Latvia beats Germany

06 May 2012 | Didzis Rudmanis

Canadian coach Ted Nolan has won his first game at the World Championships as the head coach of Latvia. Latvians managed to win 3:2 in a very narrow game. The game-winning goal was scored by Aleksejs Sirokovs (pictured). With both Germans and Latvians being eager on qualifying for the quarterfinals, this was a very crucial game for both of the teams.

The opening goal of the game came in the 12th minutes when 21-year-old Miks Indrasis scored already his second goal of the tournament. In the first 20 minutes both teams played a very fast-paced ice hockey, both teams attempted a total of 27 shots, with Masalskis and Endras both making several huge saves.

Indrasis and Sprukts in front of the German net
Photo: Tomáš Schmiedt

Early in the second period Latvian first line managed to make it 2:0, when KHL star Mikelis Redlihs put the puck in the net. Just two minutes later John Tripp made it 1:2. Germans clearly overtook the initiative of the game, which led to the game tieing goal in the middle of the period. It was scored by Kai Hospelt. Germans had several other chances to increase the score, however Masalskis denied all of them.

In the third period Germans earned a couple of unnecessary penalties, which ultimately led to the game winning goal scored by Aleksejs Sirokovs with less than eight minutes to play. In the remaining time Germans tried to tie the game once again, but failed to do it even with Dennis Endras pulled out of the net.

Mikelis Redlihs with the puck
Photo: Tomáš Schmiedt

A crucial part of Latvian success was the discipline. This turned out to be the first Latvian game at the World Championships which the team ended without a single penalty minute earned. Miks Indrasis, with 1+1 tonight, currently with three points is the leading scored of the Latvian team.