With the late drama of yesterday's victory over Croatia still sinking in, Team GB were once again in action in Eindhoven. Today's opposition were the lowest ranked Estonia - fresh from a 7:3 defeat at the hands of ex-Panther, Jim Paek's South Korea. Estonia were keen to eliminate the memories of this loss and Team GB were hoping to build on the impressive victory over the loaded Croatian team.
The first period started in a frenetic manner with both teams looking to assert their authority. The Estonians would have the better of the opening minutes going on the powerplay twice in quick succession. Robert Dowd called for a weak hooking call and Matt Haywood being called for interference, for what at first glance looked like a clean hit. The transition from EIHL play to IIHF refs is not something that GB have coped with so far. Team GB would see some powerplay time, moving the puck around the zone well but - in what is seeming a flaw in powerplay system - Estonia's Robert Rooba got a breakaway. The defense tried admirably to disrupt the huge body of Rooba, the referee would rule that this disruption was unfair and a penalty shot was awarded. Rooba would pull an excellent move, however, Ben Bowns stood tall and kept the game even.
Shortly after this, Team GB opened the scoring through Davey Phillips. A quick transition from end to end resulted in a deserved lead. The ageless Jonathan Weaver playing the cross-ice pass for Phillips to rocket passed the netminder from the right-hand side. The opening four goals from GB all going to defensmen, but this was not through a lack of trying from the forward corps. The line of Robert Dowd, Matthew Myers and Robert Farmer putting immense pressure on the net of Roman Shumukhin. The first period ended with a too many men call against GB, which thankfully did not yield a goal from the man advantage for Estonia. While Team GB played a physical game that the Estonians cowered from, goalscorer Davey Phillips was lucky not to get called on a check to the head on Roman Andrejev.
The second period would continue with Team GB playing heavy on the forecheck. The energy line of Prince, Garside and Boxill were effective as they piled chances on Roman Shumukhin's net in the early moments of the period. This pressure would continue as Pete Russell's men looked for an insurance marker. The Andrei Makrov breakaway served as a reminder of the danger of the Estonian top line, although despite the high energy Team GB couldn't make their territory count. In the final 10 minutes of the period a Ben O'Connor turnover lead to Robert Rooba finishing through a screen from the high slot as the Estonian top line were rewarded with a goal for their efforts.
With a 20 minute game and all to play for, Team GB redoubled their efforts to get the three points that they deserved. The top line of Robert Dowd, Matthew Myers and Robert Farmer were involved in almost every good chance in the final stanza, as the excellent Jonathan Weaver and Ben O'Connor continued to be influential on the blue line. At 54:10 the top line's effort would pay off with Robert Farmer shovelling home the rebound from Weaver's shot. The goal came on a delayed penalty and GB with the sixth attacker took full advantage. The desire that Pete Russell has talked about shone through as the players dug deep to take advantage of the extra skater. The final minutes would play out with Estonia desperately looking for an equaliser in the same manner that GB did in the game before against Croatia. Alas, there were no late heroics from the men from the Baltics. Team GB played an aggressive high fore-check forcing the Estonians in to their zone. Indeed, they may have added another if icing had not been called late on as Jonathan Boxill raced all alone in to the zone chasing the loose puck. Not perhaps the goal-fest that some expected but a vital and well deserved 3 points.
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