Latvian hockey team | Photo: Eddy Palen / LETA
The semi-final of the World Hockey Championship between Latvia and Canada did not resemble the first game between the two teams, in which the team led by Harija Vītoliņš suffered a defeat, either in terms of the result or the course of the game. However, in spite of the saying about a bullet that never falls in the same place twice, a 2:4 loss was also experienced on Saturday, which sent Latvia to the “bronze final” against the USA.
Something was lost on the way to Tampere
From the outside, you could see that Latvia had come to Tampere, which did not have 100% of the team we were used to seeing in Riga, but maybe 85-90%. It was manifested in all sorts of details – somewhere in the defense, the game was not as focused and tight as before. When you feel angry, it doesn’t matter who it’s directed at – yourself, your opponent or the referee, even if it’s justified.
Let’s remember how Canada scored the first goal. Peyton Krebs was surrounded by four (!) Latvian national hockey players, but his pass to Samuel Blais still went through, although not without the help of a ricochet. Or the third goal when Ralf Freiberg played like a cone in training. I don’t know where the reason lies, but it is impossible to beat Canada if the team is not 100%. Also, the comments about the judges are definitely not what you would expect from these men.
Two sides of Lochmel’s scales
“For the first time in my life such feelings, I enjoy every moment. Now I’m just living a dream,” said the 19-year-old after scoring his first goal at the World Cup in the quarter-finals against Sweden. Dan Lochmelis. The youngster did not intend to stop and opened the score in the second game in a row, this time beating the Canadian goalkeeper and throwing his second puck in the tournament. Two goals – one in the quarter-final, one in the semi-final – can you imagine that?
Unfortunately, there is also the other side of the scale. Although Lochmelis was active later in the game, he was also on the pitch for three of the four goals conceded. And if we could ignore the last goal, the first and third, when Canada took the lead, significantly reduce his usefulness.
We are powerless against Canada in throws
It would be naive to hope for the dominance of Latvian hockey players on the penalty spot, but they always want better results. Against Canada, the only one with a positive balance is Lochmelis, who has won 7 out of 13, or 53.9%. Rodrigo Abolam 8/21, to Oskar Batni 5/15, Denis Smirnov 2/11. When it comes to the reasons for the loss, this is one of the most obvious – a lost shot is a lost initiative, and against an opponent like Canada, this is especially important.
Morning workout really wasn’t necessary?
Before the game against Canada, Latvia canceled the morning training, which was supposed to take place from 8:00 to 8:30. It is clear that this was done in order not to have to get up too early, and when the team has already reached the semi-finals, there is not so much strength left. However, at times I still felt that in the morning I could still work on the moments with which there were problems later in the course of the game. Even before the “bronze final”, training has been canceled, we would like to hope that it will really help to rest better and go to the field in maximum readiness. Because, as said Kaspars Daugavinsthere is nothing left to save.
How do you fight back when you’re caught?
Until the semi-finals, Latvia had only one match in which they had to play in the last minutes – against Slovakia, which they also failed to win. The replay against Switzerland happened five minutes before the full-time siren, which is a different story. In all the games won, the victory (and the draw against Switzerland) was already won and had to be defended.
We talked a lot about character before, but this time it was a little lacking, because we didn’t even manage to fight back, but in general made life difficult for Canada at the end of regulation time.. It was made easier, however, because Batņa violated the rules in the 58th minute. It looks like the team just didn’t remember how to pull out the ends of the game, which is a little different than keeping a score.
Batņa: You shouldn’t get such a rejection in a situation where you have to play back
Buckart the scapegoat
However, if I had to find a scapegoat in this game, I would name one Richard Bukart. We all know about the Latvian minority, which is still the best in the whole tournament. The team plays safely and confidently both in the fourth and third positions, that’s a fact. But that doesn’t mean you can now earn unwarranted rejections left and right.
Both of Bukart’s rejections in this game are ones that could have been easily avoided – in one episode he tripped the Canadian Middleton behind his own goal, and in another he pushed an opponent to the edge. Fortunately, the 5+20 judges didn’t see it there, and the Latvian got away with a small penalty. It should be remembered that the game in the minority requires a lot of strength, and at the end of the match Latvia looked tired, which also prevented them from exerting proper pressure.
How to find throw lines?
Another thing that could be seen is that Latvia very rarely got to play combinations in the Canadian zone and also make accurate shots from the blue line. Opponents were in most cases in the path of the puck, blocking the shot either with their feet or with their skates. In the matches against Canada, there is no time to think, because while a better opportunity was being sought, the Canadian was able to reorganize and do so that the shot did not reach the goal at all.
During the game, I didn’t really see how Latvia planned these Canadians networks to overcome, which became especially relevant in the third period. Although the great majority in the second period also comes to mind, when the matches were slow and the hockey players passed each other not out of a good life, but because all the lines were covered.
PS And another off-topic observation. In Tampere, the atmosphere was more Latvian, that is, many more Latvian songs were played than in Riga, which the gathered people from Latvia sang along with the greatest joy. Why in Tampere and not in Riga? This is one of the most interesting questions of this world championship.
