Everything turned out OK

When organizers compiled the fixtures of World Championship would never have thought that a “simple” closing game against Estonia, a team that barely escaped from relegation in the last championships, could become a gold medal final. The surprising campaign of Estonian team made this the final battle: Arena Kaunas is almost sold-out in the major event ever of Lithuanian hockey, with 12.000 spectators arrived here from all over the country to push the national team in the last effort to reach Division Ia. The incredible atmosphere enhances home team trying to assault the cage of Villem-Henrik Koitmaa from the first minutes. Estonia kills a power play and silences the Arena at 04:20 with its best player Robert Rooba, finishing a wrap-around with a shot caught unprepared Mantas Armalis. The Estonian dreams lasts three minutes, until the tie goal scored by Nerijus Alisauskas with a one-timer after a faceoff won by Zubrus. At minute 10 a confusing move in Lithuanian defensive zone forced Armalis to a difficult save on Robert Arrak as well as on Andrei Makrov twice between 11 and 12 minute. Estonia bears the pressure trying to intimidate the opponents with a physical style, risking taking penalties. Surviving a power play, the white/blue suffers the second goal at 15:42 with a piece of acting by Jaunius Jasinevicius finding the upper corner of Koitmaa cage from way up top.

The central period is more confusing with Lithuania controlling the game without take risks: Koitmaa, on the opposite side, has to make a difficult save on Rulevicius after a wrong pass by captain Lauri Lahesalu at 36 before to suffer the third goal score with cunning by Povilas Verenis at 35:53: Energija Elektrenai forward tapping in the five hole a puck lost by Tadas Kumeliauskas in the Estonian defensive zone. Estonian defender Marko Kettunen suffered a facial injury after five minutes in the third period forcing to stop the game for almost four minutes, before an aggressive power play by Estronia, calling Armalis to a couple of difficult saves on Arrak and Makrov. After another chance not converted by Rooba, with almost three minutes to play Estonia bravely pulls the goalie suffering the second goal by Verenis empty-net. Now the triumph is completed, and the arena can celebrate the heroes. Estonia can be pround of its campaign, it was almost impossible to win against a whole people

After the game Lithuania captain Mindaugas Kieras was awarded for his 100th caps with national team jersey

MVP: Robert Rooba – Arnoldas Bosas

Tournament awards:

Best Goalie: Villem-Henrik Koitmaa

Best Defender: Ryo Hashimoto

Best Forward: Arnoldas Bosas

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