Italy’s miserable start to the 2019 IIHF World Championships continued as they were hammered by the Czech Republic with the Italians’ goal drought continuing as they failed to find the back of the net once again.
The Czechs handed out an 8-0 drubbing, meaning Italy have conceded 38 goals in 5 matches and look certainties for relegation with the fear for the Italians that they only have two games remaining to try and salvage some pride.
Unsurprisingly, Italy are not coming out of this tournament with many plaudits and whilst they have tried, they lack the quality to compete at this level with their forwards all under pressure to score that elusive first goal.
NORWAY
Norway’s hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals appear to be over with them needing too many things to fall their way despite a 5-3 victory over Austria in their last match which was their first win of the competition.
That win should at least help them to avoid relegation but will they want to back that recent win up with another here and will target keeping the Italians scoreless once again as they attempt to climb up the standings.
Norway’s Christian Bull scored a hat-trick against Austria with the defenceman hoping his superb performance can inspire his side’s attackers into goalscoring action having struggled to find the back of the net so far.
Austria are winless from their opening three matches at this year’s IIHF World Championships and now face the daunting task of facing reigning back-to-back champions Sweden.
The Austrians have been unable to keep their opponents from scoring whilst only managing two goals themselves which came in their 5-2 defeat to Latvia in their first contest before backing that up with losses to Russia (5-0) and Switzerland (4-0).
Austria goaltender David Kickert put in a superb performance against Switzerland as he made an unbelievable 41 saves but the Austrians must be better to prevent too many efforts on their goal.
THE PREDICTION
Sweden will look to put in another big performance as they face winless Austria with the Swedes likely to rack up a big score to add to their 17 goals in their last two matches. Austria have allowed their opponents to pepper their goal and if that happens again they will be in for a long afternoon. Sweden are too good in front of goal not to take their chances and they will relish this opportunity to add to their total here.
KOSICE, Slovakia — Anton Lander scored a hat trick to put Sweden’s title defence back on track after demolishing Italy 8-0 at the ice hockey world championship on Sunday.
Coming off a 5-2 loss to the Czech Republic, Lander opened the scoring on a rebound in the first period and added two in the final period, including a short-handed one, in the Group B game in Bratislava.
Patric Hornqvist scored twice for the two-time defending champion Swedes who scored six in the third period.
They outshot the Italians 58-13.
Italy remains the only team yet to score a goal at the tournament after conceding 17 goals in two games.
In the Group A game in Kosice, Matthias Plachta and Frederik Tiffels’ goals lifted Germany to a 2-1 victory over Denmark.
Earlier, the United States rebounded from an upset loss to Slovakia in the opening game by routing France 7-1.
After losing 4-1 to the hosts, the U.S. was not ready for another upset. Alex DeBrincat scored twice and Frank Vatrano added one in less than two minutes to set the pace early in the opening period for the U.S. to take command of the Group A game in Kosice.
Colin White also had two while Patrick Kane, who captained the Americans to the bronze medal at last year’s worlds in Denmark, scored his first goal in Slovakia and added an assist.
Chris Kreider added one for the U.S. while Anthony Rech had a consolation goal for France.
The U.S. next faces Finland on Monday.
In Group B, star-studded Russia recorded its second straight win after blanking Austria 5-0. Evgenii Dadonov led Russia with two goals for the second consecutive game and Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist. Alexander Georgiev made 15 saves for the shutout.
Later Sunday, Canada faces Britain in Group A while Switzerland meets Latvia in Group B.
The Czechs handed out an 8-0 drubbing, meaning Italy have conceded 38 goals in 5 matches and look certainties for relegation with the fear for the Italians that they only have two games remaining to try and salvage some pride.
Unsurprisingly, Italy are not coming out of this tournament with many plaudits and whilst they have tried, they lack the quality to compete at this level with their forwards all under pressure to score that elusive first goal.
NORWAY
Norway’s hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals appear to be over with them needing too many things to fall their way despite a 5-3 victory over Austria in their last match which was their first win of the competition.
That win should at least help them to avoid relegation but will they want to back that recent win up with another here and will target keeping the Italians scoreless once again as they attempt to climb up the standings.
Norway’s Christian Bull scored a hat-trick against Austria with the defenceman hoping his superb performance can inspire his side’s attackers into goalscoring action having struggled to find the back of the net so far.
Austria are winless from their opening three matches at this year’s IIHF World Championships and now face the daunting task of facing reigning back-to-back champions Sweden.
The Austrians have been unable to keep their opponents from scoring whilst only managing two goals themselves which came in their 5-2 defeat to Latvia in their first contest before backing that up with losses to Russia (5-0) and Switzerland (4-0).
Austria goaltender David Kickert put in a superb performance against Switzerland as he made an unbelievable 41 saves but the Austrians must be better to prevent too many efforts on their goal.
THE PREDICTION
Sweden will look to put in another big performance as they face winless Austria with the Swedes likely to rack up a big score to add to their 17 goals in their last two matches. Austria have allowed their opponents to pepper their goal and if that happens again they will be in for a long afternoon. Sweden are too good in front of goal not to take their chances and they will relish this opportunity to add to their total here.
KOSICE, Slovakia — Anton Lander scored a hat trick to put Sweden’s title defence back on track after demolishing Italy 8-0 at the ice hockey world championship on Sunday.
Coming off a 5-2 loss to the Czech Republic, Lander opened the scoring on a rebound in the first period and added two in the final period, including a short-handed one, in the Group B game in Bratislava.
Patric Hornqvist scored twice for the two-time defending champion Swedes who scored six in the third period.
They outshot the Italians 58-13.
Italy remains the only team yet to score a goal at the tournament after conceding 17 goals in two games.
In the Group A game in Kosice, Matthias Plachta and Frederik Tiffels’ goals lifted Germany to a 2-1 victory over Denmark.
Earlier, the United States rebounded from an upset loss to Slovakia in the opening game by routing France 7-1.
After losing 4-1 to the hosts, the U.S. was not ready for another upset. Alex DeBrincat scored twice and Frank Vatrano added one in less than two minutes to set the pace early in the opening period for the U.S. to take command of the Group A game in Kosice.
Colin White also had two while Patrick Kane, who captained the Americans to the bronze medal at last year’s worlds in Denmark, scored his first goal in Slovakia and added an assist.
Chris Kreider added one for the U.S. while Anthony Rech had a consolation goal for France.
The U.S. next faces Finland on Monday.
In Group B, star-studded Russia recorded its second straight win after blanking Austria 5-0. Evgenii Dadonov led Russia with two goals for the second consecutive game and Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist. Alexander Georgiev made 15 saves for the shutout.
Later Sunday, Canada faces Britain in Group A while Switzerland meets Latvia in Group B.
