Latvia gave Canada a good run for their money, but in the end they lost 2-4 to a superior team. "We had video reviews of Latvia before the game", said Canada's head coach Lindy Ruff, "and these reviews showed that Latvia plays a tight and tough defense, that they have a good goaltender, and that they know how to exploit rare opportunities. It is certainly not a coincidence that Latvia has come so far".

The cautiously paced first period suited the Latvians perfectly. They were able to keep their positions and Masalskis made the saves he needed to make. "After the first period we were a little frustrated," admitted Roy. "But we tried not to show it". In the 24 minute, Masalskis stopped Lombardi on the breakaway, but four minutes later, Canada finally got break they needed when Heatley one-timed a nice cross-icepass from Derek Roy inside Masalskis' left post. Canada now stepped up the pace and the Latvians had trouble keeping up. In the 34 minute, Dan Hamhuis beat Masalskis with a fluttering slapper to make it 2-0.

Shortly after Canada's second goal, Latvia found themselves down in a hole with two men in the penalty box. Lindy Ruff decided it was time to close the game and called for a time-out. Latvia weathered the storm and down with only one player, Herbert Vasiljevs set up Guntis Galvins in a breakaway to score a rare short-handed goal against the Canadian team. Steve Stamkos restored the two-goal lead on the very next shift, but the hard-figthing Latvians responded early in the third when Vasiljevs slappeda shot past Steve Mason between the circles. In the 44 min. Lombardi once again gave Canada a two-goal lead when he skated between two defenders and rounded Masalskis to score. In the closing minutes of teh game, Canada took three penalties, including a misconduct call on Dan Hamuis for checking to the head, but Latvia didn't get any closer.

In the end, Latvia can take pride of their performance in the 2009 IIHF World Championship. The team finished 7th, tying their best results from 1997 and 2004. Edgars Masalskis, Karlis Skrastins and Aleksandrs Nizivijs were honoured as Latvia's best players in the tournament.

Canada - Latvia 4-2 (0-0, 3-1, 1-1)
7 May 2009, Postfinance Arena, Berne, Att: 8,042
1-0 26:37 Danny Heatley 6 (Roy, Weber)
2-0 34:03 Dan Hamhuis 2 (Stamkos, Doughty) PP1
2-1 37:30 Guntis Galvins 1 (Vasiljevs) SH1
3-1 37:47 Steve Stamkos 7 (Hamhuis) PP1
3-2 41:27 Herberts Vasiljevs 3 (Nizivijs, Sirikovs)
4-2 43:07 Matthew Lombardi 2 (Armstrong, Coburn)
CAN 8x2 + 1x10, LAT 7x2 +1x10, SOG 48:23 (16:8, 22:4, 10:11)
Best players: CAN: Derek Roy, LAT: Martins Cipulis

CAN: Steve Mason; Dan Hamuis (12), Shea Weber, Derek Roy, Dany Heatley (2), Jason Spezza - Mard-Edouard Vlasic (2), Brayson Coburn, Shane Doan, Steve Stamkos (2), Martin St. Louis - Drew Doughty, Chris Phillips (4), Shawn Horcoff, Mike Fisher (2), Travis Zajac (2) - Luke Schenn, Joel Kwiatkowski, Scottie Upshall, Matthew Lombardi, Colby Armstrong.
LAT: Edgars Masalskis, Karlis Skrastins, Krisjanis Redlihs, Janis Sprukts, Lauris Darzins (12), Girts Ankipans - Guntis Galvins, Georgijs Pujacs, Aleksandrs Nizivijs, Herberts Vasiljevs (2), Martins Cipulis - Rodrigo Lavins, Kristaps Sotnieks, Guntis Dzerins, Mikelis Redlihs, Armabds Berzins - Oskars Bartulis, Aleksandrs Jerofejevs, Aleksejs Sirokovs, Olegs Sorokins, Aigars Cipruss.
Refs: Danny Kurmann (SUI) & Peter Orszag (SVK)
Linesmen: Andrii Kicha (UKR) / Yuriy Oskirko (RUS)