The Latvian men’s ice hockey team ended a five-game losing streak lasting less than 132 minutes, and in the last test match, “Arena Rīga” defeated the Norwegian national team 8-0, taking revenge for yesterday’s loss in overtime with 0-1.
Rihards Bukarts stood out with three goals, Kaspars Daugavins also scored three points (2+1), Mārtiņš Dzierkals and Miks Indrašis scored 1+1, while Oskars Cibulskis, Jānis Jaks, Renārs Krastenbergs and Roberts Bukarts scored 0+2. Dzierkals was recognized as the best player in the ranks of Latvia.
Having played the first test match, the Swedish champion Dzierkals already left the team in the minority in the 28th second, but in the 7th minute, Latvia scored the first goal of the game – Roberta Mamčica’s shot from the blue line was successfully converted by Rihards Bukarts (1:0).
In the third period full of rejections, Latvia used the majority in the last minute and 15 seconds of the period and doubled the advantage – Dzierkals, who received the puck, skated out in the middle of the attack zone and made it 2:0 under cover.
In the second third, Latvia scored three more goals. In the 26th minute, after Renārs Krastenberg’s pass, Indrašis scored in one touch, in the 35th minute, defender Roberts Kalĥkis, who played in France, emerged from the blue line, and in the 40th minute, the majority was realized again at the end of the period – Rihards Bukarts adjusted the puck in front of the goal after a pass from his brother Roberts (5:0). .
In the third period, Latvia scored three goals already before the middle of the period – in the 44th and 47th minutes defenders Cibulskis and Jaks found Daugavinas in front of the goal, but in the 51st minute hat-trickwas Rihards Bukarts (8:0).
Both teams changed goalkeepers – for Latvia, Elvi Merzlikina was replaced by Kristers Gudlevskis, who was forced to be replaced at the end of the match. There was no Kristaps Zīles in the defense, instead of whom Oskars Cibulskis was promoted to the first pair, but Kalĥis was included in the application. In the attack, Rihards Marenis, Andri Džeriņa and Filipa Bunci were replaced by Dzierkals, Dans Lochmelis, who played together with Kaspars Daugavinas in the first shift, and Martins Laviņš, as well as Rihards Bukarts was promoted to the brother’s shift.
Latvia will start the world championship on May 11 in Ostrava against Poland, the lineup is expected to be announced on Monday at 15.30
Latvia – Norway 8:0 (2:0, 3:0, 3:0)
Gate: 6:45 Fri. Bukarts (Freibergs, Mamcic) 1:0, 19:45 Dzierkals (Jaks, Krastenbergs, others) 2:0, 25:45 Indrašis (Krastenbergs, Ansons) 3:0, 34:35 Kalčis (Daugavins, Bergmanis) 4: 0, 39:37 Fri. Bukarts (Ro. Bukarts, Indrašis, more) 5:0, 43:49 Daugavins (Cibulskis, Dzierkals) 6:0, 46:03 Daugavins (Jaks, Cibulskis) 7:0, 50:01 Ri. Bukarts (Batnia, Ro. Bukarts) 8:0.
Throws: 39:18.
Penalty minutes: 6:10.
Goalkeepers: Kristers Gudlevskis (from 55:57 Eriks Vitols) – Henriks Haukelanns.
