Latvia break Switzerland in shootout
If the Swiss hockey team want to blame anybody but themselves for their 2-1 loss to Latvia on Thursday evening, they can point the finger at Edgars Masalskis.
The Latvian goalie’s dominant play was the deciding factor in his side’s thrilling defeat of Switzerland. It was the host’s second loss in four games at the Ice Hockey World Championship.
Masalskis put on a clinic, making 38 saves and holding Latvia’s 1-0 lead for more than two periods. When Switzerland finally got even in the last minutes, the goalie remained composed.
He held his ground as the game went into an unfruitful five-minute overtime and stopped all three of Switzerland’s penalty shots. Aleksandrs Ņiživijs scored Latvia’s winning goal.
“This defeat hurts a lot,” said Swiss coach Ralph Krueger. “We dominated the first period but then gave our opponents the lead.”
“Now we concentrate on the opportunities that still remain,” he added. Krueger acknowledged that Latvia played better in the critical moments.
The Swiss loss didn’t come about for a lack of trying. They managed 15 shots on goal in the first period compared with twelfth-ranked Latvia’s five. But for every chance, Masalskis of Germany’s EV Duisburg stood his ground.
Masalskis disappoints the Swiss
The result? Masalskis disappointed Swiss Roman Wick on two occasions in the first six minutes of the game. Switzerland were unable to make anything of a double power play in the second period.
His acrobatics in the third must have impressed Toronto Maple Leaf Martin Gerber, who has been manning the Swiss net throughout the tournament. Gerber saw only 21 shots the whole evening.
But for all of Latvia’s defensive strength, the Swiss team that turned up tonight was not the same one that managed to garner a lead against top-ranked Russia on Tuesday. They missed shots, dropped pucks and were unable to capitalise on 11 Latvian penalties in regular time.
Switzerland now face huge pressure to win their next two qualifying games. They will have to over the next four days skate past Sweden and the United States if they want a coveted place in the quarterfinal.
For much of the game, it looks as though Latvian Mārtiņš Cipulis’ goal at 15:30 in the first period would be the deciding factor.
Despite continued pressure from Switzerland, Latvia held on in the second, with Masalskis continuing his stellar play.
Missed opportunities
Switzerland squandered a double power play opportunity early in the third period. With Aigars Cipruss and Georgijs Pujacs of Latvia in the penalty box, Switzerland would have had almost a minute to play five-on-three.
All of that ended when Martin Plüss and Severin Blindenbacher were sent off within 40 seconds of each other, denying their team an opportunity to get back into the game.
The majority of Swiss in the crowd of 9,771 and a lone banging drummer in the upper sections of the PostFinance Arena in the capital Bern were unable to inspire their team to a comeback until the last two minutes of the game.
Krueger pulled Gerber, adding an extra attacker to the Swiss side. Switzerland’s Anders Ambühl finally got past Masalskis to send the game to overtime.
Five minutes of four-on-four play finished with nothing. The game went into penalty shots and Roman Wick of Switzerland, who shot first, was unable to get the puck past Masalskis.
Latvia scored on their first opportunity. It was the deciding point.
Sandy Jeannin won the player of the game honour for Switzerland. Masalskis, who received a generous ovation from Swiss fans after the game, was man of the match for Latvia.
Switzerland play fifth-ranked Sweden on Sunday afternoon in Bern. Latvia face top-ranked Russia in the evening match.
swissinfo, Justin Häne at the PostFinance Arena in Bern
Canada proved dominant over the Czech Republic in the other evening game, held in Zurich.
They won 5-1.
The Canadian squad managed three goals in the first period over the fifth-ranked Czechs.
Steven Stamkos scored twice in a row and Shea Weber added a goal in the 17th minute.
Dany Heatley of Canada added a goal early in the third period for a 4-0 lead.
Martin St Louis added a goal for Canada before Ales Hemsky of the Czech Republic put his team on the board in the last three minutes of the third period.
Canada play Norway on Sunday. The Czech Republic play Belarus later that day in Zurich.
Switzerland vs Sweden
May 3, 4:15pm | Bern
Switzerland vs US
May 4, 8:15pm | Bern
Quarterfinal
May 6-7 | Bern
Semifinal
May 8 | Bern
Final
May 10 | Bern
Complete scheduleExternal link
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