BRATISLAVA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia's national ice hockey team lost its first match at the four-team NaturEnergie Challenge tournament in Switzerland, going down 3-2 to Russia's B team in a shootout on Thursday.
Slovakia's start to the tournament, which is part of a series of friendlies before the 2020 World Championship, was promising. Craig Ramsay's players took a 2-0 lead in the first period but Russia's Olympic selection answered with two goals in the final period to force the game into overtime.
After a goalless OT, a shootout had to determine the winner and Slovakia failed to convert on any of its attempts. By contrast, Russia managed to breach Matej Tomek's net three times to seal the win.
Russia B will now play hosts Switzerland in the tournament final, while Slovakia will compete for third place against Norway, who lost 5-0 to Switzerland.
