Czech Republic's early goals sink Latvia
Last Updated: Friday, February 19, 2010 | 11:27 PM ET
The Associated Press
The Czech Republic's Jaromir Jagr, centre, is congratulated by Petr Cajanek, left, and Marek Zidlicky after Jagr scored against Latvia on Friday in Vancouver. (Matt Slocum/Associated Press)Three assists from Marek Zidlicky and three early goals helped the Czech Republic dump Latvia 5-2 in Olympic men's hockey action Friday at Canada Hockey House in Vancouver.
Zidlicky helped set up one even-strength and two power-play goals, including the insurance marker scored 6:33 into the second period by Tomas Kaberle, who also had an assist.
David Krejci, Tomas Plekanec and Patrick Elias scored other goals. Jaromir Jagr, continuing his readjustment to the small North American ice surface two years after leaving the NHL's New York Rangers for Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, was the other Czech scorer.
Krejci, Plekanec and Jagr all found the back of the net in the first 5:07 of the first period to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
Kristaps Sotnieks and Girts Ankipans replied with second period goals 2:58 apart for the Latvians to make things interesting.
However, the Czechs put a solid third period together to secure the victory.
Czech goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who plays with the NHL Florida Panthers, was the last line of defence when Latvia produced a scoring chance. He finished with 16 saves.
With the win, the Czechs improve to 2-0-0 in preliminary play, putting them ahead of Russia atop the Group B standings, with the teams squaring off on Sunday.
The Latvians, meanwhile, fall to 0-2-0 as they continue to play the role of lovable losers. Latvian hockey players haven't tasted victory on the Olympic stage since February 14, 2002, beating Ukraine 9-2.
The Baltic country's best result in recent memory was a 3-3 draw with the United States in their opener at the 2006 Turin Games.
The Czechs embarrassingly dominated the first frame as if they were on a period-long power play. The favourites took an early lead 2:30 into the game off a Krejci goal as the Boston Bruins centre easily put the puck past the outstretched Latvian goalie, Edgars Masalskis, with the second Czech shot.
A shot later, the Czech Republic doubled its lead. Plekanec zinged a point shot through the legs of Masalskis, whose night got worse two shots later when Jagr beat him glove-side with a wrist shot on the power play.
Three goals on five shots in just 5:07 had Latvia in the deep end without a life jacket.
After recording their first shot at the 11:11 mark, the Latvians gathered a little steam, but not enough to keep up with the Czechs.
The Czech team continued its stellar play early in the second, increasing its lead to 4-0.
The fourth Czech goal, another scored on the power play, went to the Toronto Maple Leafs' Kaberle off sharp passing from Zidlicky and Elias, the latter setting Kaberle up for a one-timer to the right of Masalskis.
Latvia played the majority of the period shorthanded, taking four penalties, including three consecutive after the Czech goal.
Sotnieks was responsible for back-to-back penalties, interference and hooking, but Latvia killed them both off and actually turned the negatives into a positive.
As Sotnieks stepped out of the box from his second penalty, Herberts Vasiljevs sent him in alone on Vokoun and he was able to beat the goalie between the legs.
The Latvians weren't finished there as Martins Karsums' point shot was tipped in by Ankipans with 1:34 to play remaining.
Still up two goals, the Czechs stunted the Latvian attack in the third period with hard work in their own end and the reliable play of Vokoun.
