Ben Lake scored the overtime winner as Great Britain beat Poland 5-4 after overtime at the Motorpoint Arena on Sunday night.
Robert Lachowicz became the 13th player to reach 75 caps on his home-town ice of Nottingham as GB made it two wins out of two following last night’s 4-0 victory over Korea.
Lachowicz and French. Photo credit: Dean Woolley
Britain and Poland level after first period
GB made a fast start for the second day in a row as Lachowicz’s centering feed was met by Jonathan Phillips who steered the puck past John Murray (1:57).
Pawel Zygmunt set-up Diminik Pas for a top-shelf equaliser just past the midway point of the first period (10:06), while Alan Lyszczarczyk hit the pipes from the left circle.
Neilson and Kirk puts GB ahead at second intermission
Liam Kirk dug the puck off the boards to find Cade Neilson for a one-timer in the slot for his second goal in as many matches (23:36), before Bowns made a great save to deny Bartosz Fraszko from close range.
Pas was thrown out for boarding Ben O’Connor as GB took advantage on the five-minute powerplay as Neilson set-up Liam Kirk at the bottom of the circle (33:07).
Poland fight back to send game to overtime
Pawel Zygmunt closed the gap when he put away his own rebound on the powerplay (45:25).
Kirk had an effort saved from the right circle and then saw his shot from the slot come back off the post, but Poland levelled through a Kamil Walega rebound (54:23).
Evan Mosey’s shot was directed into the path of Mike Hammond to put GB ahead on the powerplay (58:30), before Bartosz Frasko’s shot looped over Bowns for Poland’s equaliser on a six-on-five play with John Murray lifted for the extra skater (59:12).
Lake wins it for GB in overtime
Bowns made a good pad save to deny Zygmunt inside the opening 30 seconds of overtime.
Kirk and Nathanael Halbert set-up Ben Lake to score the winner at the backdoor on the powerplay (62:35).
There are no games in the tournament tomorrow and GB return to action on Tuesday against Lithuania (19:30).
Lake overtime winner. Photo credit Dean Woolley
World Championship Division I Group A – Great Britain results and schedule
Saturday 29th April: Korea 0-4 Great Britain – Goals: Lake, Dowd, Neilson, Kirk
Sunday 30th April: Great Britain 5-4 Poland (overtime) – Goals: J. Phillips, Neilson, Kirk, Hammond, Lake
Tuesday 2nd May: Great Britain v Lithuania – 19:30
Wednesday 3rd May: Great Britain v Romania – 19:30
Friday 5th May: Italy v Great Britain – 19:30
