Norway moves closer to the quarter finals

Norway played their best of the tournament so far and defeated Belarus 3-1. Norway played a very solid game and didn't allow Belarus to create many chances and the Belarussian goal was scored in the last two minutes.

Per-Åge Skrøder was the big victory organizer for Norway scoring two goals in his 100th game for Team Norway. He gave Norway the lead early when Martin Røymark gave him a nice pass from behind and Skrøder shot a quick shot that went in at the far post. "It was nice", Skrøder said about scoring two goals in his jubilee. "I got a great pass from Martin, I'm free and the keeper has to to a long movement" he said about his first.

The second was scored in the second period when Norway kept the grip after a power play and Skrøder deflected a shot from Trygg, Belinski saved the deflection but Skrøder took the rebound and with Belinski down on the ice he had any easy finish.

"I hope he will play 100 games more", goalie Lars Haugen said. "He means a lot for us", Haugen added and also said it was special for him to play Belarus as he plays his club hockey in Minsk.

Skrøder and Olimg just before 2-0. Photo: Michal Eger

Morten Ask and Jonas Holøs both agreed that this was Norway's best game so far "We came out stronger today and we executed well", Ask said and added "Two days of rest made us good and we have had some good practice". Holøs got over 29 minutes of ice time today when Norway only had five defenders as Tollefsen (suspended) and Solberg didn't play and after the game he said "We're happy with the way we played Belarus. We moved the puck and didn't take stupid penalties".

In the first period however Andreas Martinsen was given major penalty for boarding and was ejected from the game. Norway killed the penalty easily and even if Belarus held the puck a lot they didn't move it quickly enough and didn't create anything. Holøs agreed it was a key moment in the game "I said this is creating energy for us", about what he as a captain told his players during the game.

Mathis Olimb. Photo: Michal Eger

Goals from Bastiansen and Kulakov made the final score 3-1 and Norway now is in fourth place and has a good chance of reaching the quarter finals but still has to play both Switzerland and Czech Republic. "They are a little bit like us last year, with a lot of energy in the team", Skrøder said about the next opponent Switzerland who has been impressive so far.

For Belarus the chances of the quarter finals are gone and as they can't be relegated as they are hosting next year's World Championship they don't have much to play for in their two last games.

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