International Ice Hockey Federation

Resounding win for Lithuania

Resounding win for Lithuania

Sweeps Romania 5-1 to remain undefeated

Published 18.04.2016 16:37 GMT+2 | Author Henrik Manninen
Resounding win for Lithuania
Croatia,Zagreb, 18.04.2016.WM Div IB IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Lithuania-Romania Photo:Igor Soban
Lithuania continues with wind in their sails, racking up their second win on the trot, thanks to a well-deserved 5-1 win against Romania.

Three powerplay goals sealed the win for Lithuania. Blueliners Mindaugas Kieras, Nerijus Alisauskas and Arturs Katulis all scored on one-man advantages for Lithuania.

"We skated well, scored important goals and did not take many penalties so I am very happy for this win," said Lithuania head coach Bernd Haake following his team's second win out or two at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group B.

Goal-shy Romania mustered 19 shots and are now winless after two matches. Levente Lorincz being the sole marksman for Romania.

"We faced a young team of good skaters, but unfortunately our set out tactic ahead of the game was ruined by too many penalty calls," said Istvan Gereb, head coach of Romania.

A pacy Lithuania took the play to the Romanians from the outset and Ugnius Cizas thundered down the right wing past Lorincz to pick out Povilas Verenis in the slot who hit home a backhand to open Lithuania's scoring account for the afternoon at 5:30.

Romania who ahead of the game had planned to play a defensive game and hit on the counter were for long spells forced to focus solely on the former.

The Baltic dominance continued thanks to two consecutive Romanian penalties and they soon capitalised to double their lead when a shot from the blueline by Lithuania's captain Kieras took a deflection off Ervin Moldovan to find its way just past Otto Onodi's oustretched right pad and in the back of Romania's net.

Romania hit back when energetic Csanad Fodor rounded Artur Pavliukov's cage and saw Lorincz rake home the puck just past the goalline at 14:17 to cut back the score to 2-1.

Before the first frame was over Lithuania squandered golden opportunities to strech their lead further, first missing a one-on-one which soon after was followed by Cizas hitting Onodi's crossbar.

Lithuania restored their two-goal edge in a tense second period with a lot to play for. At 29:28 Romania's Fodor was cooling off following a minor penalty for tripping. Kieras then fed Alisauskas who boomed home 3-1 for Lithuania after netminder Onodi failed to move swiftly enough to block the shot.

Arnalds Bosas dashed any hopes for a Romanian comeback just 20 seconds into the final frame. Donatas Kumeliauskas won a tussle with Szabolcs Papp along the boards, played it onward to Daniel Bogzdiul who found Arnalds Bosas in the slot who picked out the top corner for Lithuania's fourth goal of the afternoon.

Veteran blueliner Katulis completed the scoring with 2:56 left of the game with a strike high past Onodi.

Lithuania, with two consecutive bronze medals at this level, now face Great Britain next on Wednesday hoping to continue their winning run and upset the odds.

For newcomers Romania, with a goal difference of 2-11 and two straight losses, will now look to regroup and try to bounce back in their next fixture against hosts Croatia.

 

 

 

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