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The Czechs started pushing their opponents right after the opening face-off. Even though the Polish defensive seemed to be well organized, the home team took the lead in the 6th minute. Ondrej Novak sent the ball to the side of the net with a quick shot. Poland got a five-on-three power play a few minutes later, which was good opportunity to tie the game, but the Czech defence successfully handled this tricky situation. In the final minutes of the period, Jan Cejka and Samuel Kucharcik fired two quick shots and made it 3–0.
In the second period, the battle between tough Polish defence and Czech active offense continued. Although Poland players made up some chances, the game took place in front of goaltender Filip Płonka most of the time. But actually there were more penalties than goals in the second period. Michal Machacek scored the fourth Czech goal Czechs when both teams played with four players and Jan Becka made it 5–0 late in the period with a power play goal. The defenders left him alone right in front of the goal and the Czech forward sent the ball into the net over the goalie’s catching glove.
In the third period, most of the game was played in front of the Polish goal just as in the first two periods. Marek Krbec scored the sixth Czech goal on a rebound over the goalie who was down on the ground and just a few minutes later, Samuel Kucharcik made it 7–0. Late in the period, the Czechs scored two more goal to make it 9–0. Jan Skorcik and Vaclav Skoloudik were the last two players who defeated the Polish goalie.
Reactions
Coach of the Czech Republic: Games against weaker opponents are very difficult. It is important to motivate the players, but we may have been too passive at the start it turned out that we could not score. But we are a good bunch and we got out of it. In the evening, the Americans are waiting for us and it will be the first test of fire.
Coach of Poland: It was not a bad game for us. The Czech team is one of the best in the world, we are just learning ball hockey and it was a good lesson for us. The boys put their hearts in it, and I think that if we continue this way, we will get better.
