Latvian national hockey team head coach Harijs Vitolins, as well as Latvian team defender Kristaps Zile and forward Dan Lochmelis commented on Latvia's defeat to Denmark.
As reported, the Latvian national team lost to Denmark 2:4 in their last group stage match of the Olympic hockey tournament in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The two-goal defeat pushed the Latvians to fourth place in the subgroup.
Vitolins on the goalie substitution: I couldn't tell the guys that we wouldn't try to snatch the victory
Latvian national hockey team head coach Harijs Vitolins admitted in a conversation with journalists that the coaching staff decided to replace goalie Arturs Shilovs with a sixth skater in the match against Denmark to fight for victory, LETA reports.
Vitolins noted that Latvian goalie Arturs Shilovs was substituted two and a half minutes before the end of regulation time with the score at 2:3 so that the team could fight for success.
"The guys gave their all in the game, but this is a match that needs to be won. After those 0:3, the game turned in our favor, chances came one after another, and I couldn't tell the guys that we wouldn't try to snatch the victory," Vitolins said.
To secure a higher place in the group, Latvia only needed to lose by one goal, while Denmark needed to win by two goals. Vitolins acknowledged that Denmark would likely not have substituted their goalie and would have focused solely on maintaining the lead.
Vitolins also noted that the Latvian coaching staff knew what a loss by one or two goals would mean.
"At the same time, when I see the fire in the players' eyes, their desire to go out and fight, I can't say that we won't do everything to win the match," he added.
In the first period, Latvia found themselves trailing 0:3, conceding the first goal just 23 seconds into the game. Vitolins emphasized that this was not due to carelessness.
"There were technical errors, but the opponent capitalized on them very skillfully. Coming back from 0:3 is very difficult. There were enough chances to do it, but this time we fell a little short," the coach said.
In the first round of the playoffs for a spot in the quarterfinals, Latvia's potential opponents are the Czech Republic or Sweden.
"We need to prepare further. We are used to taking the not-so-easy paths. There are no weak opponents, so we need to prepare for the next game," Vitolins emphasized.
Zile: We believed in ourselves throughout the game
The Latvian national hockey team believed throughout the game that they could come back and win against Denmark, said Latvian team defender Kristaps Zile in a conversation with journalists, LETA reports.
"We started at 0:3 — it shouldn't be like that. After those 0:3, we believed in ourselves throughout the game that we would come back and take the lead. In the third period, the puck didn't find its way into the net, there were several hits to the post, and we were a bit unlucky. The belief was there, but you can't start a match at 0:3," Zile said.
"Every game is very important, and each match determines who you will play against next. Every point matters. This time we fell a bit short, let's see who we get next," he added.
Finishing last in the subgroup, the Latvian hockey players will face Sweden in the first round of the playoffs.
"Anything is possible. We have beaten them before, the main thing is to be ready for anything," said the defender.
If Latvia had lost by one goal, the team would have placed higher in the subgroup and would have faced a weaker opponent than Sweden in the playoffs. Zile admitted that he was unaware of the necessary goal difference for a higher placement in the group.
"Personally, I didn't think about it. We go out to win every match, the rest is on others' shoulders. Perhaps those who went out to play six against five were told something. We believed we would come back and take the lead. We had good moments both in the minority and when playing five on five. There was no sense in calculating anything mathematically — we just needed to win this match," the hockey player explained.
Lochmelis: In such an important game, we couldn't afford to make mistakes right at the start
The Latvian national hockey team was let down by a poor start in the match against Denmark, said Latvian team forward Dan Lochmelis in a conversation with LETA agency, LETA reports.
Latvian hockey players found themselves trailing 0:3 in the first period and only managed to score one goal at the end of the period — Kristaps Zile was the scorer.
"They quickly scored three goals, and we had to chase the game the whole match — we couldn't do it," Lochmelis said. "We lacked a good start. In such an important game, we couldn't afford to make mistakes right at the beginning."
After losing the first period, the Latvian hockey players had several opportunities to score during the match, and by the final buzzer, the shot count was in favor of Latvia — 35:21.
"It's hard when you fall behind from the very start. Then you have to chase the game the whole match. We tried to attack, but the puck just wouldn't go in the net," he added.
Lochmelis noted that in the Olympic hockey tournament, where the first round of the playoffs starts immediately after three group stage matches, teams play few games, so each one is very significant.
"We have only three games in our group, and then the playoffs start. We take every match seriously, but the next game will be very important," emphasized the forward.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Latvian hockey players will face the Swedish national team.
The Olympic hockey tournament in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo will last until February 22.
