Olympics: Olesen Scores Two In 4-2 Win Over Latvia

 

Team Denmark earned their first win of the tournament Sunday at Rho Arena, defeating Latvia 4-2 and handing the Latvians their second loss of the Olympics. Nick Olesen led the way with two goals and an assist, while Mikkel Aagaard and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored. Frederik Andersen stood tall in net with 33 saves, including 14 in the third period. Kristaps Zile and Eduards Tralmaks found the back of the net for Latvia. On Tuesday, each team will play in the qualification playoffs against opponents to be determined.

Denmark Lineup:

True - Ehlers - Bjorkstrand

Jensen - Eller - Blichfeld

Moelgaard - Aagaard - Olsen

Storm - Russell - Wejse

Poulsen

M. Lauridsen - Jensen Aabo

Setkov - B. Jensen

O. Lauridsen - Bruggisser

Lassen

Andersen

Dichow

Latvia Lineup:

Vilmanis - Girgensons - Tralmaks

Krastenbergs - Daugavins - Blugers

Locmelis - Bukarts - Balcers

Dzierkrals - Ravinskis - Batna

Bukarts

Balinskis - Rubins

Jaks - Zile

Smits - Mamcics

Cibulskis

Silovs

Merzlikins

Nick Olesen broke the ice early, only 23 seconds into the opening period, putting Denmark ahead 1-0 off a redirection from the top of the crease. After he got deep on the forecheck, tipping Uvis Balinskis' pass, it ended up with Mikkel Aagaard, who threw the puck at the net from the right face-off circle. Denmark's first tally tied for the fastest from the start of a game at the Olympics, matching Leon Draisaitl's goal against Denmark on Thursday. Aagaard made it 2-0 at 15:06, knocking in the rebound of Christian Wejse's shot for a power-play goal. This was Denmark's first man-advantage goal of the tournament; they had been 0-for-3 through their first two games and had been the only team without a power-play goal. With 3:32 to go in the first frame, Nikolaj Ehlers found the back of the net to make it 3-0 for the Danish when a shot from the blue line by Markus Lauridsen hit off Oliver Bjorkstrand's skates in front, going right to Ehlers in the right slot to put it past Arturs Silovs. Kristaps Zile fired through traffic after taking a pass from Janis Jaks, scoring from the blue line to get Latvia on the board 3-1.

Eduards Tralmaks received the puck from Zile, who took a pass from Zemgus Girgensons, and Tralmaks found space at the far post, tapping in the pass through the crease from the left boards to make it 3-2 at 13:19 of the second period.

Late in the third period, with just 2:22 on the clock, Olesen struck the empty Latvian net, scoring his second of the game for the 4-2 final.

Notes:

- Kristaps Zile and Eduards Tralmaks each picked up a goal and an assist.

- Arturs Silovs made a total of 18 saves for Latvia.

- This was the first Olympic meeting between Denmark and Latvia with NHL players participating.

- Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first goal in Milan and became the first Danish skater to record three career Olympic points in the NHL era. He also leads all Danish NHL players in goals, assists, and points after passing Frans Nielsen in assists earlier this season. ...Ehlers netted the game-winner, securing Denmark’s first Olympic victory with NHL players competing.

- Zemgus Girgensons tied Sandis Ozolinsh (four in 2002) for the most assists by a Latvian skater in a single Olympic tournament with NHL players.

- Nick Olesen (2-1--3) scored twice, becoming the first Danish player to post a multi-goal game at an NHL-participating Olympics.