LAT 1:4 RUS | Latvia - Russia (World Championship)

World Championship

France2 – Norway	5:4 (2:1 after SO)	\|	Latvia – Russia	1:4 (end)	\|	Denmark – Czech Republic	4:3 (1:0 after SO)
Belarus – Germany2	5:2 (end)	\|	Slovakia2 – Italy veterans	4:1 (end)	\|	Switzerland – Kazakhstan	6:2 (end)

final

Latvia

1:4 (1:3, 0:1, 0:0)

Russia

Saturday 17.05.2014, 11:45 • Minsk Arena, Minsk • World Championship

		Welcome. Game starts at 11:45.
		Good morning and welcome to this 2014 IIHF World Championship Group B match between Latvia and Russia. Both teams have had excellent starts to the tournament, and we should be in for an entertaining affair.
		Latvia are one of those teams who aren't quite a superpower, but are most certainly better than average. They can cause real problems for any opponent, as we have already seen in these championships. Russia on the other hand are the favourites at any tournament, and they're looking to make up for their recent disappointments.
		This is how Group B looks before today's games get underway. 1. RUS W4 L0 GS 22 GA 5 PTS 12 2. LAT W3 L1 GS 16 GA 14 PTS 9 3. FIN W3 L2 GS 13 GA 9 PTS 8 4. USA W3 L2 GS 19 GA 18 PTS 8 5. BLR W2 L2 GS 9 GA 12 PTS 6 6. GER W2 L2 GS 7 GA 10 PTS 5 7. SUI W1 L4 GS 10 GA 17 PTS 4 8. KAZ W0 L5 GS 11 GA 22 PTS 2
		The Latvians have started brilliantly, beating Finland 3-2, Kazakhstan 5-4, the USA 6-5 and only losing once to Germany 3-2. No one has started better than Russia however as they are yet to drop a point, defeating Switzerland 5-0, Finland 4-2, the Americans 6-1 and the Kazakhs 7-2.
		Starting lineups: Latvia: Gudlevskis (Masalskis)- Galvins, Pujacs, Vasiljevs, Nizvijs, Cipulis- Lavins, Sotnieks, Daugavins, Kenins, M Redlihs- Jaks, Stals, Berzins, Girgensons, Indrasis- J Redlihs, M Jass, Dzerins, Meija, K Jass Russia: Bobrovskiy (Vasilevskiy)- Chudinov, Denisov, Ovechkin, Tikhonov, Plotnikov- Kutuzov, Medvedev, Kulyomin, Shirokov, Anisimov- Belov, Yakovlev, Kalinin, Zaripov- Burmistrov, Dadonov, Kuznetsov Referees: Brueggemann, Rantala, Sidorenko, Carnathan, Kilian, Lederer.
		The teams are now out on to the ice and it's time for the opening faceoff!
	00:01	Game started.
	00:18	Plotnikov! Latvia make a shocking early mistake in their own zone, Sergey Plotnikov is all alone on the slot but Kristers Gudlevskis makes a wonderful save! He had to be alert there!
	01:02	Miks Indrasis bursts his way through the heart of the Russian defence, but the puck gets away from him and rolls into Sergey Bobrovskiy
	02:19	This game has started at a seriously high pace, both teams are taking it to each other with every play!
	03:07	Russia commit the first icing of the day
	03:27	And now the Russians drift offside. This game will most probably be their stiffest task as yet, Latvia have a lot of confidence
	03:36	Juris Stals wrists in from the left flank, but Sergey Bobrovskiy comfortably sweeps it up into his glove. And off the following faceoff draw Bobrovskiy does well to kick wide a powerful slapshot!
	04:10	Juris Stals now for tripping though has picked up the first penalty, giving Russia the chance to put some real pressure on
	05:10	Ovechkin! Alexander Ovechkin exactly on the right faceoff circle slaps as hard as he can, but Kristers Gudlevskis makes a fantastic reaction save to deny him!
	05:29	Now Ovechkin tries his luck from the blue line, but the netminder sees it all the way and this time holds on!
	06:10	That wasn't easy to defend against for Latvia but they are now back to full strength
	06:37	Latvia move offside with just under seven minutes played. They'll be pleased that so far they're managing to hold the on fire Russians off
	07:30	Goal for Team Latvia! For the first time in the tournament the Russians have fallen behind! MIKS INDRASIS between the circles with a heavy slapper beats Sergey Bobrovskiy glove side! It's 1-0! Assists- Juris Stals
	08:19	Sergey Shirokov on the right of the crease flashes the puck right across the face of goal! Russia will want to strike back quickly
	10:20	Latvia are doing a good job of keeping their opponents out of their zone, Russia can't get set up at all as yet
	10:55	Goal for Team Russia! Just as I say that the Latvians poorly give away the puck and pay the full price! Alexander Ovechkin strips his opponent of the puck, his deflected pass feeds VIKTOR TIKHONOV on the left flank who wrists home into the far corner! It's 1-1!
	11:11	Aleksandrs Nizivijs with traffic in front of him takes on a wrist shot, but it's right into Sergey Bobrovskiy's glove who freezes. Latvia will be a little bit deflated to have conceded so quickly after going ahead
	11:31	Anisimov! How didn't he score! Found open at the right of the crease the net is practically empty, but Artyom Anisimov takes too long and hits only the side netting!
	11:42	The Latvians are starting to come under serious pressure and they've given away another powerplay, Maris Jass for tripping has been penalised
	13:32	Anisimov! The big forward has yet another golden chance, but he wrists wide of the left hand post when practically clean through!
	13:42	Latvia to their relief are back at full strength
	14:27	Dadonov! Evgeniy Dadonov has two bites of the cherry on his knees on the doorstep, but Kristers Gudlevskis gets his angles right and freezes!
	15:05	Alexander Ovechkin skating in from behind the net dishes to Viktor Tikhonov, but he one times it just wide of the net!
	15:23	Goal for Team Russia! They're just starting to motor! Evgeniy Medvedev's monstrous slapper causes mayhem on the crease, Kristers Gudlevskis doesn't have a clue where it is and on the left hand post SERGEY SHIROKOV pokes it into the net! It's 2-1! Assists- Evgeniy Medvedev and Viktor Tikhonov
	17:16	Rodrigo Lavins for hooking has now been punished giving the Russians another powerplay! Latvia need to stay calm otherwise they could get blown away
	17:37	Medevdev! Evgeniy Medvedev is teed up from distance and the goalkeeper just manages to push it out of danger!
	18:12	Goal for Team Russia! The Russians are at their lethal best! A flowing move finds VIKTOR TIKHONOV open at the left of the crease and he one times the puck high into the net past the goalkeeper! Powerplay goal and it's 3-1! Assists- Sergey Plotnikov and Alexander Ovechkin
	18:51	That Latvian goal really awoke the Russians and no one can compete with them when they're in this mood!
	19:01	A dangerous looking pass across the Russian crease does cause a brief moment of panic but the defenders hack it clear!
	19:17	Kulyomin! A spinning Nikolay Kulyomin backhands the puck into Kristers Gudlevskis' chest from the doorstep!
	19:25	Latvia do have a powerplay chance out of nothing to get back into the game, Danis Zaripov has been called for interference
	19:53	With Latvia poised to start the second period on the powerplay a breathless first stanza is coming to its end
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Statistics after the opening period of play- Shots on target- 15-7 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 12-6 Penalty minutes- 6-2
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:01	The second period has got started with Latvia on the powerplay for a further 01:25
	20:33	Indrasis! Miks Indrasis closing in on the crease on the right cracks a powerful wrister wide of the near post!
	21:25	Latvia didn't have a lot of time to get something going and Russia are back to full strength
	21:25	Danis Zaripov from an impossible angle to the right of the net wrists in, but it flies wide and into the boards!
	22:18	Kalinin! Sergey Kalinin twice in a row has brilliant chances to extend Russia's lead, but on both occasions Kristers Gudlevskis completely stones him!
	23:22	Sergey Plotnikov hanging back at the blue line takes aim, but whacks the puck high and wide!
	23:55	Ovechkin! Alexander Ovechkin twisting in and out of his opponents on the left faceoff circle shoots, but Gudlevskis who got in a right mess just about saves the situation!
	24:55	Dzerins! Great chance there for Latvia to get back into things! Andris Dzerins is set up at the right hand post, he takes a poke but Sergey Bobrovskiy gets the better of him!
	25:55	Evgeniy Dadonov simply out muscling his opponents charging down on the left just can't find enough room to squeeze in an attempt from point blank range!
	26:49	Ronalds Kenins skating with pace down the left flank takes the shot on early looking for the far corner, but it travels far wide and into the boards
	27:11	Herberts Vasiljevs tests Sergey Bobrovskiy's glove skating in on the right, but the Russian is on his game
	28:04	Goal for Team Russia! A very lengthy attack is finished off perfectly as off a wrister from the point the puck pops out to SERGEY KALININ who easily slides it past the netminder! It's 4-1! Assists- Alexander Kutuzov
	28:51	Alexander Burmistrov has simply been floored by Zemgus Girgensons! And the Latvian for that has received a 5+20 penalty, things are going from bad to worse for Latvia!
	29:22	Evgeniy Medvedev winds up with traffic in front of him, but Kristers Gudlevskis crouching still gathers and freezes. As it's a five minute powerplay even if the Russians score quickly, it will carry on for the full five minutes!
	30:11	Plotnikov! Sergey Plotnikov completely off balance misses the net when he was almost too close to miss!
	31:09	Heavy Russian pressure in the zone finishes with Maxim Chudinov slapping right down Kristers Gudlevskis' throat from the point! Latvia are pinned inside their own zone!
	32:15	Icing is committed by Russia with already under two minutes remaining in this extended powerplay
	32:56	Alexander Ovechkin is picked out lurking on the left faceoff circle but the puck just gets away from him at the vital moment!
	33:51	Rather surprisingly the Russians couldn't even score one during those five minutes and their opponents are back at full strength
	34:01	Kuznetsov! The bobbling puck rolls to Evgeniy Kuznetsov on the slot, but he contrives to slap high and wide! He should be scoring on those kinds of chances!
	34:27	The struggling Latvians commit icing
	34:29	Right off the faceoff draw Sergey Plotnikov takes up the puck, looks to go upstairs but Kristers Gudlevskis is alert!
	35:38	Shirokov! Latvia again turn over the puck just outside their own zone, it falls to Sergey Shirokov sprinting down the right but Gudlevskis is equal to his effort! The Latvian goaltender has looked good tonight despite already conceding four!
	37:13	Alexander Ovechkin cutting in from behind the net picks out Danis Zaripov on the doorstep, he shoots immediately but only into Gudlevskis' pads!
	38:01	Evgeniy Kuznetsov wrists inches over the bar with his back to goal from the high slot! He did well to get a shot away there!
	38:41	Redlihs! Finally Sergey Bobrovskiy has something to do as Mikelis Redlihs closing down on the slot looks to go high into the left hand corner, but Bobrovskiy beats it away!
	39:54	Latvia commit icing with only a few seconds remaining in the second period. The Russians are simply on fantastic form! Almost the whole period has been spent in the Latvian zone!
	39:59	Just before the buzzer goes off Maxim Chudinov off the faceoff draw takes a slapper on, but it's right into the midriff of Kristers Gudlevskis
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Statistics after the first two periods- Shots on target- 32-11 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 28-10 Penalty minutes- 31-2
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:01	The third and vital period is go! Russia despite leading 4-1 will want to carry on playing in their aggressive manner
	40:18	Sergey Bobrovskiy scoops up a low pass across the slot from the left to make his first save of the stanza
	40:49	Kenins! Finding a bit of space for himself at the high slot Ronalds Kenins winds up, and Bobrovskiy makes an excellent pad save!
	42:42	Latvia have started the period promisingly, for the first time in a long time they're able to pin the Russians deep in their own zone
	43:08	Alexander Ovechkin on a sharp Russian counterattack rips the puck wide of the net when closing down on the crease! He really wants to score today!
	43:31	Anisimov! Artyom Anismov is fed skating through one on one, but under pressure from a covering defender he loses control of it and crashes into the netminder!
	44:02	Anisimov now just can't force the puck under Kristers Gudlevskis when battling away for it on a mad goalmouth scramble! He's had plenty of chances today!
	45:58	Plotnikov! Sergey Plotnikov skating with real power down the left flank looks for Alexander Ovechkin on the slot, but his pass is just too strong!
	46:34	For interference Evgeniy Medvedev is off to the penalty box giving Latvia an important powerplay opportunity
	46:41	Georgijs Pujacs takes on a heavy slapper from the point, but with no traffic in front of him Sergey Bobrovskiy comfortably pads it away!
	48:34	Russia defended well on that penalty kill and they're back at full strength again
	48:51	Evgeniy Medvedev with a clever cross ice pass finds Alexander Burmistrov at the right hand post, but Burmistrov can only tamely slide into Kristers Gudlevskis!
	51:15	Russia are taking control of the game very comfortably, Latvia can't put any pressure on their opponents' net whatsoever
	51:38	Ronalds Kenins' deflected cutting wrister from the left is easily shuffled out to the boards by Sergey Bobrovskiy
	52:08	Ovechkin! Speeding down the left flank Alexander Ovechkin checks back violently, shoots with real power and Kristers Gudlevskis punches it wide with his blocker!
	53:16	Shirokov! As the puck is dumped into the crease Sergey Shirokov takes control of it, waits for Gudlevskis to commit but the Latvian still gets a piece of it! That's a really good save!
	53:36	Now a thumping slapshot from the point smashes into the left hand post as Sergey Shirokov deftly deflected it on target!
	55:13	A snappy wrister from the left faceoff circle drifts wide of the Russian net with Sergey Bobrovskiy controlling the situation
	57:08	Both teams are waiting for the final buzzer now, Russia have been simply dominant today and are cruising to yet another thumping victory
	57:45	Ronalds Kenins for hooking has picked up a penalty meaning that Russia will finish the game on the powerplay
	58:14	Danis Zaripov's dangerous pass across the slot from the right sails all the way through and out!
	58:56	Sergey Plotnikov for tripping has fairly quickly evened up the numbers making it a four on four hockey game for now
	59:45	Latvia are back at full strength with only fifteen seconds remaining!
	60:00	Game over.
		There's the final buzzer, and Russia have very comfortably beaten Latvia 4-1 to guarantee that they will move on into the quarterfinals in first place of Group B! They were simply irresistible at times today. Miks Indrasis shockingly gave the Latvians the lead early on but that only woke the Russians up, with Viktor Tikhonov, Sergey Shirokov, Sergey Kalinin all scoring and Tikhonov netting a double. Thanks for following the game with us, and join me again soon for Denmark against the Czech Republic at the 2014 IIHF World Championships! (14:05:50)

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 8. Indrasis (Stals) – 11. Tikhonov, 16. Shirokov (Medvedev, Tikhonov), 19. Tikhonov (Plotnikov, Ovechkin), 29. Kalinin (Kutuzov)

Latvia: Gudlevskis (Masalskis)- Galvins, Pujacs, Vasiljevs, Nizvijs, Cipulis- Lavins, Sotnieks, Daugavins, Kenins, M Redlihs- Jaks, Stals, Berzins, Girgensons, Indrasis- J Redlihs, M Jass, Dzerins, Meija, K Jass

Russia: Bobrovskiy (Vasilevskiy)- Chudinov, Denisov, Ovechkin, Tikhonov, Plotnikov- Kutuzov, Medvedev, Kulyomin, Shirokov, Anisimov- Belov, Yakovlev, Kalinin, Zaripov- Burmistrov, Dadonov, Kuznetsov

Referees: Brueggemann, Rantala, Sidorenko, Carnathan, Kilian, Lederer

Attendance: 14427

1st period
	04:10
	07:30
	10:55
	11:42
	15:23
	17:16
	18:12
	19:25
1st intermission
2nd period
	28:04
	28:51
2nd intermission
3rd period
	46:34
	57:45
	58:56
Final