GBR vs SRB

Game Review

GREAT BRITAIN 2 – 6 SERBIA

Great Britain beat Serbia 6-2 to set up a chance of going through to the final qualifying stage for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

GB outshot Serbia 52-16 as coach Pete Russell gave the starting netminder berth to Stevie Lyle on his 76th cap.

Colin Shields became GB’s second all-time leading goalscorer when he netted his 33rd international goal, passing Kevin Conway.

The Belfast Giants forward stepped in from the left and fired past Arsenije Rankovic at 4:28.

Serbia grabbed a surprise equaliser as a giveaway in the GB defence saw Nenad Rakovic pounce on the puck and fire low past Lyle (8:03).

Matty Davies scored his first GB goal with a neat finish from the slot (11:27) as GB opened up a 2-1 first period lead.

Great Britain hit penalty trouble early in the second period and Uros Bjelogrlic levelled the game at two from the side of the net at 25:44 on a five-on-three powerplay.

Jonathan Boxill tipped in his first GB goal as he deflected a shot from David Phillips past Rankovic (29:50).

David Clarke made it 4-2 with a finish from the right circle with a two-man advantage at 35:27 after Steve Lee had hit the post.

Clarke then fired in his 26th GB career goal as he coverted a pass from Craig Peacock on the powerplay (54:54), while Robert Lachowicz’s stunning toe drag and low shot rounded off the scoring at 59:37.

GB head coach, Pete Russell, said: “One of the best things about today is we scored six goals again.

“We have got a lot of guys scoring at the moment and that is really good for us.

“I am pleased with the outcome, although at times I did not feel we got pucks to the net.

“I am really excited about tomorrow. We came here to be in this position and I am very looking forward to Italy.”

GB against Italy faces-off at 8:45pm local time (7:45 UK time).

Italy play their second game of the the tournament this evening aginst Netherlands and GB already know that a win against the Italians would secure them a place in the final qualifying stage.