Denmark earns important overtime win over Latvia

In Thursday´s second relegation round game in Znojmo, Denmark beat Latvia 4-3 in overtime, keeping alive their hope of playing in the elite division of next year´s U18 championship. Trailing 3-1 in the third period, Danish captain Kristoffer Lauridsen recorded a natural hat trick, including the overtime winner.

Team Latvia entered the game against Team Denmark knowing that victory would ensure their survival in elite division for next season. Ivars Punnenovs started the game in Latvian goal after helping his team to victory in previous game against Germany.

The game started with a lot of determination, but also nervousness on both sides. Latvia was perhaps the more active team, with Nikolajs Jelisejevs hitting the crossbar, but gave up the game´s opening goal on a power play in the 17th minute as Bjorn Uldall´s shot from the point found its way through the bodies in front of the net and past goalie George Sorensen.

Latvia came back strong after the intermission. Teodors Blugers equalized the score from the slot with a power play effort. The goal gave the Latvians a boost and they remained the more active team for the rest of the period. Edgars Kulda put them in front at 34:30 as he converted on yet another power play to give his team a one-goal lead.

All looked rosy for the Latvians after 44 minutes as Edmunds Augstkalns scored the third Latvian power-play goal of the night with a fierce slap shot. However, the Danish team took a time-out and responded in perfect fashion. Kristoffer Lauridsen finished a quick attack and beat Punnenovs to give the Danes a lifeline and start his late one-man show. The comeback was completed 14 seconds from time. Denmark pulled the goalie, Mads Eller found Kristoffer Lauridsen in front of the net and he fired home a one-timer to a huge joy of his teammates.

Kristoffer Lauridsen´s hat trick was completed 56 seconds before the end of overtime as he found a loose puck in the offensive zone and scored with a precise effort right under the crossbar.

"In the third period, we returned to our good performance from the start of the game and managed to win the game in overtime," said a happy Lauridsen.

The Latvians were understandably disappointed. "All that I feel right now is disappointment from this loss," admitted defenceman Edmunds Augstkalns. Latvia can feel safe, though, as one point is enough for them to stay up in the elite division.