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Latvia stuns Switzerland, winning 3-1 in men’s Olympic hockey

Latvian players celebrate a 3-1 victory during the Men's Ice Hockey Play-offs Switzerland vs Latvia at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 18, 2014. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

In a result predicted by no one, Latvia stunned Switzerland, winning their first game of the men’s Olympic hockey tournament, eliminating the Swiss.

Latvia will now play Canada in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at 12pm ET.

READ MORE: Men’s hockey playoff schedule

Leading up to Tuesday’s game, Latvia had yet to win a game in Sochi, losing 1-0 to the Swiss, 4-2 to the Czech Republic and 5-3 against Sweden.

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Switzerland’s record coming into Tuesday’s game sat at two wins (against Latvia and the Czechs) and one loss (against Sweden).

First period

Latvia was leading the Swiss team 2-0 in the first period, with goals from Oskars Bartulis and Lauris Darzins.

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Switzerland outshot Latvia 11-9.

Second period

With five minutes to go in the second period, Martin Pluss got Switzerland in the game with a goal assisted by Reto Suri.

Switzerland outshot Latvia 21 to 17 after two periods.

Third period

Latvia’s Darzins scored his second goal of the game on an empty Swiss net with one minute left in the third period, widening their lead to 3-1. Stunning their opponents – and even perhaps themselves – Latvia won the game despite being outshot 33-22.

Latvia will now play Team Canada in the quarterfinals.

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