GDT: Group A - May 7 - Latvia vs Slovakia

[stv11]

2017 IIHF World Championship
Group A

May 7
2:15 PM ET • 8:15 PM CET

Latvia
Confirmed lineup

Left Wing​

|

Center​

|

Right Wing​

71 Roberts Bukarts​

|

25 Andris Dzerins​

|

16 Kaspars Daugavins "C"​

| -

14 Rihards Bukarts​

|

5 Janis Sprukts "A"​

|

70 Miks Indrasis​

| -

13 Gunars Skvorcovs​

|

28 Zemgus Girgensons​

|

91 Ronalds Kenins​

| -

87 Gints Meija​

|

96 Maris Bicevskis​

|

99 Teodors Blugers​

| -

Left Defense​

|

Right Defense​

11 Kristaps Sotnieks "A"​

|

32 Arturs Kulda "A"​

| -

58 Guntis Galvins​

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27 Oskars Cibulskis​

| -

26 Uvis Janis Balinskis​

|

72 Janis Jaks​

| -

29 Ralfs Freibergs​

|

4 Kristofers Bindulis​

| -

Starter​

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Backup​

30 Elvis Merzlikins​

|

98 Janis Kalnins​

| -

Scratched​

|

Details​

G 74 Ivars Punnenovs​

|

Healthy​

| -

F 41 Frenks Razgals​

|

Healthy​

| -

F 79 Vitaljis Pavlovs​

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Healthy​

| -

Slovakia
Confirmed lineup

Left Wing​

|

Center​

|

Right Wing​

9 David Skokan​

|

24 Jakub Suja​

|

22 Valdimir Dravecky​

| -

19 Michel Miklik​

|

55 Mario Bliznak​

|

87 Marcel Hascak​

| -

79 Libor Hudacek​

|

6 Lukas Cingel​

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18 Andrei Kudrna​

| -

82 Pavol Skalicky​

|

42 Tomas Zigo​

|

59 Andrej Stastny​

| -

Left Defense​

|

Right Defense​

65 Michal Cajkovsky​

|

8 Michal Sersen​

| -

28 Martin Gernat​

|

26 Juraj Mikus​

| -

11 Peter Ceresnak​

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3 Adam Janosik​

| -

12 Eduard Sedivy​

|

61 Peter Trska​

| -

Starter​

|

Backup​

50 Jan Laco​

|

33 Julius Hudacek​

| -

Scratched​

|

Details​

G 32 Jaroslav Janus​

|

Healthy​

| -

F 80 Tomas Hrnka​

|

-​

| -

Game Officials​

|

Referee​

|

Roman Gofman | -

Referee​

|

Anssi Salonen | -

Linesman​

|

Alexander Otmakhov | -

Linesman​

|

Nathan Vanoosten | -

Click to read more...

 

[Keram]

It is a bit ridiculous we play only third game against Latvia in 20 years at wch. And we never beat them Time to change it. But we need to play way better than yesterday and I dont know if we are capable of it. Latvia is favourite of thi game.

 

[Jakk123]

Laco will be the starting goalie.

 

[Namejs]

Laco will be the starting goalie.

As a numbers guy I can only say thanks to your coach for making this decision.

 

[SlovanHC]

Very very tough game for us. It's gonna be a test for the new guys

 

[Namejs]

It is a bit ridiculous we play only third game against Latvia in 20 years at wch. And we never beat them Time to change it. But we need to play way better than yesterday and I dont know if we are capable of it. Latvia is favourite of thi game.

Your first line seems to be much more capable than the rest of your team. We have a very solid shutdown line with 2 guys with NHL experience, who managed to neutralize the Ehlers line relatively well. And there are no players of Ehlers calibre on your team. So I'm feeling quite good about our chances, as long as we manage to stay out of the box.

I looked up your roster earlier and it really surprised me that even a mediocre Latvian dude like Dzerins is way more productive in Extraliga than the bulk of your forward corps. Just a bunch of big-bodied grinder types in the bottom 6 with limited talent.

And the showing vs. Italy was even worse, the number of faulty passes made it look more like a lower division match than an Elite tier game.

Not trying to offend you, by the way, your A team has a lot more high end talent than we do. But I'm not sure If this is even your B team.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Your first line seems to be much more capable than the rest of your team. We have a very solid shutdown line with 2 guys with NHL experience, who managed to neutralize the Ehlers line relatively well. And there are no players of Ehlers calibre on your team. So I'm feeling quite good about our chances, as long as we manage to stay out of the box.

I looked up your roster earlier and it really surprised me that even a mediocre Latvian dude like Dzerins is way more productive in Extraliga than the bulk of your forward corps. Just a bunch of big-bodied grinder types in the bottom 6 with limited talent.

And the showing vs. Italy was even worse, the number of faulty passes made it look more like a lower division match than an Elite tier game.

Not trying to offend you, by the way, your A team has a lot more high end talent than we do. But I'm not sure If this is even your B team.

I see you are not a big believer in the whole "dont jinx your own team" thing. Slovakia can beat us easily today, if its an off day for Merzļikins, we shouldnt get cocky after just one win.

 

[kudla]

I see you are not a big believer in the whole "dont jinx your own team" thing. Slovakia can beat us easily today, if its an off day for Merzļikins, we shouldnt get cocky after just one win.

there is no way our team will beat anyone

 

[Namejs]

I see you are not a big believer in the whole "dont jinx your own team" thing. Slovakia can beat us easily today, if its an off day for Merzļikins, we shouldnt get cocky after just one win.

No, I don't believe in BS.

And I'm not being cocky, I just saw the game against Italy.

And I'm not trying to imply that we're going to steamroll them, it's just that no one expected before the tournament that this is going to be a 50:50 game for Slovakia at best.

The odds before the tournament were 75:25 according to bookies, now it's 50:50. That's a huge drop. It doesn't happen very often. So I just explained my opinion regarding the underwhelming showing of Team Slovakia, that's all. Nothing to do with cockiness.

 

[SlovanHC]

I see you are not a big believer in the whole "dont jinx your own team" thing. Slovakia can beat us easily today, if its an off day for Merzļikins, we shouldnt get cocky after just one win.

We won't be winning. Our team just doesn't have the experience and the killer instinct that is needed to kill off games. As seen in the Italy game, we could've easily killed the game off but we don't take our chances.

 

[Keram]

Your first line seems to be much more capable than the rest of your team. We have a very solid shutdown line with 2 guys with NHL experience, who managed to neutralize the Ehlers line relatively well. And there are no players of Ehlers calibre on your team. So I'm feeling quite good about our chances, as long as we manage to stay out of the box.

I looked up your roster earlier and it really surprised me that even a mediocre Latvian dude like Dzerins is way more productive in Extraliga than the bulk of your forward corps. Just a bunch of big-bodied grinder types in the bottom 6 with limited talent.

And the showing vs. Italy was even worse, the number of faulty passes made it look more like a lower division match than an Elite tier game.

Not trying to offend you, by the way, your A team has a lot more high end talent than we do. But I'm not sure If this is even your B team.

You sum it up pretty well imo. We miss about 15 better players and I dont count Chara Hossa Gaborik. Ciger took grinders even from extraliga. He could take Sukel or Koys instead of some grinders. They are young and skilled.

 

[penepi]

Beautiful odds on Latvia.

 

[tobu]

Your first line seems to be much more capable than the rest of your team. We have a very solid shutdown line with 2 guys with NHL experience, who managed to neutralize the Ehlers line relatively well. And there are no players of Ehlers calibre on your team. So I'm feeling quite good about our chances, as long as we manage to stay out of the box.

I looked up your roster earlier and it really surprised me that even a mediocre Latvian dude like Dzerins is way more productive in Extraliga than the bulk of your forward corps. Just a bunch of big-bodied grinder types in the bottom 6 with limited talent.

And the showing vs. Italy was even worse, the number of faulty passes made it look more like a lower division match than an Elite tier game.

Not trying to offend you, by the way, your A team has a lot more high end talent than we do. But I'm not sure If this is even your B team.

Exactly this. Our roster consists of primarily 3rd and 4th liners. Slovak team won't score many goals, but imho won't concede many either, after all most of these players are used to the shutdown responsibilities. I expect a close game, in truth it's 49:51, Latvia with the upside.

 

[s4]

O boy, here we go, 2min of 5 on 3

 

[s4]

That was quite a funny goal. Maybe, sometimes, a little bit lucky?

 

[SlovanHC]

Nearly killed that penalty as well, sigh

 

[s4]

Can someone explain why this didnt count? The puck didnt seem to be fixed? Did the slovak stick touched the glove of the goalie?

 

[SlovanHC]

Erm that was a goal?

 

[kudymen]

Can someone explain why this didnt count? The puck didnt seem to be fixed? Did the slovak stick touched the glove of the goalie?

Our announcers said the ref was too quick with the whistle - as in he thought the goalie held the puck. But as you said, the replay shows the ref was wrong and shouldnt have whistled yet

 

[SoundAndFury]

Latvia with a lucky break. Ref blew it dead early I guess. I only saw the replay tho.

 

[SlovanHC]

How the **** are they not video reviewing that?!

 

[Ivo]

How the **** are they not video reviewing that?!

Review wouldn't change anything, if the ref blew the whistle. He was simply too eager and it cost Slovakia a good goal. Oh well.

 

[s4]

You can always count on referees screwing at least one team over I guess. We scored almost identical goal vs Denmark

 

[SlovanHC]

Review wouldn't change anything, if the ref blew the whistle. He was simply too eager and it cost Slovakia a good goal. Oh well.

I just hope it hasn't cost us the game. Oh well, too early to tell.

 

[SoundAndFury]

How the **** are they not video reviewing that?!

Because the only thing they could review is if the puck didn't cross the line before ref blew the whistle. Which obviously wasn't the case.