Czechs beat Norway, but need a shootout

07 May 2012 | Fredrik Pålsson

Ales Hemsky was the only player to score in the shootout, giving the Czechs a 4-3 win and two points. Norway got their first point of the tournament.

The first game of the fourth day of the World Championship in Stockholm was a close game, as Norway put up its best performance so far and the Czechs, from time to time, showed that they're the more talented team.

In the first period, the Czechs got in to early penalty trouble with four penalties in just over four minutes. With two Czechs in the penalty box, Mathias Olimb gave Norway the lead, scoring on a rebound. The Czcehs tied the game late in the first when Ales Hemsky had an easy tap in after being set up by veteran Petr Nedved on a quick counter-attack.

"We had a tough start with too many penalties," Czech forward Michael Frolik said after the game.

Norway got off to a good start of the second period when Lars-Erik Spets gave Norway the lead again at 1:39. After some neat Norwegian passing, Olimb found Lars-Erik Spets all alone in the slot and he fired it home with a low shot. Norway felt like the somewhat better team and Mads Hansen was just inches from a 3-1 lead, but instead led to a Czech rush the other way. David Krejci made some nice moves and fired home the 2-2 goal with an unstoppable shot in the upper corner.

Hansen commented on the game, "We were better. It's mentally important with a point for us."

His teammate Patrick Thoresen was pleased as well. "We're happy with one point but we could have stole two or even three points. This was our best game."

In the third, the Czechs came out stronger and after eight minutes Michael Frolik gave the Czechs the lead, beating Lars Haugen with a low shot. At that point, it looked like the Czechs would win the game, since Norway hadn't had much play in the period. But after the goal, Norway played better again and less than three minutes later Jonas Holøs made it 3-3. Norway seemed most keen on the win but the regular time finished 3-3 and the game went to overtime. In the overtime it was the Czechs that went forward for the winner but no goals were scored.

It's hard to know what to expect of this team in the future. Norway has only one point in three games but as Thoresen said in the mixed zone, "We have to remember that we has played the three best teams so far." Norway could very well reach the quarterfinals, but there will be some close games on their way there.

The Czechs are usually considered one of the main medal contenders, but haven't been impressive so far. Czech head coach Alois Hadamczik also seems unsure but his team. "We are still looking for the face of our team that we had in Brno in the last Euro Hockey Tour tournament," he said.

Michael Frolik said, "We don't want to talk about the medals, we take it game by game."