Continental Cup: Rouen can dream for one night

Host Dragons Rouen opens its second Super Final campaign at home after 2009, hoping to confirm the good impression left last year in Minsk when French team finished last but played a great tournament. First opponent is Italian Asiago, landing for the first time at a Super Final, bringing back Italian hockey at top level after last Bolzano’s experience, three years ago exactly in Rouen.
Arena is packed as usual in Rouen campaigns and fans are confident to beat Italian team; both squads curiously considered this as the easiest game, while are almost prohibitive the ones against Yunost and Donbas. French coach Rodolphe Garnier has uncertain Ilpo Salmivirta on roster but not other injured Loic Lamperier, Asiago aligns complete roster included former Rouen defender Calle Bergstrom, recently signed from Sparta Sarpsborg.
Rouen has a great start and opens the score with former Graz Jean Philippe Parè after four minutes on short-handed, with Paul Guenette on sinbin. Asiago slowly takes the control of the game and veteran goalie Fabrice Lhenry has to use all his experience to stop twice captain David Borrelli, but also his colleague Anthony Grieco is outstanding on a Manavian’ s shot. Game is enjoyable, full of chances (and penalties) for both teams. At 17 Rouen doesn’t capitalize a major chance missing a penalty shot with sniper Marc Andrè Thinel, but also Asiago waste an incredible chance with Intranuovo, stopped by Lhenry.
Rouen doubles the score after five minutes in the second period with Guenette, the quickest to shot a lost puck in Asiago defense zone.A minute after Parè has the chance to kill the game intercepting a puck but Grieco denies third goal. But punishment for Italian is just postponed: at 32.40 during another power play, Carl Mallette find an hole in Asiago defense and takes advantage by a Parè pass. Same Mallette miss a big chance seconds later.Asiago feels the blow and Rouen overflows. Goalie Grieco did a good job until a penalty to Jonathan Janil eases the pression. But when power play is for Rouen, it comes the fourth goal, scored by Guenette with one minute to play.
Last period opens with another penalty shot, but again Grieco denies goal to Thinel. But is always the power play the opened wound for Italian: at the first chance Antonin Manavian finds fifth goal, this time with the collaboration of Grieco, unable to secure French defender shot. The goal silenced Asiago fans and freezes the game: Rouen tries to give a shot-out to Lhenry, Asiago to delete the zero in the score, French team has again a couple of chances, a notable one with Thinel, but if plays at full strength Asiago is not the weak team when with a man less. Garnier conceded some icetime to his 4th young line where Gutierrez and Berthon seem promising. With three minutes to play Carl Mallette finds goal number six, maybe too much for what seen on ice. Final siren and celebration for fans and Fabrice Lhenry. Rouen can dream for at least one night: team is at top of standing.
French coach Garnier pleases his team but is realistic: 'Yes, I'm very happy for tonight game, but frankly Asiago played much under expectations. Tomorrow with Yunost is another story, but we all remember the game last year (Rouen lost 4-2 in minsk Super Final), I hope we learnt from our mistakes, anyway I have to congratulate my guys for this game.'
Hero goaltender Fabrice Lhenry admits: 'All works perfectly tonight, my teammates were amazing, but this is just the begin, we'll see tomorrow if we can aspire to something more then a victory in the group.'
MVP: Fabrice Lhenry - David Borrelli
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