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.
For their part, the Slovaks will complete the group stage on Saturday against Switzerland.
Germany 4 — Austria 2
Nikita Quapp made 17 of 31 saves in the third period, and Germany beat Austria 4-2.
After losing to Sweden and Canada in their first two games, Germany (1-0-0-2) earned their first victory of the tournament.
Roman Kechter and Philipp Krening both had a goal and an assist for the Germans. Thomas Heigl and Leon van der Linde added a goal each.
Ian Scherzer scored Austria’s first goal (0-0-0-4) of the tournament and Jonas Dobnig made it interesting in the third period, but Quapp closed the door.
Michael Sicher started the game for Austria, but was dismissed after allowing 3 goals on 13 shots. In relief, Thomas Pfarrmaier blocked 13 pucks.
Germany secured their place in the quarter-finals with their fourth-place finish in Group A.
Austria, bottom of Group A, will have to fight to stay in the world group by taking on Latvia, bottom of Group B, in two games that will take place during the elimination round. The loser of this confrontation, in a two-for-three format which will begin on Monday, will then be relegated.