Eduards Tralmaks

Latvia’s clinical 6-0 dismantling of Great Britain

The Latvian national team maintained its momentum with a flawless performance, overwhelming the British side to secure a 6-0 shutout. The scoring was distributed across the first two periods, beginning with an opening frame that saw Maris Dzierkals, Denis Smirnov, and captain Rudolfs Balcers find the back of the net. The onslaught continued in the second period as Eduards Tralmaks, Haralds Egle, and Krastenbergs extended the lead, leaving Great Britain unable to mount a response. According to Inbox.eu, Balcers continues a prolific streak, having scored his sixth goal of the tournament during this matchup. The captain is currently approaching the long-standing record held by Helmuts Balderis. The defeat highlights a difficult tournament for Great Britain, which has now lost all six of its games. The British side has struggled defensively, conceding an average of five goals per match and finishing the tournament with a total goal differential of 23-4.

Momentum builds following the USA upset

This victory serves as a vital confirmation of the form Latvia displayed just one day prior. On Saturday, the Latvians stunned the tournament favorites with a 4-2 win over the United States. As Fubo detailed regarding the matchup against the Americans, Latvia’s ability to close out tight games has been the deciding factor. In that Saturday contest, Deniss Smirnovs scored early in the third period to reclaim the lead, while Sandis Vilmanis secured the victory with two empty-net goals in the final minute of play. The Latvian defense has been equally impressive. Goaltender Kristers Gudļevskis recorded 45 saves in the win against the USA, maintaining a .938 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average across four appearances. This defensive stability was on full display Sunday as the team neutralized the British attack.

Great Britain’s relegation and the battle for survival

The 6-0 loss marks a somber milestone for Great Britain. Despite earning promotion to this level earlier this year, the team has been relegated directly to Division 1A, mirroring their exit from the competition in 2024. While Great Britain’s fate is sealed, the fight to avoid the drop continues in other groups. Italy is currently facing a similar threat of relegation. The Italians managed to pick up their first point of the tournament in a 2-3 loss to Denmark that went to penalties, featuring a performance by Kloten goaltender Davide Fadani. To remain in the top tier, Italy must secure a regulation win against Slovenia on Monday. Meanwhile, Denmark has already secured its safety, following their historic run to the semi-finals in last year’s tournament.

Latvia’s path to the knockout stage

Latvia enters the final stages of the preliminary round with significant confidence. Their current standing in Group A places them in a strong position to reach the quarterfinals, a stage they have navigated with varying success since their bronze medal win in 2023. The Latvians conclude their group stage play on Tuesday, May 26, in a match against Hungary scheduled for 13:20. A victory in that contest will officially secure their place in the next round. The complexion of the quarterfinals will depend on the final results of the group. Blue News reports that Latvia is currently slated to potentially face either Canada, a nine-time Olympic champion, or the Czech Republic, the 1998 Olympic gold medalist.

Team	Record (W-L-D)	Points	Status
Latvia	2-0-0-3	6	Advancing to QF
Great Britain	0-0-0-5	0	Relegated to Div 1A

<!– /wp:table The outcome of the group stage will determine Latvia's quarterfinal opponent, with Canada or the Czech Republic looming as potential challenges.