1CA 2:1 LAT | Canada2 - Latvia (Olympics - Men)

Olympics - Men

Sweden2 – Slovenia2	5:0 (end)	\|	Finland – Russia	3:1 (end)	\|	Canada2 – Latvia	2:1 (end)
USA – Czech Republic	5:2 (end)

final

Canada2

2:1 (1:1, 0:0, 1:0)

Latvia

Wednesday 19.02.2014, 18:00 • Bolshoy Arena • Olympics - Men

		Thank you for following today's games with us, just imagine what's waiting for us in the semifinals Friday! We'll be here for you to have it covered! Until next time, goodbye! (20:33:22)
		Eurolivescores MVP: We'd be vain if we didn't give it to Kristers Gudlevskis who put on a hero show tonight, keeping away 55 shots and allowing only two goals to get his team to a minimum 2:1 loss against Canada. He'll for sure be exausted after the game, but nothing to be ashamed of.
		Shots on goal: CAN 22 (57), LAT 5 (16) Penalties: CAN 0 (6), LAT 2 (6) Powerplay: CAN 1/3, LAT 0/3.
		Latvia couldn't bring another upset of the tournament and become the biggest surprise of the Olympics. USA hammered the Czech Republic 5:2 in that other game so they will go to the semifinals and it will be North America versus Europe in the Gold Medal Game Sunday! Interesting games coming up, Latvia can go home pround, Canada were shaking until the very end. Not everyone is able to cause that sort of trouble to them. Nobody was expecting this.
		It's all over in Bolshoy, and Canada will play the USA in the semifinals. Latvia will have to thank their goalie Kristers Gudlevskis who put on a show today and allowed two goals on an unbelieveable 57 shots (!!!) Sure this will increase his price, Latvia showed character today, Canada will be happy tp walk off with a win. It will be tough against their southern neighbors, especially if they'll have someone of Gudlevskis' calibre in net.
	60:00	Game over.
	59:44	Getzlaf with the opportunity, though Gudlevskis was back in net so he makes the deflection, Latvia clear and the icing will cause them to get the goalie back again, and will bring the faceoff in the zone.
	59:23	Canada now clear it, get themselves into a scoring opportunity, though Mikelis Relihs covers Toews not letting him to score.
	59:17	Timeout Canada. Mike Babcock wants to have a word and defend without conceding.
	59:17	Latvia get in a bit too easy, Price is able to stop the puck and force the faceoff.
	58:53	Latvia playing with 6 men on the ice, but Canada get to clear, while Latvia builds from the inside.
	58:22	Timeout Latvia.
	58:00	Two minutes left.
	57:58	Darzins and Sprukts get in, Darzins drops the pass to Sprukts, but his shot from before the left circle gets wide to the right, Latvia will fight till the very end.
	57:50	Marleau and Toews get into the zone, but the Latvians close up on them.
		TV timeout that will get us the chance to get some break. Maybe the spectators need it more than players. What a great hockey showdown.
	56:38	Latvia going down the ice with two or three players trying to tie the game back, Darzins fires from the left circle, Carey Price somehow saves by milimeters.
	56:13	Juris Stals takes the puck in, stops it with the hand and fires, Price on the deflection and the defence clear away.
	55:49	Latvia going 3-on-2, but the pass from the right boards gets intercepted in the zone.
	54:55	Canada should try to put pressure as before on the Latvian goal, a team like Latvia playing with that heart and adrenaline is never to be taken for granted. Gudlevskis still locking the door.
	53:06	Goal for Team Canada! And as I say it, Canada score! Again it were the defencemen who created everything, with SHEA WEBER scoring and Drew Doughty getting the assist on the blue. Weber finds the gap as a sniper in the upper right of the goal, and Gudlevskis couldn't do anything. He's had 52 saves before, but had to fall sometime. Assists: Drew Doughty, Jonathan Toews.
	52:53	Doughty, Perry and Weber try to combine and get Gudlevskis out of balance to score through him, but he makes two crucial saves and keeps the score tied. He's exhausted now, lying on the ice, and the doctor will come to help him deal with pain and get him through the game.
	52:02	Canada building in the zone, a couple of more saves for Gudlevskis and :52 left on the powerplay. Latvia clear.
	51:23	Gudlevskis makes the 50th save of the game, as Canada are still trying to find a way to break him today.
	51:09	Georgijs Pujacs (LAT) will take the cooling in the box, which might cost Latvia, Ted Nolan looks worried. Canada will have to take this one now. 0 for 3 currently on the powerplay for the Canadian side.
	50:33	Delayed penalty against Latvia, canada with 6 players on.
	49:48	The nerves are working for both teams, Canada still attacking, Gudlevskis on the save, and then some pushing and shoving on both sides. Faceoff in the zone.
	48:45	Lauris Darzins, the most threatening Latvian finds himself in the chance right in front of the slot, but the shot gets blocked at the very last moment.
		No goal the second time, and I think they're right. It could have gone either way, but we'll remain tied at 1.
		The goal is waved off, but the referees will look at it once again, the puck may have crossed the line, but I don't think it's been across the whole, so the goal should be disallowed.
	48:27	It's a question whether the puck crossed the line now or not, but Canada fired a couple of shots now, though Latvians keep their head up with that enormous pressure.
	47:45	Canada builds on the attack, Vlasic and Doughty on the blueline, with the latter taking a hard slapper, Gudlevskis can't handle it, and the forwards in the slot just can't reach the puck.
	47:12	Martins Karsums finds himself in a real chance behind the defence, just like Darzins did on that first Latvian goal, but the pass is a bit too quick so the icing is called.
	46:49	Latvia closes up defensively, and clears the pucks that might come near Gudlevskis and patiently await their chance.
	46:13	Martins Karsums slides past the defence and gets into the zone for the break, finds Girgensons onskating to the slot from the right wing, flat passes to him, but Price makes the save on the hard wrister and stops the clock.
		In the other tonight's game the USA is in front over the Czech Republic 5:1 so it seems the USA will travel to the semis Friday, and the Czechs will go home.
	44:52	Pietrangelo tries to find some space to get the puck into the net through traffic, though Gudlevskis still can't be beaten. Too much action in too little time now to get it all.
	44:09	Two huge shots on net by Canada lately, Latvians throwing themselves at the puck trying to defend and finally get it out of the zone.
	43:22	Kenins gets the puck into the zone and fires one right up, a semi-counter by the Latvians, though Price deflects the puck and Canada takes over.
	42:38	Another stop from Gudlevskis as Canada keeps the puck in and strike it from the left circle, stretching the defence wide.
	42:12	Canada playing dump-and-chase to try to scoop it at the endboards and organize something, so they keep possession.
	41:33	Ozolins is back onto the ice, and Latvia is full.
	41:05	It seems like Doughty was the one to get the puck to the goal from the blue where Sidney Crosby was waiting, but can't slice it in, is a bit late to scoop it into the emtpy net as Gudlevskis was left on the other side.
	40:26	Carter gets into the zone and gets the puck to Crosby in the slot, though the shot's wide to the right.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Shots on goal: CAN 19 (35), LAT 5 (11) Penalties: CAN 2 (6), LAT 4 (4) Powerplay: CAN 0/2, LAT 0/3. The third period will commence at around 19:44 CET, 22:44 MSK, 13:44 EDT. Don't miss it!
		Canada's had a better presentation in the second period, though Latvians are difficult to break. We're still tied 1:1 despite Canada outshooting the opponent 35-11 (19-5 in the second). Gudlevskis is magnificent in net and will dream the pucks incoming tonight, but it will be worth it if Latvia will be able to get through this and maybe, just maybe, cause an upset. Surely the third period will be sharp.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:33	Sandis Ozolins (LAT) gets called to the box for high-sticking.
		We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we lost contact with Sochi, we'll try to get it back ASAP.
	38:59	A minute before the end a brawl before Gudlevskis as Corey Perry was screening him and afterwards the Latvians started the pushing. Faceoff before Gudlevskis.
	38:01	Chris Kunitz gets the puck at the blue and bursts out to the opposite side alone, but Sprukts keeps track with him and deflects the puck off his stick in the waning moments before the shot and then is able to clear.
	37:04	Kristers Gudlevskis makes another save from the blue, freezes the clock and forces the faceoff. It's his 32nd save of the game, and the second period is still underway. He'll need some help from the defense to keep Canada at bay.
	36:21	Ryan Getzlaf shoots a slapper off the faceoff, it gets blocked and cleared so Canada will have to restart.
	35:49	Darzins forces a mistake at the Latvian blue, gets over the left wing in and tries to go through, gets stopped though and then the picked up shot from a team mate finds Price in way, who barely saw it through the scramble. It was Arturs Kulda on the surprise shot.
	34:58	The play continues with Latvia dumping it in, Bergeron gets the pass from behind the net and drives all the way to the circle firing on goal, Gudlevskis there to record the save.
	34:40	Rekis waits for too long to get the puck into the zone and thus causes the offside call as his team mates get in to chase the puck.
	33:59	Latvians block a shot from the blue by Canada, and try to go on the break over the left, but lose possession at the red line and Canada comes back quickly.
	33:12	This is the game that beat the Swiss yesterday, Latvia still awaiting their chance, the game is more or less calm lately.
	32:21	Canada are back to full.
	32:15	Latvia trying to organize something, but the Canadians are solid as a rock in front of the goal.
	31:37	With :43 left, Latvia only dumps it in and can't reach it by the boards, Canada clearing away to keep it at safe distance and rest back in the zone.
	30:57	LAtvia builds on it inside the zone, they try to fire from the blue, but it's blocked and then Canada clears, twice.
	30:21	Martin St. Louis (CAN) gets called to the box for slashing on the previous play, Latvia will go on the powerplay, they're 0 for 2 today.
	30:12	Indrasis gets the clearance in the zone on the right, turns and tries to shoot, while the Latvians can't get it on the rebound and St. Louis will pay a visit to the box.
	29:20	Bouwmeester gets the puck to Getzlaf on the left wing, but as he crosses the blue, the referees signal for offside.
		The refs went to the booth to check upstairs if that Marleau shot moments before was a goal or not, but they're waving it off.
		Shots are 14-2 in favor of Canada this second period, 30-8 overall. This perfectly sums up how the game looks like. Canada is pushing it harder, and Latvia still waiting for their breakaways.
	28:56	Patrick Marleau tries to sneak the puck behind Gudlevskis circling the net and gets a shot from the left, but can't beat the netminder.
	27:35	Nothing special from Canadian powerplay, they circled around but didn't get anything concrete on the net.
	26:27	Canada with the opportunity on the other side, Gudlevskis saving the day again.
	25:35	Zemgus Girgensons (LAT) gets called to the box for slashing on that last play.
	25:35	Another breakaway opportunity for Latvia, it was 2-on-1, Indrasis took the puck in and passed to Darzins, and then he gave it back to the right post for Indrasis who tries to fire falling, but misses the net wide and then there is the whistle for delayed penlty.
		Tavares gets up and skates to the bench, hopefully he's alright.
	25:11	John Tavares is down on the ice and the team doctor will have to get onto the ice to help him. It's the result of Arturs Kulda's check, though there was no intention, so no penalty will be assigned.
	24:07	Corey Perry gets the puck at the left wing and tries to send a sneaking pass into the middle for oncoming Getzlaf, though he's a second too slow.
	23:52	Canada going for it again, entering the zone organized and Jonathan Toews fires one up from outside the slot, Gudlevskis can't handle it but deflects for his defence to help him out.
	22:42	Crosby got hammered into the boards in the neutral zone, but continues the game no problem, and will now go for a line change as Price makes the save.
	22:09	Patrice Bergeron taking the shot right off the Sidney Crosby's winning the faceoff, Gudlevskis freezes.
	22:06	Latvia clear the puck as Canada organize in the zone, and they're whistled down for icing, the puck will drop back deep.
	21:25	Latvians now take the puck the other way around , with Ronalds Kenins dumping it in fiercly from the blue into the backboards, gets the deflection and the blind pass to Cipulis at the crease, but Price is there to cover it up.
	20:49	Another chance from the Canadians, though Gudlevskis is in place to freeze the puck and force a faceoff.
	20:25	Canadians take the faceoff and try to create some gaps down the ice, but the Latvians clear the puck with ease.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Shots on goal: CAN 16, LAT 6 Penalties: CAN 4, LAT 0 Powerplay: CAN 0/0, LAT 0/2. The game continues at approximately 18:50 CET, 21:50 MSK, 12:50 EDT. Stay tuned!
		The Latvians were waiting keeping possession and kept the puck behind the net to finish the period. Nothing special from either side, except for those two flashes that brought goals on each side. Other than that, we're seeing hockey not that beautiful to watch with Latvia playing decent, disciplined and solid defense. They see their chance on counters, and have already taken one.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:00	One minute to go.
	18:58	Weber can't get a good shot on net, and the Latvians will take it out and to the safe-zone.
	18:02	And Canada are full, Keith is back.
	17:35	Four clearances with :25 left on the powerplay don't make for a good showdown. Nothing special from Latvia on that powerplay.
	16:55	And they do it again clearing it twice so far down the ice. The crowd is chanting "Latvia, Latvia".
	16:02	Duncan Keith gets called to the box for slashing, and Latvia will go on their second powerplay of the night. Canadians played solid penalty killing on the first occasion.
	15:41	Goal for Team Latvia! What a breakaway for LAURIS DARZINS who sure knows how to take advantage of it. A great cross-ice clearance from Sandis Ozolins deep in the zone finds Darzins all alone past the defence, he takes it 1-on-1 with Price and calmly beats him from right in front. Assist: Sandis Ozolins.
	15:34	Canada is called offside as they get into the zone over the left, and we'll have a technical timeout.
	14:53	Miks Indrasis in on again through the middle, tries to sneak the puck through traffic in front of Price, but it deflects wide to the left.
	13:37	Goal for Team Canada! It was a matter of time when will Canadians finally break the European side. It was Rick Nash who caught up the puck at the left post, skates around the net and gets the backdoor pass to awaiting PATRICK SHARP who slides a one-timer in, with little help from Tavares who was screening Gudlevskis. Assist: Rick Nash.
	12:30	The Latvians get into the zone with the puck driving towards the net, though Duncan Keith is in way to block the oncoming forwards and get the puck out of the zone.
	11:10	Latvians with possession and are playing disciplined to neutralize Canadians as much as possible, while the Canadians are more concrete down the ice shooting a barrage at Gudlevskis.
	10:14	Krisjanis Redlihs dumps the puck in for Mikelis Redlihs, only he's not quick enough to beat the defence and get the puck at the endboards.
	09:04	Vitalijs Pavlovs gets in on the right, but is screened good by the defence, the Latvians keep possession, though nothing comes out of it, great defensive display on the Canadian side.
	08:46	Chris Kunitz fires another one from the right circle, though it's an easy job for Gudlevskis who covers the angle with his body.
	08:18	Latvia goes 0 for 1 in the game and 4 for 15 at the tournament on the powerplay as Patrick Sharp skates back on.
	08:00	Zemgus Girgensons gets the puck over the right, but can't keep possession at the sideboards, and the Canadians make the final clearance of the Latvian powerplay.
	06:37	Latvia on the powerplay, they didn't let the puck slip away until now, but the Canadians get possession finally.
	06:18	Patrick Sharp (CAN) gets called for tripping, and Latvia will go on their first powerplay.
	05:51	The Latvians are holding Canada at bay, though Canadians are collecting shots on goal, and causing trouble for Gudlevskis.
	04:52	Lauris Darzins with a great deking move inside the Canadian zone, driving between to D-men, but in the end gets the wrister wide to the right.
	04:05	The Latvians got upset and cleared the puck down the ice, and an icing is called to bring the puck back deep.
	03:38	Sidney Crosby gets into an opportunity over the left wing as he sneaks past the defense and gets a great clearance, but Gudlevskis is there to make the deflection and keep the clean sheet. Chris Kunitz tried to fire it in from the right post just outside, but hit the crossbar on the picked-up deflection.
	03:14	Martins Karsums sees his shot wide to the left from the right on the blue.
	02:12	Alex Pietrangelo gets the puck in over the left, gets the pass back to Getzlaf waiting on the opposite side and in the end it was Gudlevskis making the save on a shot from Benn in the slot. Faceoff in Latvian zone.
	01:32	Solid checking by the Latvian side hammering Canadians against the boards, the game has been physical from early on.
	01:04	Very good opening by Latvia, they're forechecking well and don't allow Canada a quick and easy breakaway.
	00:21	The Latvians took the opening faceoff and went on the attack right off the start, though the Canadians keep the net clean.
	00:01	Game started.
		We also cover USA vs. Czech Republic game here at the EuroLiveScores, so you can follow that game as well if you like, you can go multicast.
		Starting lineups: Canada: Price (Luongo) – Keith, Weber (A), Kunitz, Bergeron, Crosby (C) – Doughty, Vlasic, Getzlaf, Benn, Perry – Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo, Marleau, Toews (A), Carter – Hamhuis, Sharp, Tavares, St. Louis, Nash Head Coach: Mike Babcock Latvia: Gudlevskis (Masalskis) – Kulda, Bartulis (A), Karsums, Girgensons, Indrasis – Rekis, Ozolins (C), Sprukts, Darzins (A), Redlihs M. – Sotnieks, Pujacs, Cipulis, Pavlovs, Kenins – Redlihs K., Freibergs, Stals, Berzins, Jass Head Coach: Ted Nolan Referees: Peel (USA), Ronn (FIN) – Kovachik (CAN), Suominen (FIN).
		The teams are hitting the ice in Bolshoy Arena in Sochi, and the opening faceoff is getting near. Canada will play in their white jerseys, while Latvia will play in their maroon outfit.
		Canadian head coach Mike Babcock decided not to dress forward Matt Duchene, defenceman P.K. Subban and goalie Mike Smith for today's game. On the other hand, goalie Ervins Mustukovs and forwards Herberts Vasiljevs and Kaspars Daugavins were left out from the Latvian line-up today by Ted Nolan.
		The game starts at 18:00 CET, 21:00 MSK, 12:00 EDT.
		It may be surprising but Drew Doughty leads the scoring for Canada with 5 points (3+2) and a +4 score. He's been nailing it from the blue line, as he's an offensive minded defenceman. Lauris Darzins leads the scoring for Latvia scoring three times and adding an assist for a sum up of 4 points. Carey Price was announced in net today, he's had two games so far, allowed 2 goals on 35 shots to keep his percentage at 94.29%. Latvia is probably looking up to their goalie as a hero after yesterday and it's expected he'll be starting in net. Edgars Masalskis stopped 105 shots out of 111 fired, allowed 6 goals and stands firm at 94.59 SVS%. Latvia was able to win yesterday with discipline, good defensive coverage and more thant solid breakaways. It takes more than that to beat this Canadian dream team, but for sure they won't give it up without a fight.
		Hello everyone, and welcome to Sochi once again for another showdown. Men's hockey tournament is taking the turn for the best games ahead. Latvia, surprisingly or not, beat Switzerland yesterday 3:1 to get their revenge for a group stage defeat, but will now have to face the defending Olympic champions – Canada. Canada obviously didn't have a hard time so far in the tournament, as they took #1 seed in group B with wins over Finland, Norway and Austria and went directly to the quarter-finals. Latvia had to fight their way through, finnishing with three defeats against Sweden, Czech Republic and Switzerland, but they got back at them yesterday.

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 14. Sharp (Nash), 54. Weber (Doughty, Toews) – 16. Darzins (Ozolins)

Canada2: Price (Luongo) – Keith, Weber (A), Kunitz, Bergeron, Crosby (C) – Doughty, Vlasic, Getzlaf, Benn, Perry – Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo, Marleau, Toews (A), Carter – Hamhuis, Sharp, Tavares, St. Louis, Nash
Head Coach: Mike Babcock

Latvia: Gudlevskis (Masalskis) – Kulda, Bartulis (A), Karsums, Girgensons, Indrasis – Rekis, Ozolins (C), Sprukts, Darzins (A), Redlihs M. – Sotnieks, Pujacs, Cipulis, Pavlovs, Kenins – Redlihs K., Freibergs, Stals, Berzins, Jass
Head Coach: Ted Nolan

Referees: Peel (USA), Ronn (FIN) – Kovachik (CAN), Suominen (FIN)

1st period
	06:18
	13:37
	15:41
	16:02
1st intermission
2nd period
	25:35
	30:21
	39:33
2nd intermission
3rd period
	51:09
	53:06
Final