On Friday, both teams played the first match, and Norway took advantage of the Latvian hockey players’ inability to score a goal, winning in extra time – 1:0.
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.
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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.
On Friday, the Latvians lost to the Norwegians in extra time with 0:1. The goal of the Latvian national team was guarded by Elvis Merzlikins, who was recognized as the best player in the national team.
In the previous games, the Latvian ice hockey players defeated Austria twice in the shootout at home with 3:2 and lost to Finland twice with 2:3, but lost to Switzerland 1:5 and 0:4 away.
The Norwegians celebrated three victories in six games in April. The guests shared points with Denmark (1:3, 3:2), but lost twice to Hungary (1:2, 2:3). Then the Danes were defeated 4:3 and 2:1 in overtime at home.
After the match with Switzerland, forwards Miks Indrašis, Raivis Ansons and Swedish champion Mārtiņš Dzierkals, German vice-champion goalkeeper Kristers Gudļevskis, as well as defender Kārlis Čukste joined the Latvian national team, but forwards Kristaps Skrastiņš and Tom Anderson, defender Artūrs Andžans and goalkeeper Ivars Punnenovs are no longer in the national team. .
It also became known that due to injuries, the finalists of the Swiss Championship, Rudolfs Balcers and Ronalds Kēniņš, will not be able to help the national team this spring.
