GB vs. Estonia

GB show star quality to grab overtime winner

Great Britain  4

Estonia           3

Aiming to build on their first game success over hosts Croatia, GB lined up against Estonia with a clear objective to make life as difficult as possible for their opposition in the Dom Sportova. Whilst Head Coach Pete Russell opted for Ben Bowns between the pipes once again, Estonian Jussi Tupamäki selected netminder Villem-Henrik Koitmaa to fulfil the role at the other end of the ice, the side exhibiting further talent in forward Andrei Makrov, alternate captain Alexander Petrov and skilled winger Alexei Sibirtsev.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Knowing that Estonia would put up a fight for the points, the side having suffered a 7-2 defeat to Lithuania in their opening game of the World Championships, GB’s plan to tackle the fixture head-on was revealed immediately after faceoff as Craig Peacock fired a rebound into the back of Koitmaa’s net with just twenty six seconds played. A second chance followed when centre Russell Cowley hit the puck into the side netting but GB’s offensive was soon hindered when Jonathan Phillips made way to serve a two minute hooking penalty. Matters were made worse for GB in the midst of this penalty kill as David Phillips entered the box for a cross check, reducing his side to three men for forty eight seconds. Working hard to deal with this disadvantage, GB returned to five skaters unscathed.

Beginning to pile the pressure onto Estonia once more, GB added a second to their tally, this time Cowley slotting home after neat set up from alternate captain Robert Dowd, to give his side a two goal lead on 12:43. GB’s celebrations were short lived however, as Estonia narrowed the margin less than thirty seconds later, Petrov tipping the puck beyond Bowns to make it 2-1. With a little over three quarters of the period played, GB were handed their first power play opportunity. The side beginning to move the puck around Estonia’s defensive zone in a bid to capitalise, it was Dowd who came closest to scoring with a clink of the cross bar before Tupamäki’s men returned to full strength. This equilibrium did not last long as defenceman Stephen Lee sat out for interference to place GB on the penalty kill. Estonia were unable to find an equaliser though as the period came to a close, allowing Russell’s team to head in at the interval with their 2-1 lead intact.   

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

The game still hanging in the balance, GB threw themselves into the middle stanza with greater intensity which instantly paid off, Ashley Tait threading the puck to Cowley who achieved his second of the game just fifty five seconds into the period. Looking for an immediate response, Estonian winger Sibirtsev hit the puck at Bowns who made the save prior to a tripping penalty called against Jonathan Phillips. Passing play in GB’s defensive zone led to a one-timer from Makrov, Robert Rooba collecting and holding the puck at the blue line. Whilst GB appeared to be chasing shadows, a shorthanded shot from Robert Lachowicz gave the side some hope. Meanwhile, Phillips’ return to the ice saw Estonia’s possession balanced with attempts from Evan Mosey, Josh Batch and David Clarke on the same shift.

Another shot from Sibirtsev inspired a great save from Bowns, Daniil Fursa and Kevin Parras putting GB under pressure as the puck moved into the end zone and, although Ben O’Connor collected ahead of Rooba, Estonia gained possession once again, ‘D’ man Lauri Lahesalu lining up Petrov for a five-hole shot which allowed the forward to claim his second of the game on 33:11. Whilst David Phillips received treatment for what appeared to be a leg injury, GB looked to recover from their concession of a second goal; Clarke’s shot taking a deflection before Koitmaa denied Cowley to conclude the action in the second period.

The third section of the game opened with a moment of uncertainty as official’s sought clarification that Weaver’s shot had not made it into Koitmaa’s goal, a video replay confirming that the score line was to remain at 3-2 for the present time. It was not long before Estonia had an opportunity of their own as Colin Shields was considered guilty of delaying the game to award Tupamäki’s team the power play, an advantage which saw a fantastic save from Bowns when Makrov came close to lighting the lamp.  Estonia still appearing the more likely side to score, Matthew Myers threw himself to the ice to deny Alexander Ossipov. Play eventually falling into the hands of a full strength GB, O’Connor’s wrap around missed its mark and one way traffic ensured as Tait conceded a minor for slashing subsequent to this attempt. With an additional skater, Estonia took little time to capitalise, making it 3-3 as Rooba and Petrov linked up to send Makrov through on goal.

Stunned by this equaliser, Dowd, Shields and Robert Farmer combined as GB scrambled to find a winning goal, Mosey also firing high with just three minutes to go. With both Dowd and Farmer close to finding the target, Estonia called a timeout in the final minute of the third period, aware that a draw would take the game into overtime. The game an intense one, neither team could find a winning goal before the final buzzer sounded; the result, a period of four on four in which the next goal would confirm victory. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As play opened, a ten minute misconduct penalty was dished out to O’Connor for abuse of officials which saw the defenceman thrown out of the game. Whilst passing play between Petrov and Makrov ensued, Mosey, Weaver and Lachowicz worked together to set up Clarke but again Koitmaa was on hand to make the save. Seconds later, Makrov conceded a minor penalty to give GB the power play which prompted a timeout call from Russell. Returning with further instruction, Dowd took to the ice for his first shift of overtime and, just twenty six seconds later, the puck was smashed beyond Koitmaa as the Billingham-born forward claimed victory for his team mates. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

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