Latvian national team suffered a dismal 5:0 loss to Finland in a 2006 IIHF World Championship Group A preliminary round game in Arena Riga on May 7. By winning the game against Latvians, Finland ensured the right to take part in the second round of the championship. Latvia still has chances to qualify for it by playing against Slovenia on May 8.
The first period of Latvia vs. Finland game was scoreless.
Jari Viuhkola scored first for the Finns in the fourth minute of the second period after Kaspars Astasenko was penalized for holding. Later, Tomi Kallio scored a short-handed goal one-on-one against the goalkeeper, making it 2:0.
The third goal was notched on a power play in the third period by Ville Peltonen, the fourth - a controversial one by Aki-Petteri Berg on yet another power play, the fifth - by Jani Rita at equal strength.