(Moncton) Goaltender Adam Gajan earned a shutout with 28 saves as Slovakia defeated Latvia 3-0 at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Friday.
Filip Mesar, a first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, led the Slovak attack with a goal and an assist. Alex Ciernik and Simon Nemec, the second overall pick of the 2022 auction – selected by the New Jersey Devils – also hit the mark.
Latvian goalkeeper Patriks Berzins stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced as Mesar hit an empty net.
With the victory, Slovakia is tied with the United States for second place in Group B with two wins and one loss. Finland sits first with two wins and an overtime loss.
Wins in regulation are worth three points, wins in overtime are worth two and losses in overtime are worth one.
Latvia finished bottom of Group B with one point from four games and will face the loser of the Germany-Austria duel later on Friday. The loser of this confrontation, in a two-for-three format and which will begin on Monday, will then be relegated.
For their part, the Slovaks will complete the group stage on Saturday against Switzerland.