But, as the German adage has it, einaml ist keinmal - once is nothing - and both teams were back on the ice within 24 hours looking for a result that would consolidate those initial gains.

Germany took the lead in the 13th minute with goal created by Oppenheimer. His storming rush saw him blaze past the defenceman and not even Kristers Gudlevskis' sprawling save could prevent Marcel Noebels from sweeping home the rebound.

But the advantage lasted barely five minutes before Latvia tied it up on the power play in an almighty scramble in front of Philipp Grubauer's net. Ronalds Kenins fired against the post, and amid a flurry of sticks Pujacs forced the puck home via the skate of Frank Hordler.

Latvia's problems continued, though: a needless roughing penalty taken by Kaspars Daugavins on the first siren was punished 30 seconds into the middle session amid some alarmingly flat-footed defence. Frank Mauer was the beneficiary, given no fewer than three opportunities to shoot as Gudlevskis struggled to control his rebounds. And it proved third time lucky for the German as he put his team back in front.

The pressure continued to build on Gudlevskis' goal - Germany outshot Latvia 15-2 in the second stanza - and on occasion the goalie saw four defencemen standing ineffectively in a line in front of him as the Germans marauded at will. However, they got no closer than Hordler's one-timer off the post while Latvia's first line conjured up a moment of magic to tie the scores again. Mikelis Redlihs was both architect and executor, feeding Kenins for a surge that ended with a square pass for Redlihs to snaffle home on a one-timer and bring the majority of the 11,200 crowd to their feet in joy.

Ultimately, though, Latvia paid the price for a certain lightness on offence: aside from Redlihs' efforts there was little to trouble the Germans for long periods, allowing them to build up the pressure and take a second victory that suddenly gives them the right to dream of launching a serious bid of their own for a place in the last eight.

Not that Oppenheimer is straying from tournament tradition so early in the event. With just two of seven group stage games played he insists the team will continue to take each game as it comes rather than start thinking about a play-off spot.

"We didn't really think too much about what we might do in the first two games," he said. "We just want to go out and play hard and see what we could get, so we're very happy to have five points. Both games were pretty hard, but at international level it's hard to play against everybody. There are more good teams coming up."