Lithuania is alive

Playing the best game so far, Lithuania won a decisive battle to survive against Korea earning a real chance to stay in Division Ia. Korea, after a brilliant first part of the tournament, seems now tires and less effective on the ice. At minute 13 goalie Matt Dalton making a triple save earning the applause even of Lithuanian fans. Lithuania opens the score on the first power play with Tadas Kumeliauskas, coming over from Korean defenders to tap in a rebound on Alisauskas shot. Korea has immediately a  chance to tie the game with Kim Ki Sung, missing the net from a favourable position.

In the central period Korea increase the pressure and the speed of its play, has a goal disallowed due to interference on goalie after the video review after 5 minutes. Lithuania has a good chance on a stealing puck with Arnoldas Bosas missing the net. Before the siren also Lithuania has a goal disallowed because the shot from Bosas get into the goal after the siren.

Korea finds the deserved goal at 42:26 with captain Kim Sang Wook, lucky to be in the right place to tap in a rebound by Armalis. Same Kim hits the post from the angle one minute after while Armalis saves on Kim Ki Sung at 46. Again Ki Sung gives work to Armalis at 48. While Korea produces the maximum effort, as a light comes the second goal of Lithuania, scored by Paulius Gintautas at 49:32. At 58:00 Daniel Bogdzuil has the puck to close the question but fires on Dalton from a good position. Despite the last minute played without the goalie Korea doesn’t score becoming eliminated from the race to the promotion. Lithuania earns an unexpected but deserved victory and can now hope for staying in the division

MVP: Min Ho Cho – Paulius Gintautas

Daniel Lacroix: “We knew we had to play extremely well to beat Korea, they play very well. We played with energy and enthusiasm but also with desperation, we had a great contribute from our young players and many good saves by our goalie. We were here to play, not for a trip, we believe in us since the beginning”

Jim Paek: “Congratulations to Lithuania, they played very hard. Hockey is a game of momentum, I disagree of our goal disallowed and that was the momentum, but we were inconsistent during the game. I hope we will play better tomorrow; we have a tough game against Belarus, but in the round robin every game is a gold medal game”

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