Norway Tackles France in Physical Affair

Norway won a very physical contest against France to being their 2017 World Hockey Championship effort, taking the 3-2 victory on Saturday.

After no goals were scored in the first period, the motto for both teams was to just get shots on net. France led the first period total 7-6, taking the final six shots in the period. Both goalies looked strong, with Cristobal Huet for France and Lars Haugen for Norway stopping everything that came their way.

But after five minutes of play in the second, Norway found themselves in the lead. The fun started when Mathis Olimb passed the puck to his brother, Ken-Andre, in front of the net. Ken-Andre would send a quick shot from a tough angle past Huet's blocker arm and in to make it 1-0 for Norway. 

Four minutes later, Norway's top line contributed for another goal. This time, Mathis Olimb took a pass from Ken-Andre before sending it towards the net. Former Edmonton OIlers forward Patrick Thoresen was there to re-direct the shot, knocking it in past Huet on the power play to make it 2-0.

Late in the second period, France brought the deficit back to just one goal. At 18:14 in the frame and while playing with four players on each side, Stephane Da Costa skated in from the corner and made a quick, slick deke past Haugen, giving France their first goal of the tournament on home ice.

The game started rather slow, but a series of events made the game great as time ticked down. At 49:49, Thoresen recorded his second goal of the game after grabbing the puck and having it just tip off of a French defender, beating Huet's blocker to make it 3-1.

France needed a quick one to put themselves back in the game and they did just that. Da Costa would get his second of the game just ten seconds later after shoveling the puck above Haugen and in, putting France behind by just a goal. Unfortunately for the team, the goal wasn't enough to help the hosts take their opening victory, with Norway instead holding on for the 3-2 win.

Both teams will return to action on Sunday, with France playing Finland at 16:15 local time. Norway will bide their hopes against Switzerland, a 20:15 start for them.

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