BRATISLAVA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Team Slovakia's swansong at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships at home turned into a 2-1 shootout victory over Denmark in Group A here on Tuesday.
It was Ladislav Nagy's last professional hockey game and it was a night to remember.
The 39-year-old winger scored the decisive goal in the shootout and enabled the host nation to thank their enthusiastic fans with a victory.
Slovakia's captain, who enjoyed a long career in the NHL, added one assist on his farewell night when Martin Marincin opened the scoring late in the second period after a lucky bounce - the puck hit the goalie's stick and ricocheted into the net off a nearby defender.
The Danes were given a perfect opportunity to tie the game six minutes into the third when two Slovakians ended up in the penalty box and Mikkel Boedker struck.
After a goalless overtime, a shootout would decide the game. Slovakian goalie Denis Godla stood strong and did not let anything past him.
Nagy put the game away with an uncompromising top-shelf wrister and was awarded player of the game for Slovakia.
The sold-out Steel Arena in Kosice then bid a long and emotional farewell to their captain.
The Slovakians ended their round-robin efforts in 5th place, while Denmark remained sixth in Group A.
