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-trick was 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
In the crushing victory of the hockey team in the test match over Norway, the Latvian hockey players had the right reaction to the mistakes of yesterday’s game, the head coach of the Latvian national team, Harijs Vītoliņš, said at the press conference after the game.
“Yesterday we played a little bit and today the guys had the right reaction to yesterday’s mistakes,”
about the difference between the two games, losing 0:1 to the Norwegians in extra time on Friday, the coach said, noting that everyone should understand that the national team is going to the world championship and should play as needed.
“Sometimes you have to do what you might not do in the club. All the guys did it this time, including Daugaviņš and Bukarts in front of the goal and won duels in the corner,” noted the coach.
He noted with satisfaction that the majority play started to emerge in this game, but from Monday Rodrigo Abol will be in the team and the play will change a bit.
“Always goals in the majority, overcoming a minority or scoring goals in full squads gives confidence that we are working in the right direction.
If yesterday we lacked in many components, today the guys showed that if we play correctly, we can play.”
the coach pointed out.
He also mentioned that the physical condition of the hockey players was good today, and he hopes that the physical basis laid so far will further improve the condition and that freshness should also start to appear in the actions.
“The beginning of the championship is very important for us. If we start the World Championship with such excitement and fighting spirit, it will be good,” said the coach.
He denied that there was a serious injury to the goalkeeper Krister Gudljewski, due to which he gave the place in the goal to Eric Vitol at the end of the game, and also added that, contrary to the initial statement that the national team for the start of the world championship race will be named on Monday, it will be done a day later.
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.
Shots: 39:18.
Penalty minutes: 6:10 a.m.
Goalkeepers: Kristers Gudlevskis (from 55:57 Eriks Vitols) – Henriks Haukelanns.
