2024 IIHF Mens World Championships Game Four
Whatever Great Britain’s destiny is in this tournament, they will likely not have a better chance to claim a regulation victory.
For large spans of this game, GB dominated their opponent and created many high-danger scoring chances.
After blowing an early lead, Great Britain were left chasing the game after being made to pay for their mistakes
Great Britain 3-4 Denmark
First Period
Great Britain came roaring out of the traps and could easily have been up by at least a pair of goals inside five minutes.
Sam Ruopp and Ollie Betteride failed to bury their opportunities and it was left to the talisman to break the deadlock.
An excellent breakout play instigated by Ruoop and Johnny Curran, Liam Kirk sped away down the left side. After luring the Danish goaltender out of position, Kirk rounded the net and swept home with consummate ease.
The lead lasted all of 61 seconds as GB capitulated almost immediately.
Oscar Moelgaard faked to go around the net and Jackson Whistle completely overcommitted, leaving an open net for Mikkel Aagaard to slide the puck into after a feed into the crease.
Two minutes later GB were behind. Denmark capitalised on the power play, albeit with a short-side shot that Whistle will feel disappointed to have allowed despite a screen.
In a breathless start, GB responded to tie the game at the midway point. A well-executed breakout play allowed Evan Mosey to send a slap-pass into the slot which Cade Neilson expertly redirected with his skate past Frederik Dichow.
That capped off the scoring for the first period though GB could have retaken the lead.
Another surging drive by Kirk, this time down the right, allowed him to rip a wicked shot which Dichow got a piece of his glove on. The rebound resulted in a scramble in the crease which Denmark survived.
Second Period
In a complete turnaround to the first period, GB were shambolic at the start of the middle frame and made to pay the price.
Only a tremendous defensive play by Nathanael Helbert and the post saved them in the opening thirty seconds but Denmark would score inside two minutes through Aagard.
Great Britain started to feel their way back into the game at the five-minute mark and should have tied the game. Ben Lake and Brett Perlini were both wasteful on glorious scoring chances.
The period finished with a flurry of penalties and Great Britain scored late, seconds after a power play had expired.
Excellent puck recovery below the goal line resulted in Halbert bind found in the high slot by Robert Lachowicz. The defenceman made no mistake with a bullet shot to tie the game at 3-3.
Third Period
The final frame was full of missed opportunities and regrets.
Whistle came up with a huge save a minute in to deny Patrick Russell on a breakaway as GB were sloppy from the puck drop.
After killing a penalty, GB began to grow into the period and created some promising looks with little puck luck at crucial moments.
A terrible tripping call by the officials would prove to be the tipping point.
Mosey watched on in disbelief from the box as Denmark took the lead through Christian Wejse on a well-worked power-play goal.
Eight minutes remained for Great Britain to find a tying goal and earn something from the game.
There were no hard luck stories as they generated a plethora of high-quality scoring chances, especially after pulling Whistle for an extra attacker.
Sam Duggan, Kirk and Robert Dowd all had chances but the biggest culprit was Perlini.
The recently signed Cardiff forward squandered four chances from below the dots or closer, the last of which was a rebound with an empty cage to aim at.
Overall this was an incredible performance against the eleventh seeds but an opportunity squandered to put at least one point on the board.
Post Game Notes:
Cade Neilson has found his groove in the last two games and scoring should give him some confidence through the remainder of the tournament.
I predicted before the tournament that there were defencemen on this roster that could aid offensively. Evan Mosey stepped up with a primary assist and Nathan Halbert with the tying goal. That’ll become an even larger factor in the next three games if GB is to earn some points.
The prolificacy in front of net is a worrying trend, with Liam Kirk and Cade Neilson the only forwards to score thus far. Great Britain requires the likes of Robert Dowd and Brett Perlini to step up.
I was surprised when Jackson Whistle was given this start after his performance against Switzerland. His effort on the first two goals wasn’t at the level you would expect, though he went on to make some big saves in the second and third periods.
Player of the Game: Nathanael Halbert
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