Norwegian hockey team Photo: IIHF
The absence of the Latvian hockey team fans in Friday’s match was in Norway’s favor, the opponent’s defender Erland Lesunds believes. It has already been reported that the Latvian national hockey team on Friday in the fifth game of the 2021 World Championship Group B in the Arena Riga with a result of 3: 4 (2: 1, 0: 1, 1: 1, 0: 0, 0: 1) in the post-match series lost to Norway. The games are still taking place at empty stands this week.
“Housewives usually get a lot of support from their fans, but this time there was no such opportunity. We knew that Latvian fans were very loud at home, so their absence was good for us this time, ”Lesunds said at the post-match press conference.
For both teams, this was an important game in the fight for the quarterfinals. The Norwegians have three points until the coveted fourth place, which is taken by Latvia. “It simply came to our notice then. We are aware that we need to score more points. We are in a situation where we have to win a couple more games, ”Lesunds emphasized.
The Norwegian team scored in the fourth minute in the first period and in the second two minutes. “If you look at the games we have played, it can be concluded that at the beginning of each period we go out on the ice in a very good mood. We are one of those teams that takes advantage of opportunities when the opponent is asleep. This is how we have played almost throughout the tournament, ”explained Norwegian striker Matthias Emilio Petersen.
He also noted that each game in this championship is different and different from each other. “We are trying to improve our attack while keeping our game defensive. Latvia is a good team that has managed to win Canada in this tournament. In the first period, we may have been a little sleepy, but in the end everything came together, ”said Pecheshen.
In subgroup B, Finland takes the first place with ten points in four games, followed by Germany and the USA with nine points. Latvia finishes the first four with eight points in five dues, but Kazakhstan, Canada and Norway continue with seven, six and five points. The tournament table is closed by Italy, which has been left behind in four games.
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