Denmark’s win sends Norway to the quarter finals

Unless the unlikely event of an Italian win against Russia Denmark saved themselves a place in next year's World Championship after beating Latvia 2-0.

"If Italy beats Russia and don't know what the **** I'll do", Morten Madsen said after the game. "The first ten minutes were their's but then we took over the game. In the third period we did well to close them down", he added.

Despite 28 shots on goals, in the first period the period saw no goals. Latvia who most shots in the first (18) also had the first great chance of the second period but Gints Meija some how managed to shoot over the bar when the net was wide open. Meija could very well have night mares about that miss. And just as so many times before, when you miss a great chance, you get a goal in the back instead. In the next Danish attack Morten Green opened to score with a well directed shot.

The goal opened up the game and Denmark had to great chances shortly after the first goal. Masalskis saved them both, even if he was lucky that Madsen didn't managed to lift the puck properly on the first occasion. Later Masalskis was in a collision with Denmark's Morten Madsen. Masalskis fell to the ice and hit his head to the ice. After a few minutes of medical attention he stayed on the ice but was replaced in the second intermission.


Redlihs alone with a solid Danish defense.
Photo Tomas Schmiedt

"I was pushed into him and fell over him. It's bad luck that he got injured", Morten Madsen said about the situation who made Masalskis leave the game.

After a couple of penalties for both teams Morten Green made it 2-0 for Denmark when a few lucky bounces gave the puck at the post for an easy tap in from close range. Denmark felt like the better team and when Latvia had their chances, Denmark's goalie Frederik Andersen was very solid.

"We had our goalie back today. He stepped in when we needed him the most", Denmark's head coach Per Bäckman said about Andersen who hasn't met the expectations on him earlier in the tournament. "It's enough to score two goals when you have a good goalie", Bäckman added who was also pleased with the work effort by Lars Eller in today's game.

Andersen himself was also pleased, "Finally we got some points for our good game. I was very focused and I'm happy that I can show what I can".

In the third period Denmark controlled the game completely and Latvia was never close to come back and tie the game. "We were a bit lucky with a draw after the first period but we controlled the game in the third", Bäckman said about the game.

Latvia's head coach Ted Nolan was clearly disappointed with the will his team that his team has shown in this tournament. "What I like with this game is that sometimes it's not the best tactics who win but the best will. Today Denmark outwilled us. They wanted it more", Nolan said also stating the the Latvian team needs to improve this in the future.

 

Advanced player search

Tweets by @eurohockey