Czechs finish tournament with perfect record, beat Danes 5-1

Although they had already assured themselves a promotion to the top division next year, Team Czech Republic finished off the 2014 Division I Group A tournament by scoring five goals in the third period to defeat Denmark 5-1. For a while, it looked like the Danes might have a shot at the silver medal, but instead have to be content with the bronze.

At first glance, the score 5-1 might make it seem like the Czechs had an easy time with the Danes, but that was certainly not the case. After two periods, Denmark led 1-0, and seemed to be making a real push for the silver medal. The Czechs took over the game in the third period, however, scoring five times to finish the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.

The Czechs came out strong, out-shooting Denmark 10-2 in the first 13 minutes, but were unable to beat goaltender Lisa Jensen, who was the primary reason the Czechs were held off the scoresheet for 40 minutes.

It was during the second period when the Czechs really stepped up the pressure. After killing off an early penalty, they went on an offensive attack. Just past the 24-minute mark, they actually had a two-on-nothing breakaway, but Tereza Vanisova passed to Pavlina Horalkova, and she fired it right into Jensen´s glove. In the minutes to follow, the Czechs peppered the Danish net with shots and Denisa Krizova hit the crossbar, but the game was still scoreless.

Finally, Denmark opened the scoring on the power play in the 33rd minute. After Marie Henriksen led a nice rush into the zone, Josefine Jakobsen´s point shot was deflected in front of the net into Radka Lhotska´s pad, and Michelle Weis was right there to put in the rebound.

Four minutes later, it appeared that the Czechs had tied it when Dominika Laskova´s point shot was deflected in, but the officials ruled that it was directed with a high stick, so the Danes took their 1-0 lead in to the dressing room.

The Czechs came out flying in the third period, though, and Alena Polenska tied the game on a beautiful individual effort, backhanding it upstairs on Jensen. Four minutes later, they went to the power play and everyone inside Meo Arena could feel the momentum shifting. Krizova´s point shot was deflected in front by Katerina Mrazova.

Michele Neilsen did have a chance to tie the game for Denmark on a shorthanded breakaway in the 49th minute, but lost the puck trying to make a move on Lhotska. On the same power play, Denisa Krizova scored on a high backhander and the Czechs never looked back.

In the last half of the third period, Polenska scored her second of the game shorthanded and Pavlina Horalkova finished off the scoring with under three minutes to play.

As the final seconds ticked away, the partisan pro-Czech crowd of more than 2000 began celebrating, although they already knew, regardless of this game, that their team was going to the top division next year. Though surely disappointed at how this game finished, the Danish players nonetheless fly home with bronze medals around their necks. The silver medal goes to Norway.