Italhockey wasteful: France punishes the Azzurri
After Saturday’s loss to Poland, comes the second consecutive knockout for men’s Italhockey, which surrendered 2-1 to France and saw its chances of winning the quadrangular in Budapest included in the European Cup of Nations fade away. The Azzurri played the puck more and created an’infinity of chances, but were walled off by opposing goalie Neckar and a team capable of sacrificing and striking. In fact, in two of the rare chances the transalpines struck, then defended strenuously to snatch victory with gritted teeth despite Petan’s center at 58’50”.
The first period is much more Italian than French, at least in intention if not in result. The Azzurri (10-4 in their favor the shot count) play from the start at a good pace, give speed to the puck with constant changes and crush the opponents in their icy half. After 7′ the first power play sees Neckar’s miracle on Segafredo, then after a phase of relative calm in the second half come two more clear-cut chances: first Gazley’s deflection on Glira’s shot and then Petan from the slot do not find the cage by a matter of nothing. Koudri is the only transalpine to engage Fadani, before in closing Misley’s raid walled off again by Neckar.
The middle fraction, however, opened with the transalpine lead, all built by the first line: a very quick tip-in with Bruche who in numerical superiority in front of the goal serves Bachelet on the right for the 1-0 with the cage unguarded. Shortly afterwards Dair and Simonsen try but Fadani says no, then two almost consecutive penalties whistled to the Azzurri open to 4′ of numerical superiority for France: the penalty killing holds up well and concedes practically nothing, but the same situation occurs between 12’26” and 14″26, when in four the Bleus put the reins on the Azzurro attack. The pace picks up with several counter-attacks, none of which materialized, and we get to the second break with a new superiority for the Azzurri.
The superiority becomes double at the beginning of the third drittel (the French bench arrives late) but 97 seconds of five-on-three does not result in the equalizer. Zanetti and DiGiacinto are the closest to scoring, but first the puck goes out for nothing and then Neckar overcomes to save the close finish.
The Bleus suffer the blue pressure, commit two more near-consecutive fouls but cling to a steely defense that harnesses the blue power play, which is less effective than in the previous two outings. Indeed, at 7’44” Grossetete steals a puck in the offensive third and, after evading Fadani, scores 2-0 on a short hand. Hard hit to digest, but Italy that does not take it and creates chances in series. Gazley runs away but is stopped by Neckar, who is also super on Mantenuto and Frigo shortly after, so the Azzurri finale is heads down.
Pietroniro twice saves the opponent’s potential empty net goal, on the first restart everything happens in front of Neckar but the referees do not award the goal after viewing on instant replay, from the second one comes Petan’s diagonal shot that at 58’50” takes the 0 off the box of goals scored. The last assault, however, failed to score and the second consecutive defeat came for Jukka Jalonen’s team: impressive shot count (19-2) in favor of Kostner and his teammates. MVP for Italy Alexander Petan, for France selected goalie Martin Neckar.
