tatar

[wings1110 184]

2 goals and an assist

Slovakia – Latvia 8-3 (5-0, 2-2, 1-1)

SASKATOON – Slovakia rebounded from a tough first-day loss in convincing fashion with an 8-3 drubbing of Latvia.

Slovakia’s top line of Richard Panik, Tomas Tatar and Marek Viedensky was responsible for the bulk of the offensive output, putting in five of the Slovaks’ eight goals.

Panik scored twice in first 3:44 and then assisted on the 3-0 goal at 5:31. Things continued to go downhill for the beleaguered Latvians, who gave up another two goals before the end of the first period.

The end of the first period was also the end of the game for Latvian goalkeeper Raimond Ermics, who was replaced by Janis Kalnins. Kalnins lasted for nearly 10 minutes before he gave up his first goal when Matus Rais tipped in the puck to make it a 6-0 Slovak advantage. Tatar followed-up just over three minutes later with a five-hole goal.

Trailing 7-0, Latvia had a small moral victory when they put in a pair of goals coming 56 seconds apart. Both goals earned the underdog team a standing ovation from the enamored crowd and a hearty celebration from the players on the ice. Miks Lisbergs and Roberts Bukarts were the scorers.

But in the end, Slovakia had no problem overcoming the blip, as the teams exchanged two late period goals to bring the final to 8-3. Bukarts finished the game with two goals for Latvia, while Panik and Viedensky had four points each on the Slovakian side.

Both teams have the day off tomorrow.

Edited December 28, 2009 by wings1110

[Miller Brew 0]

Link doesn't work for me. Can you copy and paste the article.

[Theophany 110]

Latvia got stomped 16-0 against Canada; scoring 2 goals doesn't really mean anything, frankly.

That said, he's supposed to be the next great hope for our offense, so here's hoping he's good.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

I've been very wary of expecting too much from him in this tournament. Everyone seems to be talking him up so much, expecting him to absolutely dominate this tournament. Yes he should be successful but lets not put too much pressure on a kid who's just turned 19. Still very young and the way people have been hyping him up it's as though he should be scoring a hat-trick every game.

Was quiet against the US and rebounded with a 3 point night tonight. I just want to see him score a few goals and give Slovakia a chance of claiming a medal.

[brett 1,029]

im not gonna buy into all this hype yet, could be another leino

[skacore 2]

2 goals against Latvia, invisible against USA, hmmm

[thedatsyukian 7]

Honestly, Panik has been the impressive one out of that top forward line not Tatar.

[dat's sick 1,002]

im not gonna buy into all this hype yet, could be another leino

Oh no, not another player with a lot of potential that plays bad in the first half of his first NHL season..

Seriously, people are giving up on Leino too damn quickly. But comparing Tatar to Leino isn't very fair. Tatar is much younger and unless he completely stops developing he has much higher potential than Leino does.

[Konnan511 1,736]

2 goals against Latvia, invisible against USA, hmmm

Sums up what I was thinking. Let's see if he can do something against a decent team. Playing Latvia is like the Yankees playing The Wings in baseball.

[dicksmack 33]

Honestly, Panik has been the impressive one out of that top forward line not Tatar.

I saw Panik play in his debut for the Windsor Spitfires--4points and he was dominant! He's pretty big too...

[Marty Barry 230]

I can't believe they beat Latka!!!Lapland!!!Lan...who?

[redwingfan19 293]

im not gonna buy into all this hype yet, could be another leino

true. But unlike leino tatar is stronger and a better skater already. Also he has a good head on his shoulders and wants to play in GR to get better and earn his spot on the wings like everyone else.

[Jake Ryan 1]

true. But unlike leino tatar is stronger and a better skater already. Also he has a good head on his shoulders and wants to play in GR to get better and earn his spot on the wings like everyone else.

Tatar is our next Filppula.

[redwingfan19 293]

Tatar is our next Filppula.

not a bad comparison but I see tatar as more of a goal scorer. Maybe a mini franzen

[Guest Four]

Tatar vs Canada tonight!

[Carman 387]

Tatar vs Canada tonight!

Here's a good test.

He wasn't invisible verse USA. He was easily the main focus of the American's Fowler was shadowing him the whole night. Not to mention North American hockey dominates soft Euro hockey so Tatar was at the disadvantage because his team is full of soft Euros.

[Guest Four]

What # is he this year and is he injured? Havent seen him on the ice for the the whole period.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

#10, I've noticed him a bit. He's got a little spunk I like that

[Guest Four]

#10, I've noticed him a bit. He's got a little spunk I like that

Thanks, I've just been looking for the people with the short ass names and couldn't notice. Is he with Panik? Everytime he was on the ice, I couldnt see another dude with a short name

[Guest Four]

Not impressed at all by him this game. Good speed, and good passing, but constantly over-skating the puck, losing battles along the boards and coughed the puck up way too much. Didn't have very good net presence either.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Yeah, apart from his 1st shift I didnt notice him at all.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Not jumping off the Tatar bandwagon, but shut out in two games against the good teams of the tourny. Let's hope his confidence doesn't get shot after this is all said and done.

[servo 15]

In the big picture, lets just hope that Tartar ultimately replaces the loss of Hudler.

[Miller Brew 0]

In the big picture, lets just hope that Tartar ultimately replaces the loss of Hudler.

I wouldn't expect to see Tatar on the roster anytime soon.

[jollymania 162]

Tatar got a massive elbow in the 1 min of tonights game i watched