Sandis Vilmanis scored two goals with an empty net as Latvia upset the United States 4-2 to defeat the defending champions for the third time at the Ice Hockey World Cup on Saturday in Zurich.
Deniss Smirnovs’ goal early in the third period gave Latvia a 2-1 lead and set up a wild ending.
The Americans brought in goalkeeper Devin Cooley for an extra attacker, but Vilmanis scored with 1:02 left to make it 3-1.
The Americans struck back – again with six skaters – when Matthew Tkachuk set up Mathieu Olivier to cut the deficit to one from the slot with 51 seconds left.
However, Vilmanis sealed the victory when he scored his second with 42 seconds left.
Latvia opened the scoring in the first period when Haralds Egle scored the tying goal at 8:47 with his team’s second shot on goal.
Tkachuk’s power-play goal – his first in the World Cup – made it 1-1 with 5:12 left in the middle period. The two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion played only his second match at the World Cup after joining teammates on Tuesday.
The loss left the US fifth in Group A, one point behind Latvia. The Americans have two group stage games remaining, Monday against Hungary and Tuesday against Austria.
Group A leaders host Switzerland after captain Roman Josi scored a hat-trick and added an assist, and Sven Andrighetto had a five-point game with a goal and four assists in a 9-0 thrashing of Hungary in Zurich.
The dominant hosts have cruised through the tournament with six wins from six games, including another 9-0 defeat to Austria. They lead Group A by three points ahead of Finland.
In Fribourg, captain Roman Červenka reflected the puck into the net with his skate to score the winner, and the Czech Republic defeated Slovakia 3–2 in a match between countries that once formed Czechoslovakia.
It was the first defeat for the Slovaks. Canada remained the only undefeated team and topped Group B. The Czechs were one point behind and Slovakia two points further.
Also in Group B in Fribourg, Denmark defeated Slovenia 4-0 for its first victory.
