The third consecutive defeat of Canada and the victory of the Czech Republic over Belarus in overtime: what will be remembered for the fourth day of the World Ice Hockey Championship

Russia's first misfire

The main event of the last game day for domestic fans was the confrontation between the national teams of Russia and Slovakia in the framework of Group A of the World Hockey Championship.

Both teams successfully started the tournament with two victories each.

Valery Bragin's charges first put the squeeze on the Czech Republic 19 seconds before the final siren - 4: 3, and then left no chances for Great Britain - 7: 1.

In turn, the Slovaks turned out to be stronger than the Belarusians - 5: 2, but in the meeting with the British they provided only a minimal advantage in the score - 2: 1.

In this game, the team lost the main goalkeeper Branislav Konrad due to injury, and his place at the last line was taken by ex-goalkeeper of Siberia, Severstal and Spartak Julius Gudachek.

However, the Russians did not manage without losses either.

Konstantin Okulov's company in the infirmary was made up by another striker Mikhail Grigorenko.

The first period turned out to be quite equal. Bragin's wards created a little more chances, but Gudachek had an amazing game and made one rescue after another. In total, he has 27 saves at the end of the reporting match. Repeatedly rescued partners and Alexander Samonov, who soon, apparently, will make room for Ilya Samsonov at the base.

But in the middle of the meeting, the SKA hockey player still had to capitulate. Anton Burdasov made a mistake under pressure and presented the puck to his opponent in his own zone. As a result, Milos Kelemen made a throw in the opposite direction to the goalkeeper. Bragin's team managed to recoup after only 66 seconds. Pavol Skalitski received a two-minute penalty, and the Russians converted the majority. Sergei Tolchinsky made a powerful click into the far nine from the left circle, and Alexander Barabanov skated the puck into the net. The Slovaks tried to convince the referee that the attacker did it deliberately, but the referee pointed to the center.

But in the third period, the referee made a decision no longer in favor of the national team.

He wrote out a rather controversial removal to Maxim Shalunov for pushing a defender with a stick.

It took the opponent less than a minute to realize the majority.

Martin Gernat sent the projectile into the net thanks to a successful ricochet.

Thus, the Russian national team at the tournament missed the third goal in the minority.

In the end, Bragin's headquarters went all-in and removed the goalkeeper, but that did not help.

Moreover, Marek Dyaloga hit an empty goal and put an end to the confrontation.

So the Slovaks, for the first time in 17 years, beat Russia at the World Cup and became the sole leaders of Group A.

Insulting defeat of Belarus

The national team of Belarus on Sunday won an unexpected victory over Sweden, and on Monday met with another hockey grandee - the Czech Republic.

Philip Peshan's charges were considered by many to be one of the main favorites of the tournament, but at the start they suffered two defeats.

And if the offensive failure in the meeting with Russia could still be understood, then the five missed goals from Switzerland raised big questions.

Thus, the favorite was pushed to the wall and had to take over in the third round.

But the Belarusians, despite the scandal with the national flag, again imposed the fight on the venerable opponent.

In the first period, the fans did not wait for the goals.

Moreover, Danny Taylor, who issued a shutout in the game with the Swedes, this time did not even make it into the application.

But Alexey Kolosov, who replaced him, made 35 saves.

And on the 26th minute, Yegor Sharangovich opened the scoring, scoring the second goal in the tournament. Only after that did the Czechs finally wake up and were able to recoup. First, Jan Kovar technically corrected the projectile into the net after the transfer of a partner from the blue line. After that, the most experienced Sergei Kostitsyn received a two-minute penalty, and Philip Zadina quickly converted the majority.

But the national team of Belarus did not think to give up and after the break took the initiative, and eight minutes before the final siren, Vladislav Eremenko restored the balance.

The fate of the confrontation was decided only in overtime, which lasted only a minute and 23 seconds.

The point in the match was put by Dominik Kubalik, who went one-on-one with Kolosov and left him no chance.

Goalkeeper Shimon Grubets scored an effective pass in this episode.

The Czechs won their first World Cup victory and moved up to an intermediate sixth place in the group.

Third German victory

The main disappointment of the tournament can be safely called the Canadian team.

Few could have guessed that in the first three matches, Maple Leaves would not score a single point and, along with Italy, would be in last place in Group B, but that is exactly what happened.

Gerard Galland brought to Latvia a young and not the strongest team, which turned out to be unable to compete even with average rivals.

And if the defeat from Latvia at the start of the tournament was perceived as an annoying misunderstanding, then the defeat in the North American derby from the United States clearly demonstrated the level of the team.

Following the Canadians were to meet with the Germans, who began the planetary championship with two devastating victories over Italy (9: 4) and Norway (5: 1).

As a result, the Bundestim continued their successful streak.

Already in the middle of the first period, Germany scored twice in less than a minute.

Edin Hill's goal hit Stefan Loibl and Matthias Plachta, and for the latter, this goal was the third in the 2021 World Cup.

But the Canadians did not give up, and shortly before the break they closed the gap in the account thanks to an accurate shot by Nick Paul.

In the future, they created many dangerous moments, and in the second 20-minute they threw the opponent almost four times (19: 5), but could no longer upset Matthias Niederberger, who made 39 saves.

In the end, Maple Leaves removed the goalkeeper, but only conceded the third goal by Corbinian Holzer.

41 saves Fazio

In another match of Group B, the Latvians won a tough victory over Italy - 3: 0.

The guests, who suffered two defeats at the start of the championship, did everything to upset the hosts.

Goalkeeper Justin Fazio tried especially hard with 41 saves.

It was possible to print it only in the 33rd minute, and in this episode the goalkeeper coped with the next throw of Martins Karsums, but was powerless on finishing.

True, the judges canceled two more pucks of the Balts for various reasons, and in the very ending the Italians were already unlucky.

Alex Petan from the right circle sent a shell exactly to the far nine and converted the majority, but the referee considered that his partner was interfering with the opponent's goalkeeper Ivars Punnenovs.

After that, "Squadra Azura" removed Fazio and instantly paid for it.

First, the empty target was struck by 36-year-old Lauris Darzins, and then 35-year-old Karsums scored a double, who had not scored points at the home championship of the planet before.

The Latvians have already scored seven points and are close to guaranteeing themselves a ticket to the playoffs.