Latvia lost with a score of 2:3 (1:0, 1:0, 0:3).
Harald Egle scored both goals for Latvia, and Oliver Kaski scored three for Finland.
“The dedication was again at the highest level, and we saw that the guys did not spare their innings. However, the ending lacked a little skill and composure. We could have played solid for 11 minutes in the last quarter, but the first goal we missed knocked us out of rhythm, a little chaos ensued and we started to lose ground,” the coach said of the game, adding that it was fixable.
Speaking about dedication, he emphasized that six players were lost to injury in two games.
“Now we have a longer break before the matches with Switzerland, and I think it’s time to recover,” Vitolins said.
“In the third period we gave away the initiative, but the Finns did not pose a threat to our goal. They threw the puck into the zone and wanted to “press” us, but we played very correctly, tried to create counterattacks at the first opportunity,” the coach commented on the end of the game, admitting that Kasky made accurate shots that the goalkeeper could not parry.
“The second and third goals we missed were when we started losing our cover players, but that’s how the guys toughened up. From student hockey they become adult hockey players. After such games, they understand where they should have played calmer, where they should have been calmer. It’s a learning process,” the coach said of the positives of losing.
He emphasized that “tactically we played well today against the Finns” and that tactically the Latvian team “will not change anything.”
He also expressed satisfaction that even the power play in Thursday’s game was successful, although he was not trained and there are still large reserves in his performance.
In the first control game on Wednesday, Latvian hockey players recognized Finland’s superiority in extra time (2:3).
Last week, Latvian hockey players played two control matches with Austria, celebrating a victory in both with a score of 3:2 in shootouts. For Finland, these are the first test matches before the World Cup.
This spring the Latvian national team will play six test matches at home and two away. On April 26 and 27, the guests will play with Switzerland, and on May 3 and 4, the Latvians will meet Norway at home.
In the Latvian national team, head coach Harijs Vitolins is assisted by coaches Lauris Darzins, Arturs Irbe, Petteri Nummelin, Ville Peltonen, Raimonds Vilkoits, video coach Peteris Groms and physical training specialist Erik Vysockis.
The Latvian national team will go to the World Championships in the Czech Republic on May 9.
The 2024 championship will take place in Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26.
#BB.lv #skill #composure
2024-04-12 05:30:35