Easy win for Germany in Stockholm opener

04 May 2012 | Fredrik Pålsson

Christoph Ullmann recorded three assists as Germany defeated Italy 3-0 in the first game of the Stockholm group at the World Championship

If you don't have an interest in the fortunes of Germany or Italy, the opening of the Stockholm group at the 2012 World Championship was quite sleepy. Germany won the game fairly easily, 3-0, in a almost empty Globe Arena, which had only 1033 spectators for this early game.

Germany took control of the game versus Italy from the start, but good goaltending by Daniel Bellissimo kept Italy in the game. Germany finally took advantage of their momentum and took the lead at 16:16 when Christoph Ullman, from a position behind the net, set up Christoph Schubert, who beat Bellissimo with a powerful shot at the far post. After three German power plays, Italy also got a couple of chances but couldn't really create any dangerous chances.

Afterward, German head coach Jakob Kolliker said, "I'm happy with the result but not with the way we did it. Italy played very well in their defensive zone."

DEL player-of-the-year Kai Hospelt agreed with his coach.

"We had a good start to the tournament but it wasn't our best performance."

In the second period, Germany only had to wait 2:22 for a second goal. Ullman got his second assist of the game when Patrick Reimer picked up a rebound on Ullman's shot and easily scored on the open net when Bellissimo had moved out to stop Ullmann's attempt.

Ullmann had three assists today. Photo: Roman Kucera

Italy got their best chance halfway through the game with multiple chances in a chaotic situation in front of Dennis Endras in the German net, and then a few minutes later Evan Kaufmann got a great chance on a breakaway but Bellissimo did a nice save with his pad.

"He made a big save there, he is definitely a big part of this Italian team", Kaufmann said after the game.

Christopher Fischer scored Germany's third goal in his first ever World Championship game. On a power play, Ullman won the faceoff back to Fischer, who took a shot from the blueline that Bellissimo never saw through the traffic in front of him. It was Ullman's third assist of the game.

Italy's Daniel Bellissimo was selected best player of the game together with Germany's Patrick Reimer. Bellissimo, who recently signed with Timrå in the Swedish Elitserien, will have to play a very important role if the newly-promoted team isn't relegated back to Division 1 again.

Italy one step behind. Photo: Roman Kucera

"We're trying to stay up. This team has some future," he said after the game, meaning that it would be good for the young talented Italian players if Italy could stay up.

Italy surely needs to improve a lot from this performance to avoid relegation, which is something coach Rick Cornacchia agreed on.

"We took too many penalties in the first period. We have to play better and take less penalties," he said and added, "We can't allow so many shots so our goalkeepers have to make 45 saves."

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