Slovenia got off to a fast start, leading Czechia 2-0 after the first period, but the Czechs scored six unanswered to win, 6-2.
Czechia overcame a sluggish start and an energetic Slovenian team to rally for a 6-2 win this afternoon in Riga. The rally from 2-0 down was keyed by Dominik Kubalik, who scored two nearly identical power-play goals and added a third into the empty net late in the third. He added an assist and now leads the tournament in both goals (6) and points (10).
The win keeps top spot in Group A within sight for Czechia, which is now in second place with 10 points, one behind Canada and one ahead of Switzerland.
Flor Slovenia, the loss--and lost opportunity--looms large. They are in last place with four losses and no points, sitting in the relgation spot with few chances left to move up. They are now winless in five games all time against the Czechs.
"We were sleepy today," David Tomasek of the winners admitted. "We weren’t good for half of the game. I’m happy that we found a way, but it wasn’t a good performance from us. We had to raise our voices in the dressing room a little bit. The coaches had to say something because it wasn’t good. We had to raise our compete level and we eventually did that."
"We were so close and yet so far," Blaz Gregorc conceded. "We started really well. We were up 2-0, but in the last period we made some mistakes and they scored. But overall, I think we played mostly a good game. We wanted to keep playing the same way and we did until those power-play goals. Then it was just a domino effect, and they just kept scoring. I don’t think we played as bad as the score shows. We need to keep our heads up because tomorrow’s a new day and a new game and we have to be ready for it."
Slovenia came out with purpose while the Czechs played a sleepy first period, and the scoreboard reflected as much. Slovenia opened the scoring at 7:23 on a lucky play from start to finish. Jan Urbas took a quick shot from the point, looking only to create a problem in front, and it worked. The puck hit the back of teammate Miha Verlic and then went off the skate of Czechia defender Ronald Knot and in.
Slovenia’s goalie, Luka Gracnar, kept it a 1-0 game soon after with a nice left-pad save off a deke by Tomas Dvorak, who was in alone. And when the Slovenes got the first power play of the game, they connected. It was another Urbas shot from the point, but this one bounced over the equipment of Karel Vejmelka and in at 11:49, giving Slovenia an improbable 2-0 lead.
Having never had a 2-0 lead over Czechia in four previous meetings, Slovenia had to figure out what to do in the second period. They had the only two power plays of the first, scoring once, and in the second they got the next two as well. But Czechia played a more determined game, knowing to go down 3-0 would be a far greater challenge.
Late in the period, the Czechs finally got their first power play—and they capitalized. Dominik Kubalik snapped a one-timer between Gracnar’s pads at 18:19, giving his team some much-needed life heading to the final 20 minutes.
"That was maybe the clutch moment because going into the third period with a one-goal deficit was a much better situation and you could feel the difference in the dressing room," Tomasek acknowledged.
Indded, the third was mostly Czechia, starting with another power-play gaol early on that was virtually the same as their first. Kubalik. One-timer low. Time 3:47. Game tied 2-2. The Slovene bench sunk after that goal, and Czechia capitalized on a deflated opponent.
Just 73 seconds later, they took their first lead after a slow line change from Slovenia left the far side unguarded. Daniel Vozenilek spotted captain Roman Cervenka streaking to the net and laid down a perfect pass for him. Cervenka made the deflection, goalie Gracnar raised his stick in frustration, and the game was lost at that point for the Slovenes, phsychologically more than anything.
Czechia added a fourth goal at 11:12 when Vladimir Sobotka spotted Michal Kempny to the back side of the play. Gracnar got a piece of the re-direct but the puck still wobbled into the goal to make it 4-2.
Kubalik got his hat trick with an empty netter at 17:49, and Jakub Flek added a final goal at 18:56 when his centring pass from behind the icing line went in off Gracnar's pad.
The win keeps top spot in Group A within sight for Czechia, which is now in second place with 10 points, one behind Canada and one ahead of Switzerland.
Flor Slovenia, the loss--and lost opportunity--looms large. They are in last place with four losses and no points, sitting in the relgation spot with few chances left to move up. They are now winless in five games all time against the Czechs.
"We were sleepy today," David Tomasek of the winners admitted. "We weren’t good for half of the game. I’m happy that we found a way, but it wasn’t a good performance from us. We had to raise our voices in the dressing room a little bit. The coaches had to say something because it wasn’t good. We had to raise our compete level and we eventually did that."
"We were so close and yet so far," Blaz Gregorc conceded. "We started really well. We were up 2-0, but in the last period we made some mistakes and they scored. But overall, I think we played mostly a good game. We wanted to keep playing the same way and we did until those power-play goals. Then it was just a domino effect, and they just kept scoring. I don’t think we played as bad as the score shows. We need to keep our heads up because tomorrow’s a new day and a new game and we have to be ready for it."
Slovenia came out with purpose while the Czechs played a sleepy first period, and the scoreboard reflected as much. Slovenia opened the scoring at 7:23 on a lucky play from start to finish. Jan Urbas took a quick shot from the point, looking only to create a problem in front, and it worked. The puck hit the back of teammate Miha Verlic and then went off the skate of Czechia defender Ronald Knot and in.
Slovenia’s goalie, Luka Gracnar, kept it a 1-0 game soon after with a nice left-pad save off a deke by Tomas Dvorak, who was in alone. And when the Slovenes got the first power play of the game, they connected. It was another Urbas shot from the point, but this one bounced over the equipment of Karel Vejmelka and in at 11:49, giving Slovenia an improbable 2-0 lead.
Having never had a 2-0 lead over Czechia in four previous meetings, Slovenia had to figure out what to do in the second period. They had the only two power plays of the first, scoring once, and in the second they got the next two as well. But Czechia played a more determined game, knowing to go down 3-0 would be a far greater challenge.
Late in the period, the Czechs finally got their first power play—and they capitalized. Dominik Kubalik snapped a one-timer between Gracnar’s pads at 18:19, giving his team some much-needed life heading to the final 20 minutes.
"That was maybe the clutch moment because going into the third period with a one-goal deficit was a much better situation and you could feel the difference in the dressing room," Tomasek acknowledged.
Indded, the third was mostly Czechia, starting with another power-play gaol early on that was virtually the same as their first. Kubalik. One-timer low. Time 3:47. Game tied 2-2. The Slovene bench sunk after that goal, and Czechia capitalized on a deflated opponent.
Just 73 seconds later, they took their first lead after a slow line change from Slovenia left the far side unguarded. Daniel Vozenilek spotted captain Roman Cervenka streaking to the net and laid down a perfect pass for him. Cervenka made the deflection, goalie Gracnar raised his stick in frustration, and the game was lost at that point for the Slovenes, phsychologically more than anything.
Czechia added a fourth goal at 11:12 when Vladimir Sobotka spotted Michal Kempny to the back side of the play. Gracnar got a piece of the re-direct but the puck still wobbled into the goal to make it 4-2.
Kubalik got his hat trick with an empty netter at 17:49, and Jakub Flek added a final goal at 18:56 when his centring pass from behind the icing line went in off Gracnar's pad.
Czechia vs Slovenia - 2023 IIHF WM
OF