Kaspars Daugavins | Photo: LHF
Today, the Latvian hockey team defeated the Norwegian national team 8-0 in the last test match before the world championship. Rihards Bukarts scored three goals, Kaspars Daugavins scored two goals, Mārtiņš Dzierkals, Miks Indrašis and Roberts Kaļķis scored one each.
Latvia – Norway 8:0 (GAME OVER)
Game progress
Already in the 28th second, Latvia remained in the minority, as Swedish champion Mārtiņš Dzierkals, the new member of the national team, received a two-minute penalty for holding with a stick, but the goal was saved. 1-0 was achieved in the seventh minute by Rihard Bukart, who deflected Ralf Freiberg’s shot in front of the goal, and the puck hit the top left corner of the goal. A productive assist was also credited to Robert Mamčicas, but Oskars Batņa covered the visibility of the opponent’s goalkeeper in front of the goal.
Half a minute before the end of the first period, the visitors received a two-minute penalty, and only 15 seconds were needed for Latvia to double the score difference – 2:0. After Renārs Krastenbergs and Jānis Jakas passes, Dzierkals scored a goal from the middle of the opponent’s area. 3:0 was made in the 26th minute after the Latvian hockey players won the battle at the rim, and Miks Indrašis scored from the middle of the opponent’s zone after Raivjas Ansons and Krastenberg’s passes. The puck hit the goalkeeper and slid into the left corner of the goal.
In the 35th minute, after the passes of Arvils Bergmanis and Kaspars Daugavinas, Roberts Kalkis made it 4-0 with a long shot, sending the puck into the right corner of the goal. The period ended similarly to the first. The Norwegians earned a two-minute suspension 72 seconds before the break, and Latvia needed 49 seconds to make it 5-0. After the passes of Indraš and Robert Bukarts, Rihards Bukarts scored the goal from in front of the goal, sending the puck into the left corner of the half-empty goal.
In the 44th minute, after a pass from Oskars Cibulskis, Daugavins sent the puck between the legs of goalkeeper Henrik Haukelann with the awkward side of the stick in front of the goal from the left side of the field. Dzierkals also earned a productive pass. Daugavins needed two minutes and 14 seconds to score two goals. This time, after a pass by Oskars Cibulskis along the blue line, Daugaviņš caught the puck thrown from the right side of the field by Jānis Jakas in front of the goal, and it flew into the left corner of the goal.
In the 51st minute, Rihards Bukarts scored 8-0 with a shot from the middle of the Norwegian zone after the passes of Robert Bukart and Batnia, achieving a hat-trick. Four minutes and three seconds before the end of the game, having played a “dry” game, Latvian goalkeeper Kristers Gudļevskis went to the sidelines, giving way to reserve player Āriks Vītolas.
