NO(r)WAY! Despite good start, Slovakia loses

Slovakia entered the game without its captain Tomáš Kopecký and with the only goal. In difference of their previous three games they should refuse of cashing in the first, to build up a solid lead which they would keep till the very end. And by doing this they will jump to the lead of Group B.

Intentions of Team Norway are exactly opposite. With the cumulative score of 3:13 they kept the last position in Group B and if they wanted to keep at least mathematical chance to advance to the quarterfinals, they need to start picking points.

Motivation of Slovaks probably were stronger before the game start. They flied into the game with  a strong intention to hog the lead as soon as possible. But as they did not score in the first ten minutes, their initial pressure relented and once Norway received the first powerplay they nearly used it.

However on the other side of the rink, the next powerplay of Slovakia was successful. After passes from Hudáček and Gáborík Surový opened the score and broke the Slovak curse of game-opening goals in the championship.

Even more cheerful atmosphere in ČEZ Aréna prevailed only ninety seconds after start of the second period when Marek Daloga send towards Lars Haugen a slapshot from the "unstoppable" cathegory.

But only three minutes later Norway got another powerplay and this time Mattias Norstebo turned it into a goal. And it was not all what Norwegians can do. A clever assistance of Morten Ask found Mats Olsen Rosseli absolutely unguarded in front of Jan Laco in Slovakia net and he managed to tie the game at 2`s.

Start of the last period brought a heart-breaker to the People of Slovakia. Maybe their national team was finally able to score the first goal in the game and later even to double the lead, but now, 116 seconds in the third period the score is turned over and Norway leads 2:3. It was another powerplay and again, it was Norstebo to use it.

Thirteen minutes to go, Andrej Meszaros became "from-hero-to-zero" to Slovakia. The man who hugely contributed to previous two victories of his national team offended with butt-ending leading to a game misconduct penalty for him and a five minutes long shorthanded for his club. 

And when at time 51:00, when still 68 seconds were remaining to go from Meszaros` penalty also Baranka was penalized for charging, all Slovakia went through a near-death experience. But Norway was unable to turn it into the fourth goal. 

Three and half minutes to go, Daniel Sorvik received a minor penaty for tripping and whole the audience was loudly convinced now the equalizer is coming. But it was not, Slovakia lost to Norway 3-2 and Team Norge earns its first points in the tournament, decreasing the chance of relegation.

What is more, this game is going to be archived in the Record Book of IIHF. For the first time in history (out of eight games), Norway beats Slovakia and firstly they score against Slovakia more than two goals in a game.

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