Germany beat Latvia

The Latvians got off to the hotter start in Prague and took a deserved lead at the eleven-minute mark thanks to a goal by Lauris Darzins.

There were no goals in the second period, as Germany stared a humiliating early exit from the competition in the face.

But two mainstays of the German national team came up big in the third period. Germany captain Michael Wolf leveled the score in minute 47 with his 51st goal in national dress.

And two minutes before the final buzzer, Matthias Plachta secured the narrowest of wins with a goal that required confirmation by television replay.

Germany play the hosts the Czech Republic on Sunday and rivals Austria on Monday, needing at least one victory to qualify for the knock-out round of the tournament.