Latvia Shocks Germany in Olympic Thriller Behind Tralmaks’ Third-Period Heroics
In a game that turned Group C on its head, Latvia pulled off a stunning 4-3 upset over a heavily favored German squad, thanks in large part to a clutch third-period goal from Eduards Tralmaks. The Grand Rapids Griffins forward stepped up when it mattered most, helping Latvia notch its first win of the Olympic gold medal tournament in Milan.
Germany came in with the upper hand on paper - a roster featuring NHL talent like Red Wings blueliner Moritz Seider and a track record of dominance over Latvia in international play. But this morning, Latvia didn’t read the script. They wrote their own.
Tralmaks Delivers in Crunch Time
Tralmaks, skating on Latvia’s top line, logged 18:46 of ice time and played in all situations, including the penalty kill. His presence was felt throughout the game, but it was his third-period tally that changed the tone of the tournament.
Coming off a penalty kill, Tralmaks took a feed from veteran Zemgus Girgensons and carried the puck up ice with purpose. He let go of a sharp wrister that beat Philipp Grubauer clean, giving Latvia a 3-2 lead. It was his first goal of the tournament, and while it didn’t go down as the official game-winner, it was arguably the moment that tipped the balance.
The former University of Maine standout finished the game with a +1 rating and looked far more comfortable alongside linemate Sandis Vilmanis than in the team’s opening loss to Team USA. The chemistry was there, and so was the confidence.
AHL Talent Steps Up
Latvia’s win wasn’t a one-man show. Boston Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis scored twice, providing the offensive punch Latvia needed to keep pace with Germany. In fact, of the seven total goals scored in this one, three came off the sticks of AHL players - a testament to the depth and hunger of athletes still fighting for their NHL shot.
The physicality and pace Latvia brought to the ice caught Germany off guard early. Despite trailing on the scoreboard at the end of the first, Latvia had outshot their opponents 11-7 and showed no signs of backing down. They kept the pressure on, capitalized on their chances, and made life difficult for a German team that’s used to dictating play.
What’s Next for Latvia
With the win, Latvia breathes new life into its Olympic campaign. Next up is a matchup against Denmark, a team that Germany handled earlier in Group C play.
That game is set for 1:10 P.M. Eastern on February 15 - and if today’s performance is any indication, Latvia is far from done making noise.
Tralmaks and company proved they can hang with - and beat - top-tier competition. Now the question is: can they build on the momentum? We’ll find out soon enough.