Great Britain need at least one win from their remaining two fixtures if they are to stay in the top tier of World Championship ice hockey.
GB slipped to a fifth successive defeat at the Steel Arena in Kosice, going down 5-0 against Finland in Slovakia.
The defeat leaves Pete Russell’s side bottom of group A with matches against hosts Slovakia and France to come.
The clash with France surely offers the best chance of the win that GB desperately need.
IHUK TV, in association with McDonald's, has the goals from Great Britain's 5-0 defeat by Finland in the World Championship in Slovakia.
There's also reaction from head coach Pete Russell and forward Robert Farmer.https://t.co/aIN3OZ476G
— Team GB Ice Hockey (@TeamGBicehockey) May 18, 2019
The game against fifth seeds Finland was scoreless at the end of the first period, but three goals in the second all but ended the match.
Britain face Slovakia on Saturday, while they have a rest day on Sunday before playing France.
A final group game against France – who currently sit seventh of eight teams – will follow and the fixture could well decide which team finishes bottom of Group A.
The bottom placed country in both the eight team divisions contesting the World Championship will be relegated to Division One A for 2020.
BBC Sport ice hockey commentator Seth Bennett analysed GB’s performance, saying: “Once again GB showed their ability to learn from previous performances and they held Finland to a tight game.
Our exceptional and much-loved equipment manager @Taff2520 is currently giving the @IIHFHockey media team a guided tour of the locker room. Look out for the feature on Monday pic.twitter.com/g3qf7Rh8kP
— Team GB Ice Hockey (@TeamGBicehockey) May 18, 2019
“An empty net goal and then a late power play marker for the Finns gave the scoreline a more one-sided look than GB deserved.
“Defensively they are improving with every game and look to be adjusting to playing at the top level.
“Head coach Russell continues to tinker with his line-up to try to find the winning formula and is not far off getting the balance right.
“Winger Robert Dowd is putting together a really good series of performances and now just needs a goal to reward his hard work.
“Liam Kirk is beginning to find his feet and played his game of the tournament at both ends of the ice and Robert Farmer had his best game since arriving in Kosice.
GB duo Robert Lachowicz and Stevie Lee did an interview this lunchtime outside the hotel with Slovakian TV ahead of this evening's game with Slovakia in Kosice. pic.twitter.com/RyW9yBajuG
— Team GB Ice Hockey (@TeamGBicehockey) May 18, 2019
“The one concern will be the lack of powerplay goals.
“To beat France in that relegation decider you would think that GB will need to have the better special teams of the two sides and that means getting a few goals with the man advantage.
“Next up it is the hosts Slovakia on Saturday which will be played in a crazy atmosphere. It will be an entertaining night.”
Schedule for GB at the 2019 World Championship in Slovakia (face-off times local time).
Saturday, May 11: Germany 3 Great Britain 1
Sunday, May 12: Great Britain 0, Canada 8
Tuesday, May 14: Great Britain 0, Denmark 9
Wednesday, May 15: USA 6, Great Britain 3
Friday, May 17: Finland 5. Great Britain 0
Saturday, May 18: Great Britain v Slovakia 8.15pm
Monday, May 20: France v Great Britain 4.15pm
Great Britain meet Slovakia this evening in the Steel Arena as they play their sixth game at the World Championship in Kosice.https://t.co/wzRWiPCMgi pic.twitter.com/BtcmnmtD3z
— Team GB Ice Hockey (@TeamGBicehockey) May 18, 2019
GB squad
Netminders
Ben Bowns – Cardiff Devils
Thomas Murdy – Cardiff Devils
Jackson Whistle – Sheffield Steelers
Defencemen
Tim Billingsley – Nottingham Panthers
Dallas Ehrhardt – Manchester Storm
Steve Lee – Nottingham Panthers
Evan Mosey – Cardiff Devils
Ben O’Connor – Sheffield Steelers
David Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Mark Richardson – Cardiff Devils
Paul Swindlehurst – Belfast Giants
Forwards
Ollie Betteridge – Nottingham Panthers
Ben Davies – Guildford Flames
Robert Dowd – Sheffield Steelers
Robert Farmer – Nottingham Panthers
Luke Ferrara – Coventry Blaze
Mike Hammond – Manchester Storm
Liam Kirk – Peterborough Petes
Robert Lachowicz – Nottingham Panthers
Ben Lake – Coventry Blaze
Joey Lewis – ESV Kaufbeuren
Matthew Myers – Cardiff Devils
Brett Perlini – Nottingham Panthers
Jonathan Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Colin Shield – Belfast Giants