Battle for the 1st place goes to Team Czech Republic

In what many were predicting as the game to decide which team would win the group, the Czech Republic faced Norway on Wednesday night in front of electric home crowd. The Czechs came out strong and scored a goal in each of the first two periods. The Norwegians tried to build some offence in the last period, but the Czechs played strong defence and didn´t allow them to score. The final score was 2-0, putting the Czechs in good position to gain promotion.

First period started militantly. Norwegian team started with strong defense strategy so the Czech team spent most of the time in offensive zone but without any bigger chance. First better chance had in powerplay Alena Polenská but the puck jumped over her stick. Czech team made a great pressure in powerplays and it continued in normal play and eventually turned into goal after shot of Simona Studentová and Czech players were deservedly in the lead.

Second period was very similar to the first one. Both team played carefully with awareness of how important this match is. Big chance had Simona Studentová but her rebound hit only the goalkeeper. Then in the middle of the game Czech team scored again when Denisa Křížová shot between legs of Nilsen and added second goal. Czech team had then opportunity to raise its lead in couple of powerplays but any of them haven´t brought change of score.

In the begging of first period there was evident try of Team Norway to at lest even the score. They made good pressure in powerplays but none of them ended up in Peslarovás net. Norwegian team continued to attack Peslarová but Czech goalkeeper was really good. Huge chance to decide had Czech players in powerplay when one of them hit the bar and rebound wasn´t successful. Czechs deffended thein lead very well and they haven´t allowed Team Norway to make any final pressure and won 2:0.

„I think we played well we were following our tactic and keeping our obligations as players,“ clarified reasons of Czechs win Denisa Křížová.