Latvia hanged on for two periods but weren’t able to really challenge Czechia.
The first quarter final between Czechia and Latvia was played on Wednesday afternoon between Group B 2nd place Czechia and Group A 3rd place Latvia. Latvia had finished off Canada in the first round of the playoffs with a convincing 16-3 victory on Tuesday and was fully fired up to challenge the ”top four” country Czechia.
Out of the point leaders for Czechia ahead of the game, #7 Adam Delong (4+0) had taken care of most of the scoring, while #6 Mikulas Krbec (1+4) and #29 Filip Langer (2+3) had also facilitated very well on offense. The standout point leaders for Latvia ahead of the game were #22 Peteris Trekše (3+4) and #16 Klavs Jansons (5+1).
The game started at a slow pace. Both teams were very compact and careful with the ball. At about seven minutes in, Czechia capitalized on a little mistake of the Latvia defense: top scorer for Czechia, #7 Adam Delong finished well in front of the goal from of a pass from deep.
Both teams moved the ball well for the rest of the period and chances were created on both sides of the rink. Czechia were obviously more dangerous with 18 shots compared to 4 from Latvia. Czechia seemed to take over the game a little bit towards the end.
Latvia came out of the locker room ready to play at the beginning of the second period: a beautiful one timer from latvian #61 Kevins Smits for a 2-1 goal on the 24th minute. Czechia wasted no time, scoring only shortly after a 3-1 goal during a delayed penalty. The goalscorer was #17 Ondrej Nemecek.
All around good play continued for both teams during the second period. Both teams were able to create opportunities in the latter half of the 2nd but unable to capitalize on them. The shot count was more even in the 2nd (19-15) but Czechia looked more dangerous. Latvia goalie #89 Janis Salsevics was on his best game and kept their team pretty much alive.
At the very last seconds of the period, Latvia had a great opportunity to tie the game 3-2. #22 Trekše played the captain #21 Artis Raitums through but Raitums wasn’t able to finish against Czechias goaltender #74 Lukas Bauer
Czechia finished the game in the third
Latvia started the third shorthanded. There is a decent breakaway opportunity for #22 Trekše early in the third but instead of Latvia scoring #29 Filip Langer capitalizes on the counterattack. Only shortly after #11 Marek Beneš adds a another goal: an easy goal conceded by #89 Salcevics this time.
Czechia #29 Langer scores the fifth easily in the middle of Latvia defense. The game looked to be over at this point. Czechia keeped punishing Latvia for opening up on defense. Czechia #11 Beneš tallies a hattrick with two empty net goals making the final score 9-1 in the end.
– We didn’t expect to lose. I don’t think that the result shows the difference between the teams. It was an even game until the end, said #22 Trekše in the interview.
Czechia – Latvia 9-1 (1-0, 2-1. 6-0)
Hosts Finland cruised to the semis
The second quarter final game on Wednesday was played between hosts Finland and Slovakia. Finland had a perfect record from group A before the match. Slovakia also came through from group C with a perfect record and beat Germany 3-7 in a first round playoff game on Tuesday.
Slovakia had a mountain to climb against Finland but had had a good tournament that far. Point leaders for Slovakia included #33 Ladislav Gal (8+2), #4 Michal Dudovic (5+7) and #79 Ronald Gasparik (4+6). On the finnish side, the most valuable players that far had included #36 Ville Lastikka (5+1) and #9 Eemeli Salin (4+1).
The script for the first period of the game was that Finland dominated the ball and Slovakia played with discipline. The Slovaks managed to even kill a penalty after the 10 minute mark in the 1st.
#36 Ville Lastikka opened the scoring though on the 17 minute mark and was assisted by #61 Peter Kotilainen. Finland managed to make the score 2-0 before the break with #76 Rasmus Kainulainen scoring on the 19th minute.
Second period started in the same way as the first did: Finland dominated the game and Slovakia defended diligently. Slovakia gained an opportunity to get a goal back on powerplay when #9 Eemeli Salin took a penalty with 8 minutes played in the 2nd. Roughly a minute in #24 Lukas Ujhelyi was able to score assisted by #33 Ladislav Gal.
Finlands #61 Kotilainen scored only 20 seconds after though and made the score 4-1 two and a half minutes later with assists from #36 Lastikka and #8 Juha Kivilehto.
The third period wasn’t very eventful: Finland controlled the play throughout. Finlands #77 Sami Johansson made final score 5-1 on the last minute ensuring Finlands place as the second team to qualify to the semis at the Hartwall Arena on Friday.
– All in all a good performance from the team and now we’re through to the semi finals, said the debutant #87 Miko Kailiala in the post-match interview.
Finland – Slovakia 5-1 (2-0, 2-1, 1-0)