Team USA overcame a one goal deficit to defeat Latvia 3-2 in overtime. Latvia played the Americans tough until the end, but Cam Atkinson's power play goal in
the extra session provided the shot in the arm needed to get the win.
Early action in the first period demonstrated Latvia's inability to stay out of
the penalty box. They were called for three penalties in the period, the first two leading to a two-man advantage and two of the three were too many men bench
minors. Latvia's lack of discipline caught up with them when Chris Kreider tapped in a loose puck laying in the crease to make it 1-0. Latvia was serving its second too many men bench minor of the period when the goal was scored.
Team USA moved the puck around the net with Dylan Larkin finding Alex DeBrincat
for a shot that was saved and Kreider caught in traffic in front. Kreider stayed with the puck as it lay in the slot and deftly placed it in the net.
Certainly not a good game strategy putting the fifth best power play in the tournament into action. But once Latvia settled down, they picked up their game.
The game was tied up with 2:08 remaining. Uvis Balinskis sent a wrist shot no goal from the point that was deflected off Anders Lee's stick on its way to the
net. A frozen Keith Kincaid was helpless to stop it. This snapped a shutout streak of 147:04 for Kinkaid. Before the Balinskis goal, Colton Parayko's was the last shooter to solve Kinkaid at 10:48 of the third period of the opening game of the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at Jyske Bank Boxen.
"Every game is different," Kinkaid said. "You can run into a hot team, a hot goalie and get some bounces. Every game is different. We have a great team here
and don't plan on stopping."
Possession time favoured the United States as they spent extended time in the offensive zone but both teams would get prime chances. In one sequence, Cam Atkinson drove to the net but his backhand shot was turned aside. In the final minute of the first period, Latvia's Rodrigo Abols had a chance. Abols raced to
the net with Colin White in pursuit but his shot went wide.
Teams traded second-period goals leaving the game tied 2-2.
With Anders Lee in the box for interference, Andris Dzerins scored at 3:20. Miks Indrasis took a pass from Roberts Bukarts and took a shot that Kinkaid saved but Dzerins took the loose puck in the crease that and quickly deposited it into the net.
Lee had a tough first half of the game with the inadvertent deflection that led
to the first goal against and then taking an interference penalty that allowed Latvia to take the lead for the first time.
Colin White scored the important second goal for the United States to tie the game. With 2:22 remaining, White's shot beat goaltender Elvis Merzlikins between his pads. Alex DeBrincat picked up his second assist in the game.
With seconds remaining the second, Connor Murphy was able to use his stick to break up a 2-on-1 that Latvia was working on. Murphy being able to cut off the pass prevented an on-the-doorstep chance for the Latvians.
In the third, good chances on both sides but the goaltending was superb. Merzlikins and Kinkaid spent alternate moments coming up with one big save after another. Less than a minute in the period, USA was swarming the net but Latvia was able to hold them off sending the game into overtime.
Very early in overtime, Oskars Cibulskis was called for taking down Dylan Larkin. Wasting to time, Cam Atkinson took a pass and popped it in the net for the win.
"It wasn't the prettiest of goals but it counts," Atkinson said. "Credit to Latvia they fought the entire game and played well in the transition."
JOHN SANFUL
http://https://www.new-iihf.com/en/events/2018/wm/news/2695/
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