“They went after us in the third period. We had to defend a lot and try to get the pucks out of the zone. The defenders as well as the attackers did a great job, blocking the missiles and covering the hits. That was important, that’s why we won,” Merzlikins said. Latvian shots in the final twenty minutes.
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The Latvians lost to the USA and Finland at the tournament, and their opponent’s indiscipline made it easier for them to enter the match against Norway. The Northerners fouled in the offensive zone three times in the first period, but Latvia was unable to take advantage of any numerical advantage.
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However, the game’s advantage helped them to the goal, in the 15th minute, Captain Abols opened the score after Kenins’ pass. “It was one of the few events we played fast. Ronny (Kenins) found me with a great pass and I just had to have an ice hockey stick and be ready to score,” said Rodrigo Abols. Shortly after the third power jump, however, the Latvians erred in substitution and Rosseli Olsen equalized after a quick counterattack.
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Shortly after the third power jump, however, the Latvians erred in substitution and Rosseli Olsen equalized after a quick counterattack.
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Even in the second part, the Norwegians had a problem with discipline and the opponent took advantage of it. In the 27th minute, Hoff received a penalty until the end of the match, at the same time Trettenes was eliminated and Latvia used a power play of five to three thanks to a hard and accurate shot by Yeliseyev. He failed to score in the continuing classic advantage, but after the end of the power play, the pressure continued and Roberts Bukarts added Latvia’s third goal.
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The hockey players of Norway fought for more points with LatviaPhoto: Vesa Moilanen, CTK / AP
Norway lowered in the 48th minute, when Krogdahl took advantage of the opponent’s passivity in a signaled numerical advantage. Subsequently, coach Thoresen’s charges formed a shooting advantage, but they did not beat the Columbus goalkeeper for the third time in the power play or in the final power play. Norway thus has two points in Group B, Latvia three.
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“It was hard for us to return to the match. But the boys worked really hard in the third period. But we couldn’t score two goals, we only scored once, so we lost,” said Norwegian coach Petter Thoresen. “It’s a bit frustrating that we lost. It was a balanced match, but a failed five-minute match in the second period was deadly for us. In the third part, however, we had a chance to score two or three goals,” added forward Andreas Martinsen.
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Another Latvian opponent will be the Czech national team on Thursday.
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| Ice Hockey World Championship in Finland: |
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| Group B (Tampere): |
| Latvia – Norway 3: 2 (1: 1, 2: 0, 0: 1) |
| Goals and recordings: 15. Abols (Keninš, Balcers), 28. Jelisejevs (Balcers, Jaks), 33. Roberts Bukarts (Sotnieks, Smons) – 19. Rosseli Olsen (Rokseth, Hoff), 48. Krogdahl (Nörstebö, K. Olimb). Judges: Vikman (FIN), Frandsen – Kroyer (both Denmark), Constantineau (Fr.). Penalty: 2: 5, plus Hoff (Norway) 5 min. and until the end of the match. Utilization: 1: 0. Attendance: 8510. |
| Lotyšsko: Merzlikins – Jak, Zile, Kulda, Mamčics, Bergmanis, Čukste, Sotnieks, Smons – Balzers, Abols, Kenins – Krastenbergs, Džerins, Rihards Bucharts – Marenis, Batna, Roberts Bukarts – Dzierkals, Smirnovs, Jelisejev. Trainer: Harry Vitolins. |
| Norway: Haukeland – Johannesen, Lilleberg, Krogdahl, Nörstebö, Rokseth, Klavestad, Kasastul – K. Olimb, M. Olimb, Rosseli Olsen – Röymark, Martinsen, Haga – Trettenes, Jakobsson, Hoff – Brekke Henriksen, Salsten, Rönnild – Geheb. Coach: Petter Thoresen. |
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