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Latvia takes last chance and beats Germany
After 7-1 against Germany Latvia is one step closer to avoid relegation.
The relegation round of the 2009 World Juniors started with a bang when Latvia defeated Germany 7-1. Latvia won the game in the second period when they scored 5 goals on 9 shots on goal.
After an even first period that ended 1-1 the 9,888 spectators saw a German collapse in the second period when Latvia scored five unanswered goals, four of them within four minutes. Roberts Bukarts scored three of Latvia's goals. After his third goal, Latvia's fourth and odd situation took place. The Latvian backup keeper Raimunds Ermics celebrated the goal and Bukarts hat trick by throwing his baseball cap on the ice.
For this Ermics was given minor and a game misconduct for throwing an object on the ice. At the same time Germany decided to replace Philipp Grubauer who only saved seven out of eleven shots with Timo Pielmeier. That didn't help much as only 31 seconds later Latvia made it 5-1 when Viltalijs Pavlovs scored shorthanded.
At the end game finished with a 7-1 victory for Latvia despite the fact that they were outshot 35-24. The result gives Latvia a great chance to stay in the elite pool if they can beat Kazakhstan. Germany are in trouble and now probably have to beat Finland to avoid relegation.
Germany - Latvia 1-7 (1-1,0-5,0-1)
1-0 (7:06) Daniel Weiss (Morrison)
1-1 (7:34) Roberts Bukarts (Cinks)
1-2 (25:23) Bukarts
1-3 (27:55) Janis Straupe (Jekimovs, Ozolins)
1-4 (28:57) Bukarts (Cinks)
1-5 (29:28) Vitalijs Pavlovs SH
1-6 (36:01) Aldis Pizans
1-7 (44:44) Ronalds Cinks (Bukarts)
Shots: 35-24 (9-6,10-9,16-9)
PIM: 32-38
Story added on 3rd January 2009 at 19:06 GMT
Story submitted by: Fredrik Pålsson.
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