Latvia sinks Italy, Denmark demolishes GB

It was a rest day for the tournament favorites in Slovakia, but there was plenty of important action for the teams jostling for a quarter-final spot.

Latvia 3 Italy 0 (0-0, 2-0, 1-0)

Latvia put its defeat to Switzerland behind it with a routine 3-0 defeat of rock bottom Italy. Only an inspired display from goalie Andreas Bernard kept this game close as the Latvians fired in 65 shots – the third highest ever in a World Championship game.

Photo: 14.05.19. 2019 IIHF World Championship. Italy - Latvia

Roberts Bukarts finally broke the deadlock midway through the game, Rihards Marenis doubled the lead and Teodors Blugers wrapped up the win with a last-minute goal. Bernard admitted that he was surprised to be quite so busy in a game that Italy had earmarked as a possible chance to win.

“I knew they were a good team," Bernard told IIHF.com. "But I didn't expect them to shoot that much. I was expecting it'd be even. But they play in the KHL and most of our guys played in the Alps Hockey League, and it's not as high of a level as the KHL."

Latvia’s Arturs Kulda, who played last season at Severstal, was another who did not expect such a one-sided game.

"I was sitting on the bench, talking with the guys, telling that this is the first time our team got so many shots," he said. "I am really shocked. I would never believe we're in third place now!"

Denmark 9 Great Britain 0 (3-0, 5-0, 1-0)

Jokerit’s Niklas Jensen scored twice and there were two assists for Peter Regin as Denmark put Britain to the sword in Kosice. The game was settled early on when GB took two quick penalties and the Danes ruthlessly capitalized with goals from Skelleftea’s Jesper Jensen and Hershey Bears forward Mathias Bau.

After that, the game was largely a procession with Morten Poulsen’s hat-trick helping the Danes to a second win in the competition and reigniting their hopes of clinching a playoff spot. It was Denmark’s biggest ever victory in Elite Pool play.

In the evening games, Switzerland and Germany moved to the top of their respective groups after reeling out their third successive wins of the tournament. The Swiss took some time to put Austria away but found three goals in the last eight minutes to win 4-0 and draw level with Russia on nine points from three games. Germany defeated France 4-1 with Leo Draisaitl on the scoresheet. Former Kunlun Red Star forward Damien Fleury got the French consolation goal.