Latvians show some teeth versus Sweden

29 Dec 2012 | Didzis Rudmanis

Despite the final score giving Sweden a 5:1 victory, Latvians managed to show some teeth, as half-way through the third period the score was only 2:1. The highlight of the match was Ivars Punnenovs, whose amazing performance in the net allowed Latvians to remain in the game for so long.

Early in the first Latvians showed some offensive, attacking Lundstrom's net. Still, only a handful of minutes later Swedes overtook the initiative, earning several powerplays and eventually, in the last minute of the period, opened the score, with Emil Molin putting the puck in the net.

Already in the fourth minute of the second period Latvians managed to reply, as Teodors Bļugers beautiful wrist-shot made it to the net, making it 1:1. Swedish players clearly dominated the whole second period, with Latvian side earning as any as three successive penalties. In the second half of the period Sebastian Collberg managed to score, regaining the lead for Sweden.

In the early minutes of the third period it seemed that the game had calmed down, with Latvians starting to attack slightly more often. Half-way through the period Punnenovs foiled William Karlsson on a breakaway. Just a few moments later Victor Arvidsson managed to make it 3:1, only a couple of minutes later putting in also the fourth goal for Sweden. Late in the period Latvians tried to get the second goal of the game, instead Alexander Wennberg on a counter-attack made it 5:1.

Ivars Punnenovs had a magnificent game, keeping 41 out of 46 Swedish shots on goal out of the net. Victor Arvidsson finished the game with two goals, while Swedish captain Filip Forsberg had two assists.