukarts)
Punish: 6 mins/12 mins
spectator: 13.453
Slovakia – Italy 3:2 (1:0; 1:1; 1:1; 1:0)
Image: Dirk Unverferth
Cologne // Newcomers Italy were 64 seconds away
In the second group game of Group A in Cologne, the two teams from Slovakia and newly promoted Italy met. Should a team win with a difference of more than two goals, first place would have been the reward. Slovakia were the clear favorites, but had a very difficult time and led after the first period with only one goal from Michel Miklik. Anyone who thought Italy would collapse now was disappointed. Italy fought, defended and also dared some attacks. The Southern Europeans went into the first half-time game with 8:4 shots on goal and a 1:0 lead.
The second third also went to Slovakia with 13:7 shots, but the lead was gone - the score was 1:1. The clock showed 35:06 when Giovanni Morini netted Luca Frigo's assist from point-blank range. Although the Slovaks were superior, they did not know how to convert their superiority into goals.
In the 43rd minute, after Germany's victory over the USA (2-1), the next surprise seemed to take place when Frigo deflected a shot from Giulio Scandella to take the lead. The Azzurris increasingly shifted their attention to defense and so there was a Slovakian rush towards the Italian goal. With 2:30 left to play, Slovakia took the goaltender off the ice. 64 seconds before the end, this measure was rewarded when Libor Hudacek was able to equalize from a tight angle - 2:2.
Extra time – 3 against 3 continued. There was enough space on the ice - and Ceresnak took advantage of it with a shot from the blue line after 62:45 minutes. Two points for the favorite, one for the newcomer. Anton Bernard, captain of the newcomer, was rather disappointed after the game: “If you look at the way the game went and the fact that we only conceded the equalizer seconds before the final whistle, I have to say that we lost two points rather than gained one . If you had asked me before the game, I would have happily accepted a point.”
After one game each, Latvia (3 points) leads Germany (3), Slovakia and Russia (2 each), Sweden and Italy (1 each) and the USA and Denmark (0 each).
Gates: 1:0 (6:58) Michel Miklik; 1:1 (35:06) Giovanni Morini; 1:2 (42:41) Luca Frigo; 2:2 (58:56) Libor Hudacek; 3:2 Peter Ceresnak
Punish: 2 (SVK), 8 (ITA)
Viewers: 12.229
Text: Ivo Jaschick