Treille’s Hat-Trick Leads France to Easy Win Over Hungary

A hat-trick for Sacha Treille meant that France would take an easy 6-2 victory over Hungary at the World Hockey Championships on Tuesday.

As expected, the French struck first. Yohann Auvitu could have potentially scored on his own, taking a hard wrist shot from the point, but fourth line centre Nicolas Ritz was right there to tip the puck over Miklós Rajna and in to make it 1-0 after just 9:14 of play in the first.

With about seven minutes left in the first period, Hungary managed to grab just their third goal of the tournament. The team in red with a loud fan base had a power play, forcing Cristobal Huet to be acrobatic in an attempt to keep the puck out. However, Gergő Nagy's shot was stopped by the former Stanley Cup champion, but captain Márton Vas was right there to one-time it past the sprawling netminder and tie the game up at one apiece.

France would regain the lead before the end of the first period. Sacha Treille stole the puck in the left corner beside the French net, skating all around the zone uncontested. Treille would fire the shot from just outside the hash marks, and while he did fan on the shot, it did have enough accuracy to go between Rajna's legs and in for the 2-1 goal.

France would get a strange one in the final seconds of the period. This time, French sharp shooter Damien Fleury got lucky and shot from the goal line, bouncing the puck off of Kevin Wehrs and in for the 3-1 goal heading into the break.

The second period saw no scoring and France shutting down Hungary for the most part. After 40 minutes of play, Hungary managed to hit the post three times, coming ever so closely to tying the game in their best possible chance of the tournament.

An unfortunate turnover by the Hungarians in their own zone allowed France to make it 4-1. This time, Treille stole the puck at centre ice and came down on a two-on-one, sending it over to Florian Chakiachvili who tapped it in easily for the three goal advantage with over a minute left in the second.

Hungary found themselves playing a much more rounded game in the third period, but it was too late. It didn't end without a bit to cheer for, however, as Istvan Sofron tipped in a beautiful pass from Marton Vas to put Hungary within a goal with half the period still to go.

France, however, was hungry for more. Philadelphia Flyers forward Pierre-Édouard Bellemare made a great dropp pass to Sacha Treille with seven minutes left, with Treille firing it just under the glove of Rajna to give France a power play goal and the big 5-2 lead. Treille would finish off the hat-trick late in the game to end the contest, finishing off France's big 6-2 victory.

France will play tomorrow against the United States of America, a game that should be tough for the team with two victories. Hungary, meanwhile, will have to meet up with Finland, a team that has been led by future NHL star Patrik Laine.

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