Latvia outduels Norway in shootout

With a building sponsored by a bank, maybe it’s no surprise that ‘save’ was the word of the day at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center on Thursday.

Following Slovakia’s 1-0 shootout win over Finland, where the goalies combined for 60 saves, hockey fans in Allen were treated to their second-straight goalie duel, this time between Latvia and Norway, and also their second-straight shootout at the 2025 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship.

Norway’s Felix Timraz-Westin and Latvia’s Ivans Kufterins combined for 62 saves in this game, with Timraz-Westin getting the bulk of the rubber thrown his way. The Norwegian goalie was phenomenal in turning away 39 of the 40 shots he faced.

Oddly, he was taken out of the game for the shootout and could only watch as Latvia scored twice on Norway backup Olivers Freimanis to secure a 2-1 shootout win and claim two points in the Group A standings.

Latvia’s Kufterins, meanwhile, had the final smile, as he stopped all four Norwegian shooters he faced in the shootout. Maksims Saperins and Daniels Serkins scored for the winners.

You never want to place too much emphasis on the opening game for both teams at a tournament but this game felt like both teams knew what was on the line. Latvia and Norway are in tough in Group A against the other three teams in Canada, Finland and Slovakia and this result could help boost Latvia to a fourth (or better) place finish in the group and avoid the relegation game.

That said, there’s a lot of hockey to be played, with both teams still having three preliminary-round games.

On Thursday, Timraz-Westin was named Norway’s player of the game and it was well deserved. The save of the game (perhaps the tournament, so far) came midway through the third period. With the score tied 1-1, the Latvians got a powerplay and Karlis Flugins found himself alone in close on the right side. The puck made its way to Flugins, who seemingly had a wide open net but Timraz-Westin somehow slid across and got a glove on the puck, stopping an exasperated Flugins.

Latvia’s Kufterins also had his fair share of remarkable saves. In the second, Kufterins stopped Tor Elis Hannson from the slot, with the rebound going right to Norwegian Tinus Luc Koblar, who tried to beat Kufterins with a quick shot but was stymied.

Both goals came in the first period.

The Latvians got into penalty trouble in the opening frame, with all three minors being called against Latvia. Just past the first minute,…