Other events in Baltic States

In a crucial game at the 2013 Ice Hockey World Championship, needed to remain in the IIHF's top division in 2014, the Latvian national team beat France 3:1, informs LETA.

Scoring in the first period was Martins Cipulis, in the second – Janis Sprukts (one-on-one). An apparent power play goal by France was waved off by the refs at the start of the third, then re-reviewed and counted, making it 1:2. Sprukts stole the puck, and passed it to Lauris Darzins with about 4 minutes to go, for Latvia's third score.

Latvia's next and final game in the championship's prelim round will be against the home team – Finland, on May 14, 20:15.

Latvia has six points in the group standings.

Latvia needs to finish in the top four in the group to qualify for the tournament's quarterfinals.

Later yesterday, Austrian national team lost to Russia 4-8 (3-3, 1-3, 0-2) in their last game in the Ice Hockey World Championship's preliminary round, which means that Latvia will finish in at least seventh place in Group H, whereas Austria will be relegated to Division I.

Next year, Italy and Kazakhstan will return to the championship's Elite Division, while Austria and Slovenia will play in Division I in 2014.

Three teams have already qualified for the quarterfinals from Group H: the United States, Finland and Russia. Slovakia and Germany currently have seven points each, whereas Latvia and France have six points apiece. Austria is in last place in Group H with five points.