OTTAWA, Ontario — Maxim Strbak netted the decisive goal just 2:55 into overtime, propelling Slovakia to a thrilling 5-4 victory against Kazakhstan in a match at the world junior hockey championship.
Slovakia had been in control with a 4-2 advantage as the game approached its conclusion, but a crucial moment came when Kazakhstan’s Asanali Sarkenov received a 5-minute major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking Slovak player Frantisek Dej.
During the ensuing short-handed situation, Kazakhstan demonstrated resilience by scoring twice, which culminated in a sensational comeback to force overtime. Davlat Nurkenov found the back of the net at 16:37 of the third period, and Kirill Lyapunov completed the comeback with only 29 seconds remaining.
For Slovakia, Dalibor Dvorsky and Juraj Pekarcik each made significant contributions by scoring two goals. Despite the aggressive offensive showing, goaltender Samuel Urban faced challenges, allowing four goals on 17 shots throughout the match.
Kazakhstan’s offensive effort also included goals from Sarkenov and Artur Gross. Meanwhile, goaltender Vladimir Nikitin, known as a prospect for the Ottawa Senators, put forth a commendable performance with 37 saves, including four critical stops in overtime.
With this match, Kazakhstan earned its first point of the tournament following two earlier heavy losses, allowing them to surpass Switzerland in the standings of Group B. The two teams are set to clash again on Tuesday, where advancement to the quarterfinals will be at stake on the last day of the preliminary round.
Slovakia concluded the preliminary round with a total of five points, accumulating one regulation win, one overtime win, and two losses. They secured a third-place finish in Group B, which guarantees their progression to the quarterfinals.
In the other group, Latvia clinched a spot in the quarterfinals by edging out Germany 4-3 in overtime. Eriks Mateiko played a pivotal role for Latvia with two goals, including the game-winner just 3:23 into the extra period. Other significant contributors included Bruno Osmanis and Olivers Murnieks for Latvia, while Germany’s scoring came from Simon Seidl, Edwin Tropmann, and David Lewandowski.
