In the replay of the last head-to-head encounter from Gothenburg in 2014, where Canada won easily 7-1, Australia finally found a way of playing an even game with the North Americans. It was a really tough battle, but the Canadians were the happier side at the end after winning 6-5.
Already in the first minute the duo Perry – Daniel Gärtner showed a pretty nice combination, with the latter opening the score. In the 11th minute, shortly after the end of Australia’s power-play, Tomáš Gärtner doubled the lead with a long-range shot. And the Gärtner twins were just unstoppable. Less than two minutes later, Tomáš dispossessed one of the opponents and served the ball to Daniel, who scored his second of the game.
After three minutes of play in the second period, Valtteri Viitakoski found Jonathan Kuysten who had score into a wide-open net. In a power play in the 30th minute, Viitakoski didn’t search any of his teammates, took the responsibility himself and reduced the lead to 2-3. But the Australians took their two-goal lead back in another power-play just thirty seconds later, when Jonathon Veron scored from a rebound of Tomáš Gärtner’s shot. Still in the second period, Australia went up by three goals thanks to Kade Ebeling, but Viitakoski’s third point for an assist on Tristan Walsh’s goal 74 seconds before the second intermission reduced the gap to 3-5.
In the third period, the fans saw several goal-scoring opportunities on both sides, but it took more than ten minutes for any of the teams to score. In the 53rd minute, Valtteri Viitakoski scored from a penalty shot and just after 14 seconds Jonathan Kuysten tied the game with his second of the afternoon. And that was not it from the Canadians. Just 47 seconds before the end, Brandon Barber stunned the Australians with the decider and secured the 11th place for team Canada.
DAY 4: Group Stage Culminating, Czech Republic to Face Switzerland – 4.12.2018
Germany Saves Czechs by Beating Latvia, Nordic Powers Post Convincing Wins – 4.12.2018
Sweden Dominates Norway to Get Easy 9-1 Win – 3.12.2018
Estonia Beats Thailand 11-4 to End Group Stage Unbeaten – 3.12.2018
Great First Period Secures First Victory for Finland – 3.12.2018
Great Defense Gives Australia First Tournament Win over Poland – 3.12.2018
Data Analysis: Latvia vs Czech Republic 4:3 – 3.12.2018
Impressive Third Period Pushes Germany to First Win in Prague – 3.12.2018
Zubir‘s Two Goals Help Singapore Beat Japan in Front of 6,341 Spectators – 3.12.2018
Data Analysis: Finland vs Sweden 4:5 – 3.12.2018
DAY 3: Program Starts with Asian Battle, Fans to See Two Nordic Derbies – 3.12.2018
Latvia Stuns the Hosts, Slovakia and Switzerland on Scoring Surge – 3.12.2018
Estonia Wins Evening Thriller in Arena Sparta – 2.12.2018
First Tournament Surprise as Latvia Beats Czech Republic 4-3 – 2.12.2018
Battle between Canada and Singapore Ends in First Tournament Draw – 2.12.2018
Switzerland Outclasses Germany 13-1, Känzig Scores Four Goals – 2.12.2018
Japan Enters Tournament with 1-15 Loss against Slovakia – 2.12.2018
Norway Turns Score to Get First Tournament Win – 2.12.2018
Data Analysis: Germany vs Czech Republic 5:10 – 2.12.2018
DAY 2: Twelve Teams in Action, Czechs to Face Latvia – 2.12.2018