Host Latvia has to fear for participation in the quarter-finals after the third defeat in the fifth game of the Ice Hockey World Championship.
The Latvians lost 3: 4 (2: 1, 0: 1, 1: 1) to Norway on Friday evening after a shootout.
Before the final two preliminary round matches against defending champions Finland on Sunday and Germany on Tuesday (both 7.15 p.m.), Latvia is fourth in Group B with eight points.
But the 26-time world champion Canada could pass on Sunday.
After the historically bad start to the World Cup with three defeats, Canada won their second victory on Friday afternoon in a 4: 2 (1: 0, 1: 1, 2: 1) against the surprisingly strong promoted Kazakhstan.
The Kazakhs inflicted their first tournament defeat on the German team on Wednesday.
But for the time being they missed the selection of national coach Toni Söderholm.
Germany will meet Finland on Saturday (7.15 p.m. / Sport1).
In the preliminary round group A, the former world champion Sweden defeated the underdog Great Britain 4: 1 (1: 1, 2: 0, 1: 0) after falling behind and secured his second victory.
Like the Canadians, the Swedes have to tremble to make it to the quarter-finals.
Denmark defeated outsiders Belarus 5: 2 (1: 1, 0: 1, 4: 0) in the evening.