The Latvian men's ice hockey team defeated the German team 4:3 (1:2, 1:0, 2:1) in their second match of the Olympic tournament, reports LETA.
In the Latvian national team, Dan Lochmelis scored two goals, while Edvards Tralmaks and Renars Krastenbergs each scored once. For the German team, goals were scored by Lukas Reichel, Lukas Kälble, and Tim Stützle.
In goal for the Latvian team, Arturs Šilovs started the match but was beaten by Lukas Reichel on a counterattack just three minutes in. Twenty seconds later, Kristaps Zile left the Latvian team short-handed, but they managed to hold on.
The Latvians equalized in the 12th minute when, on a power play, Lochmelis scored from close range after passes from Zemgus Girgensons and Renars Krastenbergs.
Germany took the lead again in the 17th minute when Kälble capitalized on a mistake by the Latvian players.
In the second period's second minute, the Latvian team received their second power play opportunity, but they were unable to convert it; moreover, at the end of this power play, Oskars Batņa received a two-minute penalty. The Latvians held firm while short-handed and could have equalized in the sixth minute, but Martiņš Dzierkals's close-range shot was saved by Philipp Grubauer.
In the seventh and eighth minutes of the period, the Germans committed two penalties, giving the Latvian team a five-on-three advantage, which Lochmelis converted with a precise shot into the near top corner of the net.
Germany had an excellent opportunity to regain the lead in the 11th minute of the period when Leon Draisaitl broke in alone on Šilovs, but the Latvian goalkeeper proved stronger in this duel.
In the 12th minute of the second period, after Kristaps Zile's penalty, the Latvian team found themselves short-handed again, but they managed to keep the Germans from scoring, with the Latvian team being saved by the post once.
The Latvian team missed a great chance to take the lead for the first time in the 15th minute of the period when, on a three-on-one break, Grubauer came out on top.
The third period was more actively started by the German team, which, just one minute in, broke out on a two-on-one counterattack, but Kaspars Daugavins, remaining in defense, managed to intercept a dangerous pass to the crease while falling, and in the third minute, Šilovs eliminated another one-on-one opportunity.
In the seventh minute of the final third, Robert Mamčics committed a foul against Draisaitl, but the short-handed team held firm, and during it, Uvis Balinskis posed a dangerous threat to the German goal on a counterattack. Soon after the penalty kill, Tralmaks broke free to the net after a pass from Girgensons along the right flank and scored with a precise shot into the far top corner to make it 3:2, and in the 52nd minute, Krastenbergs scored from close range after passes from Alberts Šmits and Daugavins.
In the 58th minute, the German team replaced their goalkeeper with a sixth skater, and Tim Stützle, with a deflection, cut the deficit to a minimum. The Germans continued to play without a goalkeeper, but the Latvian team held on for the victory.
Today in Group C, the USA and Denmark will also play.
Earlier, it was reported that in the first match of the tournament, the Latvian team lost to the USA with a score of 1:5, while the Germans defeated Denmark 3:1.
In the Olympic ice hockey tournament, Canada, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and France are competing in Group A, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, and Italy in Group B, and the USA, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark in Group C. All 12 teams will advance to the playoffs, with the top four teams from the group stage directly qualifying for the quarterfinals.
After a 12-year hiatus, players from the National Hockey League (NHL) are participating in the Olympic tournament.
