A thriller it was!

Down 2-0 heading into the third period, the French managed to tie things up in the last 11 minutes of the game thanks to goals by Stephane Da Costa and Sascha Treille. This led to an overtime period that led to the all-decisive shootout round.

Goals by each of Damien Fleury, Julien Desrosier, and then Stephane Da Costa decidedly served to keep France in the world’s elite group – and the team celebrated it as if they’d just won the Stanley Cup!

After a heart-touching raising of the French flag that saw the French players arm in arm, singing their national anthem, French Player of the Game Da Costa stated in elation, “This is huge for French hockey. We need to gain fans and we can’t do that in the B pool. We have to be up with the elite and working hard on developing players and media attention. We have a World Championships to carry out in Paris in 2017. Much has to be done heading towards that. This was a big step in doing just that.”  

French players singing. Photo: Stanislav Souček

Most organizers and team officials knew this final preliminary round game could have implications coming into the tournament and that’s exactly how things have turned out. Today’s match-up between Latvia and France was of an almost do-or-die nature. One thing was clear – neither could afford to lose in regulation. With Austria sitting shakily at spot six with five points, neither Latvia’s four or France’s three would be enough to avoid relegation.

And the game began anything but tentatively. The French, coming off a tough 4-2 loss to Sweden just yesterday, certainly had the most jump as the Latvians continued to play their careful, almost sleepy ‘wait for the counterattack’ option. Also back in the line-up for France was Stephane Da Costa, the KHLer who missed the game before and would center the team’s most important line between wingers Damien Fleury and Antoine Roussel.

After some back and forth play, seeing France get a few more quality chances than Latvia, it was a Latvian power play with just about 10 minutes to go in the first that broke the 0-0 deadlock, when Latvian captain and former Ottawa Senator Kaspars Daugavins pounced on a rebound and slammed in the puck from about a meter away from the goal. This brought about an eruption from the ever-present Latvian fans who have been seen all around Prague and had this arena packed again today. Getting an assist on the play was defenseman Lauris Darzins, who then had nine tournament points at that juncture.

The first period ended with some major pressure from France and Roussel was almost the benefactor of a nifty Fleury pass with just about 13 seconds to go.

But things took a souring turn for France again in the second when, while on the attack, Fleury knocked into Janis Sprukts unnecessarily after a play had been whistled dead and was given a penalty. Seconds later, Latvia scored its second power play goal of the game when Guntis Galvins pounced in a shot from the slot to give Latvia the 2-0 lead. The assists went to Daugavins and Darzins, who added to their impressive scoring totals.

Thoroughly furious about the call and the resulting goal, Fleury was visibly distraught in the penalty box. Shortly thereafter, France created a number of scoring opportunities, which then led to a power play opportunity of their own, which they just couldn’t make use of. Five minutes later, France got another power play opportunity born of the pressure they were creating, but this two couldn’t be capitalized on. The lack of a set-up allowing France to create quality chances was obvious.

A top quality opportunity came for France with roughly six minutes to play in the 2^nd period when a perfectly timed pass to the goal was tipped on net by Charles Bertrand. As every time before in this game, Edgars Masalskis was up to the test. What ensued, however, was yet another French power play, their third of the period.

Despite the creation of a number of opportunities throughout the power play, nothing could be generated in this one either. Symptomatic for the lack of efficiency was when French Captain Laurent Meunier fanned on a prime shooting opportunity, yet gained the back and then slipped and fanned again while trying the take the next shot.

If it hadn’t been there before, frustration quickly entered the game for France. Da Costa was hooked a bit while cutting to the net, losing the puck in the process. After that he followed his hooking pursuer and then proceeded to check him with a punching motion to the head, quickly giving Latvia its third power play of the game, which it would open the third period with.

By the end of the 2^nd, France was outshooting Latvia 22-7.

Action all over the ice. Photo: Stanislav Souček

The third period developed into a stalemate. The deadlock went on for quite some time and Latvia played in a tight manner, ready to just wind down the clock. This tactic failed to pay off entirely once France scored with another 11 plus minutes to go in the third. When the puck went in the net, it was clear that France had found new life and the celebration was done solemnly knowing that the real work had just begun.

From there, France took charge and the Treille goal sent the arena into eruption. His celebration was nothing short of classic and emulated something more indicative of France’s national football team.

A blocked shot and breakaway by Julien Desrosier with just a minute in the 3^rd period had everyone in the arena holding their breath. Masalskis’ save was like hearing a pin drop. After that, his dismay with his own defensemen couldn’t be contained.

The game went into overtime and one of the most exciting games of the tournament became even more exciting. Both teams were able to generate several big opportunities, but it was France that came closest on three separate occasions in front of the Latvian goal. Missing at times by centimeters, it felt as if it’d only be a matter of time until the game-winner was scored.

It never was. The rest is now history. A history the French will surely be celebrating for quite some time as an ice hockey nation on the rise and looking to stay for a good long while.

With that, Austria has been relegated – and in a manner that was anything but lacking in excitement.

Again, Austria and Slovenia will have to earn their ways out of the B Pool, hoping to be part of the show again at the 2017 WC being split between Paris, France and Cologne, Germany.

Happy French players. Photo: Stanislav Souček

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