Talk about a tremendous return to the World Championship for Poland.
For the first time since 2002, Poland took the ice at the IIHF World Championship on Saturday and competed in an instant classic against Latvia.
Kaspars Daugavins, the Latvian captain, scored in overtime to give Latvia a 5-4 win in what was, by far, the best game to date at the Worlds. The goal ended a back-and-forth thriller that included three Polish one-goal leads, outstanding saves by goaltenders in both nets, and a pair of goal posts hit by either team in the overtime period.
Perhaps the most memorable part of the game came in the first period. Late in the frame, Krzysztof Macias threw a puck at the net as he turned away from the corner near the half wall. What looked like a harmless shot caromed in off Latvian defender Markuss Komuls and trickled through the five-hole of goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.
"It feels very good. I think we should have won this game but that’s hockey," said Macias. "They had their chances, we had our chances. It was just about who capitalized better. They had more experience and they used it. It’s a shame we don’t have two points but we will take one."
The goal – which made it 1-0 at the time – was the first Polish goal at the World Championship since 2002, the last time the nation appeared in the top group. It was also the first time the nation has scored in the first round of a World Championship since 4 May, 1992, when it lost 11-1 to Germany. In 2002, the Poles were outscored 18-0 in the first round.
Macias’ goal kickstarted an absolute gem of a hockey game, one that would see Poland have to overcome a Latvian lead late in the third to force overtime.
Latvia seemed to get the game-winner at 14:54 of the third when Rihards Bukarts made a great individual play to give his team a 4-3 lead. That goal could have been a dagger in the hearts of the Polish players, who fought hard but were running out of gas and relied on several tremendous saves by their goaltender John Murray to stay in it.
Then, with 3:36 left, the unthinkable happened and Poland shocked many in the Ostrava Arena when Mateusz Bryk tipped in a point shot by Mateusz Michalski that beat Merzlikins to tie the game once again 4-4.
Macias, the best Polish player on the ice in this one, scored his second of the game eight minutes into the third to break a 2-2 tie and give the Poles a 3-2 lead. Latvia would tie the game at 12:25 of the third on a chaotic scramble around Murray, with Daugavins stuffing the puck into the net. Initially, the referee waved off the goal due to goalie interference but the call was overturned with a successful coach’s challenge.
Macias wasn’t alive the last time Poland appeared in the World Championship. The 19-year-old recently completed his first season in Canada, playing for the major junior Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. Macias had a strong season, notching 22 goals and 47 points in 65 games in a league includes some of Canada’s best teenaged players.
Poland led 1-0 after the first period and Latvia tied the game 1-1 just over two minutes into the second. Murray stopped an initial shot by Latvia Raivis Ansons, but the rebound went right to Roberta Mamcics, who made no mistake and beat the sprawling goaltender.
Poland regained the lead at 8:15 of the second with another re-direction off an opponent. Kamil Walega took a shot on net and the puck went off the back of the leg of Mamcics and trickled in past Merzlikins. The Latvian goaltender got up and slammed his stick on the ice in frustration at the second Latvian own-goal.
Early in the third, Latvia tied the game 2-2 while shorthanded, as captain Kaspars Daugavins led a Latvian 3-on-2 and slid a nice pass to Rodrigo Abols, whose wrist shot beat Murray.
Both teams return to action on Sunday, with Latvia taking on France and Poland facing Sweden.
For the first time since 2002, Poland took the ice at the IIHF World Championship on Saturday and competed in an instant classic against Latvia.
Kaspars Daugavins, the Latvian captain, scored in overtime to give Latvia a 5-4 win in what was, by far, the best game to date at the Worlds. The goal ended a back-and-forth thriller that included three Polish one-goal leads, outstanding saves by goaltenders in both nets, and a pair of goal posts hit by either team in the overtime period.
"We scored three goals into our own net, but we showed heart," said Latvia's Roberts Bukarts. "That's the most important thing. We'll look at this game with the coaches and try to cut down on our mistakes and play better tomorrow. We are always the same team ... we fight to make the quarter-finals and see what happens."
Perhaps the most memorable part of the game came in the first period. Late in the frame, Krzysztof Macias threw a puck at the net as he turned away from the corner near the half wall. What looked like a harmless shot caromed in off Latvian defender Markuss Komuls and trickled through the five-hole of goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.
"It feels very good. I think we should have won this game but that’s hockey," said Macias. "They had their chances, we had our chances. It was just about who capitalized better. They had more experience and they used it. It’s a shame we don’t have two points but we will take one."
The goal – which made it 1-0 at the time – was the first Polish goal at the World Championship since 2002, the last time the nation appeared in the top group. It was also the first time the nation has scored in the first round of a World Championship since 4 May, 1992, when it lost 11-1 to Germany. In 2002, the Poles were outscored 18-0 in the first round.
Macias’ goal kickstarted an absolute gem of a hockey game, one that would see Poland have to overcome a Latvian lead late in the third to force overtime.
Latvia seemed to get the game-winner at 14:54 of the third when Rihards Bukarts made a great individual play to give his team a 4-3 lead. That goal could have been a dagger in the hearts of the Polish players, who fought hard but were running out of gas and relied on several tremendous saves by their goaltender John Murray to stay in it.
Then, with 3:36 left, the unthinkable happened and Poland shocked many in the Ostrava Arena when Mateusz Bryk tipped in a point shot by Mateusz Michalski that beat Merzlikins to tie the game once again 4-4.
Macias, the best Polish player on the ice in this one, scored his second of the game eight minutes into the third to break a 2-2 tie and give the Poles a 3-2 lead. Latvia would tie the game at 12:25 of the third on a chaotic scramble around Murray, with Daugavins stuffing the puck into the net. Initially, the referee waved off the goal due to goalie interference but the call was overturned with a successful coach’s challenge.
Macias wasn’t alive the last time Poland appeared in the World Championship. The 19-year-old recently completed his first season in Canada, playing for the major junior Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. Macias had a strong season, notching 22 goals and 47 points in 65 games in a league includes some of Canada’s best teenaged players.
Poland led 1-0 after the first period and Latvia tied the game 1-1 just over two minutes into the second. Murray stopped an initial shot by Latvia Raivis Ansons, but the rebound went right to Roberta Mamcics, who made no mistake and beat the sprawling goaltender.
Poland regained the lead at 8:15 of the second with another re-direction off an opponent. Kamil Walega took a shot on net and the puck went off the back of the leg of Mamcics and trickled in past Merzlikins. The Latvian goaltender got up and slammed his stick on the ice in frustration at the second Latvian own-goal.
Early in the third, Latvia tied the game 2-2 while shorthanded, as captain Kaspars Daugavins led a Latvian 3-on-2 and slid a nice pass to Rodrigo Abols, whose wrist shot beat Murray.
Both teams return to action on Sunday, with Latvia taking on France and Poland facing Sweden.
Poland vs Latvia - 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
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