World Championship Division I Group A
Great Britain 5-4 Poland OT
After the first round of games, it was plain that Poland would present the second biggest challenge to Great Britain in this group.
Any aspirations Poland has of promotion rest on their performances and results against GB and Italy.
At no stage did GB trail in this game but ultimately would have been disappointed to only claim two points instead of the three on offer.
First Period
Poland began the game with intensity and put the hosts under pressure.
That was until GB scored on their first attack thanks to an excellent piece of play by the fourth line.
Robert Lachowicz stole possession at the red line and surged across the blue line. The latter flipped a pass to his left and Captain Jonathan Phillipps opted for a deft redirect instead of a shot.
It paid dividends with John Murray beaten all ends up in the Polish net and once again the host nation had an early lead inside two minutes.
Poland had the game’s first power play and only some tremendous shot blocking kept them at bay as GB penalty killers were brave in front of Ben Bowns.
The effervescent Liam Kirk almost doubled the lead but was robbed by Murray on a rebound chance following Brett Perlini’s initial shot.
Although GB dominated the shot clock 18-6, Poland was by far the better team in the first period and deservedly tied the game at the thirteen-minute mark.
Mind you it wasn’t great defending as two passes cut GB’s defence to shreds and Domink Pas levelled proceedings.
Pas would have put his nation ahead on a partial breakaway but for a smart pad save by Bowns a minute after the tying goal.
Peter Russell was glad to get his troops back in the dressing rooms at 1-1 to hit the reset button in the interval.
Second Period
Whatever was said had the desired effect but the early goal had more to do with Kirk’s amazing playmaking skills.
From the left boards, the NHL prospect sent a no-look reverse pass that split the Polish defence in half. Cade Neilson was the recipient and scored from the slot less than four minutes into the middle frame.
Robert Dowd almost doubled the lead with a fantastic individual effort but GB had to wait a while for a third goal.
A terrible hit by Pas on Ben O’Connor sent the defenceman head-first into the boards. Thankfully the GB man was okay and the hosts made Poland play with a power play tally.
Kirk scored five-hole from a tight angle after some good work from Neilson behind the goal line.
In between the two goals, Bowns pulled off an extraordinary save. An odd-man rush for Poland was thwarted by Josh Tetlow but the loose puck fell to Bartosz Fraszko in front of goal. Despite his body weight shifting the opposite way, Bowns somehow pulled out a left pad save.
Great Britain was good value for a two-goal lead but needed to cut out the defensive errors that were giving Poland hope.
Third Period
Two early penalties taken by GB handed the initiative to Poland.
Bowns made a pair of top-draw saves before Pawel Zygmunt put home his own rebound to draw this team within one.
Great Britain remained on their heels and was out-shot 14-6 in the final frame as Poland took control.
There was a lone opportunity for the host nation to restabilise their two-goal lead with eight minutes remaining.
A turnover left Kirk alone in the slot but his shot hit the inside off the post and stayed out.
After relentless pressure, the tying goal arrived with 5:37 left on the clock.
Kamil Walega put home from close range as GB’s defensive frailties were laid bare.
Home fans were left gasping with three minutes left as Poland contrived not to score with GB at 6’s and 7s, with the puck evading the empty cage.
Against the run of play, Great Britain retook the lead on the power play with ninety seconds remaining.
Mike Hammond’s one-time blast hit both posts before being put into his own net by Pawel Dronia whilst under pressure from Perlini.
Poland refused to lie down and remarkably tied the game up with 48 seconds left.
Having opted for the extra attacker, Fraszko let fly with a shot that popped in and out of Bowns’ glove and off the goaltender’s shoulder before the puck looped up and over him into the net.
Having blown three separate leads, Great Britain was pegged back to 4-4 and now faced the prospect of overtime.
Overtime
Rookie defenceman Nathanael Halbert drew a penalty in overtime and proceed to play a key role in securing the extra point.
The defenceman connected with Kirk to set up Ben Lake for the dramatic game-winning goal.
Post Game Notes
A far from perfect performance from Great Britain but they ultimately found a way to win despite being their own worst enemy at times.
The offensive output missing in years past has been on display through two games. It needs to be aligned with solid defensive play in the next two games.
Player of the Game: Ben Bowns
Scoring
Liam Kirk 1-2-3
Cade Nielson 1-1-2
Nathanael Halbert 0-3-3
Jonathan Phillips 1-0-1
Robert Lachowicz 0-1-1
Ben Lake 1-0-1
Mike Hammond 1-0-1
Evan Mosey 0-1-1
Ben O’Connor 0-1-1
Extended highlights
Line-Up
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