Serie A finals tied

Game 3: HC Asiago – Ritten Sport 5:4 (1:1, 2:1, 2:2)

The third game of the series began with a surprise, as Ritten-coach Marty Raymond decided to give room for forward Justin Di Benedetto. With only 4 import players allowed, starting goalkeeper Fabian Weihnhandl was a healthy scratch and so 22 year old homegrown talent Roland Fink got the start.

Ritten’s Eric Johansson scored the leading goal with a perfectly placed wristshot, but it did not take long for team coached by John Parco to reply. National team defenceman Christian Borgatello wanted to intercept a pass in the slot, but it took an unfortunate bounce over Fink and in the net.

In the second period it was Travis Ramsey to give the ‘Buam’ the lead on perfectly executed rush with Tudin and Rissmiller, but once again it were the Lions to reply with 2 goals by Iori and Ulmer.

19 seconds played in the final period and Justin Di Benedetto captalized on the PP to tie the game. Sean Bentivoglio though brought the game back to equal again and Diego Iori beat Fink with a slap shot from the hashmark to give Asiago the lead.

With 5 minutes to go Lorenz Daccordo got Ritten within one, but 5:4 Asiago would stay as the final result of Game 3.

Game 4: Ritten Sport – HC Asiago 3:2 SO (1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0)

Game 4 was a highly intensed game from the first minute on. Austrian goalkeeper Fabian Weinhandl was back in net, but Asiago’s netminder Vincenzo Marozzi was the busier netminder in this game.

Julian Kostner capitalized on a rebound to give the home team the lead in the first period. In the second period Diego Iori tied the game, as also he put in a rebound goal.

5 minutes played in the 3^rd period and it was Layne Ulmer to score the second goal for the ‘stellati’ with an excellent wrist shot. Ritten kept the pressure high and got rewarded with the tying goal by veteran forward Luca Ansoldi. Ansoldi, who has already won 4 Serie A championsships, nicely deflected Johansson’s pass into the net, as the puck slid through Marozzi. Both teams had some good chances to win the game in regulation time, but Marozzi and Weinhandl were ready for the task.

In the overtime it was Ritten to dictate the play, but Marozzi impressed with a stellar goaltending perfomance. Asiago also had one huge chance, as Michele Strazzabsco hit the post. So the winner had to be determined in a shootout. There Simon Kostner and Eric Johansson scored for the home team, whereas Anthony Nigro was the only player to beat Weinhandl. All in all a well deserved victory, as Ritten had the majority of the chances during 80 minutes of play.

The series is now tied a two. Game 5 in Asiago will be played on Saturday. It is expected to be another equal battle, as all games so far have been one-goal-hockey games.

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