Jagr, Czech Republic punish Latvia

Jan Kovar lit the lamp once and added two assists on the night that the Czechs pulled off a 4-2 win over Latvia. Martin Erat had two assists and Jaromir Jagr looked as if he were 25 years old with a goal and a stellar performance. Righteously, he was named best player of team Czech Republic.

Alexander Salak got the back-to-back start in net, but was replaced by Ondrej Pavelec early in the second period after conceding two goals, the second just 67 seconds after the Czechs had made it even.

Jakub Klepis got injured at the start of the game and had to go to the locker room, but eventually was back on ice and finished the game. He seemed to have been speared, because he was down on the ice and with help from team mates managed to reach the bench.

The Czechs started off pretty well, Jagr hit the post early on and after Maris Jass' shot from the right that got deflected by Salak, David Simon answered on the other side, though he couldn't tuck one in.

Jan Kovar missed another given opportunity when the Latvian defense erred to let him go alone with Edgars Masalskis, but the goalie had a pad deflection falling down.

Jan Kovar trying Masalskis. Photo: Stanislav Souček

Kaspars Daugavins opened the scoring 13:13 into the game on te powerplay. Jagr was serving for tripping when Lauris Darzins found Daugavins who sailed on the right side and beat Salak. The Czech goalie deflected the puck, but it rolled over the line and into the net.

Michal Jordan made things even at 22:01 with a blast from the blue line and through traffic in front, before Mikelis Redlihs found the net a minute later off the assist from Janis Sprukts. To both those were the only points tonight.

To circle the wild opening of the second period, Jan Kovar fired one up from the left side on the powerplay and it found its way into the net.

Latvia then had two consecutive penalties, Andris Dzerins got called for slashing and then 20 seconds before his return Kristaps Sotnieks got called for a slashing major and a game misconduct (5+20). The Czechs were given an enormous 5-minute powerplay chance. And they made use of it!

The second-liners were exceptional on powerplays - combined they had 5 points, 2 goals and 3 assists. Jaromir Jagr scored at 32:44, Martin Erat and Jakub Kovar recorded the assists.

The finish the story about powerplays - Jakub Voracek sealed the deal at 45:29 after Jakub Kovar and Jakub Nakladal got the puck to him for the final score.

In Latvian net Edgars Masalskis got the edge today over Ervins Mustukovs and had 31 saves. Latvia were heavily outshot 35-10, 4 saves going to each goalie.

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