Top three win again in Ljubljana

Hungary 3:1 Ukraine

Hungary made it two out of two with a closely fought victory against Ukraine, who lost their second match in as many days. Once again the Hungarian side was outshot heavily, as Ukraine had 37 shots to their opponents 23, but they managed to get the victory thanks to a big first period.

The teams traded penalties in the opening minutes, but halfway through the period Hungary took a stranglehold of the game. Hungary took the lead thanks to a brilliant solo goal by Nikandrosz Galanisz, who managed to put home his own rebound, before Ladislav Sikorcin netted to double Hungary’s advantage.

The second period was balanced despite the large advantage in shots for Ukraine, but once again Bence Balizs put in a strong performance, surely staking a claim to be Hungary’s number one in the absence of Hetenyi and Szuper.

The Hungarians got into penalty trouble early in the third period, and finally Ukraine were able to find the net. Olexander Pobyedonostsev beat Balizs on a 5 on 3 powerplay, and with over three quarters of the period to go, the Ukrainians were back in the game. The Hungarians had a penalty shot, however, Balazs Ladanyi was unable to convert. The game was played at a frenetic pace as the Ukrainians tried to find the game tying goal, but it would be Hungary who would take the three points, Janos Vas’ empty net goal sealing the game.

Austria 7:3 Great Britain

Austria also made it two wins from two games following a strong performance against a Great Britain side still missing their head coach. The Austrians all but sealed the game in the first period after scoring three goals to Britain’s none. Britain outshot their opponents, but it was the deadly Austrian attack which was superior.

Matt Myers took a penalty early in the first period, and Thomas Hundertpfund fired a shot from the blueline which Stephen Murphy would want back. Austria would then go on to score two goals in 25 seconds, as Gregor Baumgartner stole the puck off Stephen Lee to score, before Manuel Latusa found the back of Murphy’s net. It was a big blow to Great Britain, who looked a shade of the team which battled with Slovenia the previous night.

Baumgartner scored his second of the game just 90 seconds into the middle frame to make it 4:0 before Britain would finally open the scoring, Colin Shields beating Bernhard Starkbaum. However, any momentum that Britain would get from that goal was quickly evaporated when Matthias Tratning scored. Shields would get his second of the game after a nifty passing play, his third goal of the tournament, which sent the teams into the second intermission with the score at 5:2 to Austria.

Manuel Latusa scored his second goal of the night on the powerplay three and a half minutes into the third period, and then the Austrians proceeded to get into all sorts of penalty trouble. However, Britain were only able to score once, as Corey Neilson scored a powerplay goal with a slapshot from the point. However, there would be no miraculous comeback for the British, as Raphael Herborger scored on a breakaway to close the scoring, with Austria winning convincingly, and Britain back to square one.


Slovenia 4:2 Japan

The hosts left it late once again, as they relied on an Ales Kranjc goal with 80 seconds left to lift them over a Japan side who offered stern resistance, but ultimately fell short. Slovenia led 2:0 with half the game gone, but Japan rallied back and looked threatening, but in the end the hosts chalked up their second victory, and keep pace with Hungary and Austria at the top of the group.

Both teams had early powerplay chances as the first period began, and whilst Japan had the majority of scoring chances in the first period, outshooting Slovenia 13:9, it was the hosts who took the lead, as Mitja Robar scored past Masahito Haruna 11 minutes into the period.

The second period began with more powerplay chances, and after killing off a Jun Tonosaki penalty, Takuma Kawai was adjudged to have held back a Slovenian, giving the hosts their second powerplay in quick succession. They only needed 12 seconds to capitalise, as Kranjc found David Roman, who fired home to the delight of the home fans. Japan managed to kill another penalty, and although they only had 3 shots in the second frame, they managed to find the net, as Ryo Tanaka beat Andrej Hocevar to cut Slovenia’s lead in half at the end of the second period.

In what was a thrilling final period of hockey, Japan were the ones who got on the board first, as Takuro Yamashita scored in the 48th minute to level the score at 2:2. Yet more penalties followed, and although the hosts outshot Japan 14:8 in the period, Haruna was on top form. However, with just 80 seconds to score, Ales Kranjc scored an unassasisted goal to give Slovenia a 3:2 lead, before the captain Tomaz Razingar scored an empty net goal with 11 seconds to go to give Slovenia yet another late win, whilst the Japanese put in a solid effort only to be denied once again.

 

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