USA continues with another victory

05 May 2013 | Didzis Rudmanis

Team USA did not have to be at the very top of their game tonight in Helsinki in order for them to beat the Latvian national team 4:1. Bobby Butler finished the game with a goal and an assist, while Paul Stastny had two assists.

In the first twenty minutes of the game Latvian team was the one which had slight edge of the game. Latvian team also had a chance to play on two power plays, but, despite having no problem staying in the opponent's zone, could hardly challenge US goaltender Ben Bishop. In the second half of the period both teams exchanged great scoring chances, yet the scoreboard stated 0:0 by the time period ended.

Early in the second Latvians finally managed to score (the team was scoreless for the previous almost 300 minutes of IHWC action) as Arturs Kulda put the puck past Bishop. A lousy and slightly chaotic defensive play by the Latvian team allowed Tim Stapleton to tie the game just one minute later, and only a couple of minutes later US managed to get in the lead, as David Moss scored on the power play.

Latvians did not manage to create much of a pressure early in the third in order to tie the game. In the middle of the period Americans scored another two goals with both Bobby Butler and Matt Hunwick beating Edgars Masalskis and deciding the fate of the match. 4:1 was the final score.

Tomorrow both teams will have a day off, but on Tuesday Latvia will face Austria, however the US team will meet with the Russians.