In an absolutely crucial game for both teams, Slovakia edged Slovenia 1-0 in Group B action. As a result, Slovenia can no longer catch any other team in the group and will be relegated to Division I Group A next season. Also as a result, Slovakia’s chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals are very much alive.
Richard Panik scored the lone goal on a breakaway 15 seconds into the second period. Slovakia outshot Slovenia 39-33 but both goaltenders Luka Gracnar and Stanislav Skorvanek were on top of their games, with Skorvanek getting the shutout in his third career World Championship game.
“We didn't play well in our end today,” said Slovak defender Mario Grman. “Too many giveaways, but our goalie was great. He gave us a chance to win.”
“We had a slow start, but our goalie kept us in the game. He was amazing,” said Slovenian forward Ziga Jeglic. “In the end, like other times in the tournament, we didn’t score a goal. That was our downfall. We created a lot of chances, especially in the end, but we couldn’t score. It’s unfortunate.”
After Friday’s shootout loss to Kazakhstan, the Slovaks can’t afford another slip-up if they expect to advance. They needed three points from this game to remain in contention and got them, barely.
Slovakia outshot Slovenia 17-6 in a scoreless first period, in which the best scoring chance probably went to Slovenia. With less than two minutes to go in the period, a turnover deep in the Slovak zone resulted in the puck going to Luka Maver all alone in front of the net, but he couldn’t beat Skorvanek.
Slovakia scored right off the opening faceoff of the second period. Pavol Regenda sprang Panik on a breakaway and, as usual in that situation, Panik made no mistake. After appearing to momentarily lose control of the puck, he got it back and fired a shot that Luka Gracnar got a piece of, but not enough.
“I just rimmed it around the boards and the guys did the job there, passed it to each other and scored,” said Slovak defender Patrik Koch, who drew the secondary assist.
However, that did not open the floodgates to the Slovenian net. On the contrary, the Slovenes pushed hard for the equalizer over the last 39 minutes. Slovenia had two second-period power plays and threatened on both.
As the minutes ticked away, Slovenia’s situation became more desperate. In the middle of the third period, they forced Skorvanek to make several key saves, including one from the point by Aleksandar Magovic that was deflected on goal by a Slovak defender that the goalie had to react quickly on.
With about 14 seconds left they thought they had the magic goal on a shot from a tight angle by Jan Drozg. Alas, Skorvanek got a pad on it to kick it just wide of the post. All of Slovakia let out a collective sigh when the final horn sounded.
The Slovenes had needed at least a point from this game to give themselves a chance to remain in the top flight of the World Championship with a regulation win over Kazakhstan tomorrow. However, they will now enter that game with an insurmountable four-point deficit.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the team,” said Slovenian defender Ziga Pavlin. “We gave it all at the end, but you’ve got to score a goal to win and we didn’t. Tough loss. We’re a small nation and it’s an honour to play in the top division. As I said, we gave it all to stay here but I guess it wasn’t enough.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Slovakia will enter its game against Norway three points back of Latvia. Once again, Slovakia needs all three points to tie the Latvians in points. Since Slovakia won the head-to-head meeting, Latvia will then need at least a point from Group B’s last game against Switzerland on Tuesday night, otherwise Slovakia advances.
“We're trying not to think too far ahead, just go game by game,” said Grman. “The playoffs are not in our hands right now. We have to win the next game in regulation and then see what happens between Latvia and Switzerland.”