BRATISLAVA, May 11 -- Latvia earn their first three points in Group B of the world hockey championship in Slovakia after a tremendous performance in the third period to beat Austria 5-2 on Saturday.
Austria was the first to score when Michael Raffle put in a shorthanded backhander in the 15th minute, but four successive goals by Latvia's players turned the game around. Rudolfs Balcers tied the game only seconds after the opening goal, followed by Lauris Darzins, Rodrigo Abols, and Gints Meija in the final period to provide a comfortable three-goal cushion, 4-1.
Austria cut the lead to two with only four minutes left in the game, but their opponents had the last say - Ronalds Kenins put the game away at 5-2 only seconds later.
On Sunday, Latvia will face the energized roster of Switzerland, and Austria will try their luck against the star-studded Russia.