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After a disappointing loss in their opener, the Canadians bounced back in a big way with a 14-4 win over Slovakia, handing the group host its second straight loss. Canada was led offensively by Michael Misa with six points and Ryder Ritchie with five, while Tomáš Pobežal had three points for Slovakia.
Penalties: 5:9. PP goals: 0:2. SH goals: 0:0.
Referees: Crman, Novák – Gegáň, Kacej. Attendance: 4149.
Photogallery
Report
A huge crowd filled Pavol Demitra Arena in Trenčín, with the fog adding to the atmposphere in the arena.
Canada was dominant in the first period, outshooting Slovakia 13-4, but left leading only 2-0 thanks to the goaltending of Richard Rafaj. Rafaj might have liked another chance at the first Canadian goal that came just 22 seconds in, however. A shot by Michael Misa glanced off the skate of a Slovak defenceman and hit the goalpost, with Berkly Catton swooping in to bury the rebound. Then midway through the first period, Ryder Ritchie scored Canada’s second goal on a nifty wraparound.
Overall in the game, Rafaj stopped 20 of 29 Canadian shots while Benjamin Varša stopped five of 10 in 8:29 of action in relief. Carter George stopped 15 of 19 shots in the Canadian net.
The second period was wild as the two teams combined to score nine goals. Misa scored his first goal of the game on a breakaway early in the second period to make it 3-0, but then the Slovaks pushed back and looked like they might make a game of it. Carter George did well to stop Alex Miroslav Zálešák and Simon Semančík on a Slovak 2-on-0 breakaway, but was unable to cover the puck and Martin Tomáš Pobežal swept it in. And then less than three minutes later it was a one-goal game when Rudolf Liška scored on his own rebound.
The comeback attempt was short-lived, however, as Catton drove to the net to score his second of the game just 15 seconds later to quiet the suddenly energetic crowd, and then on the power play, a goal by Misa gave Canada a three-goal lead for the second time in the period. The game was only halfway done at that time, but Canada was off to the races and scored three more goals in the middle frame while Adam Beluško got one for Slovakia and it was 9-3 after 40 minutes.
The third period was more of the same, with Canada out-scoring Slovakia 6-1 – Ritchie scored his third and fourth of the game and Pobežal his second on a "Michigan" style lacrosse move from behind the net.
This result sets up an interesting last day of Group B action, with Switzerland, Finland and Canada all in the hunt for two semi-final spots.
Reactions
Martin Dendis (head coach, Team Slovakia): “When the score was 3-2, were catching up, the building came to life, the guys on the bench were alive, then we gave up a goal and lost the momentum, which was very difficult for us. In these moments, of course, the quality of the opponent also plays a role. When the Canadians get the puck on the stick they know how to take advantage of that opportunity. We need to be more aggressive and more physical in these situations. In moments of Canadian pressure we were very passive and let them play their game. We play for the national team and we take pride in that so we that’s how we approached it. Even though it didn’t show in the score, the guys didn’t give up the whole game.”
Alan Letang (head coach, Team Canada): “I think our mindset was different. We were a little bit more focused and business-like, a little bit more prepared to battle. We knew they were going to give us their best and we got off to another quick start, and I think that put them on their heels, and then our depth was able to take it from there. Yesterday, we got off to a great start but then we took our foot off the gas, started losing 1-on-1 battle, losing foot races, and you can’t win games at this level just playing on the offensive side. You’ve gotta take care of your own end first. I think we did a good job of getting on the right side of the puck. The ice wasn’t great and pucks were bouncing, so we were lifting sticks and forcing turnovers, so we got some odd-man rushes and some pucks ended up in the back of the net.”