Latvia goalie thanks coach for ‘saving my butt’ with challenges vs. Team USA

The Latvian men’s ice hockey team began its Milan Cortina Winter Olympics journey with a 5-1 loss to the United States on Thursday, but it could have been worse. The Baltic nation hung tough for the first 20 minutes of the match, taking a 1-1 tie into the second period. Two disallowed American goals delayed the inevitable onslaught. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins appreciated his country’s successful challenges.

“I mean I got lucky, yes,” he told reporters, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. “I got lucky with posts and I got lucky I have a good video coach who saved my butt two times. He has a good eye on it and I definitely owe him a dinner.”

Unfortunately, those challenges did not make much of a difference in the end. Latvia was unable to maintain momentum coming out of the first intermission and found itself in a 4-1 hole after the second period. Merzlikins, who minds the net for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the NHL regular season, was taken out after giving up those four goals. He will try to bounce back when Latvia battles Germany on Saturday.

The 31-year-old can at least take some comfort in knowing that the coaching staff is staying sharp when it comes to challenges. Those could prove incredibly valuable in Olympics competition. Team USA rendered them ineffective on this day, however.

Brady Tkachuk scored on an assist from his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, to jump-start the squad in the first period. Brock Nelson lit the lamp twice, and Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes and Matthew Tkachuk all recorded two assists each. The Americans refused to let the early disappointment disrupt their plans, as they opened up preliminary play with a decisive victory.

Team USA will aim for a cleaner start when it squares off with Denmark on Saturday.

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