Herberts, Latvia win the thriller past the USA

15 May 2014 | Alan Ilijic

A total of 11 goals were scored as Latvia gets past the USA in a thriller. Herberts Vasiljevs scored the first of the tournament which proved to be the game-winner.

Herberts Vasiljevs' score late in the thrid lifted the Latvians to a 6:4 lead. It proved to be enough, as the Americans were only able to answer once, leaving Latvia a goal ahead and letting them take new 3 points.

Kaspars Daugavins and Gints Meija, aside from Vasiljevs, had collected two points each - a goal and an assist. Mikelis Redlihs, Zemgus Girgensons and Aleksandrs Nizivijs also added tallies to the Latvian success.

On the other side, team USA were able to answer only five times, getting as close as it gets, but couldn't find the way to the overtime. Brock Nelson scored twice, while Tyler Johnson, Craig Smith and Seth Jones added a goal each.

The first period was more or less peaceful, with the Americans getting the first big chance to start the game midway through the period. Three minutes later the Latvians answered in the same manner, but the score was intact at those moments.

At 15:39 Gints Meija opened the scoring for Latvia on delayed penalty sliding the puck in from the left post. Exactly a minute later Craig Smith levelled things up taking advantage of the Latvian changing lines and getting a feed through open ice from the neutral zone by Jake Gardiner. Before the end Mikelis Redlihs made sure that the Latvians had the lead during the interference at 18:57.

In the second the Latvians managed to extend the margin to two goals. Vince Trochek had got the call to the box for holding and then Dan Dekeyser got called for checking to the head and neck area, which carries an automatic 2+10 minutes major penalty. A few seconds before the USA were back at full strength Aleksanders Nizivijs extended the lead.

Team USA then took advantage of two penalties to catch up. Brock Nelson and Tyler Johnson had both scored a goal near the halfway mark and the hockey game was tied.

At 51:25 Kaspars Daugavins put the Latvians back into the driving seat on a solo effort that started in his own zone. He took the puck over the center ice, deked out three opposing players on the way and finally fired from the blue line. Tim Thomas in the US net was helpless.

Just as in the first period Seth Jones answered two minutes later and tied the game once more. But with two more tallies from Zemgus Girgensons and Herberts Vasiljevs the Latvians whipped off any doubts and lifted Latvia just enough to walk off with a victory.

Brock Nelson's second of the game with the extra attacker didn't mean much in the end.

Kristers Gudlevskis kept 31 shots of 36 faced away, while Zemgus Girgensons was named the best player for team Latvia. Craig Smith took the honors on the opposite side.