U20: Hungary battles hard in win over Italy

Hungary-Italy 6-2

Márton Vas and his coaching staff made a switch in net as Martin Szeles started between the pipes with Dávid Kovács serving as the backup. There was one change in the forward lines as Péter Andor was on the first line with Bálint Horváth and Nátán Vértes, Alex Kovács was the 13th forward.

The game was exactly one minute old when Kristof Papp picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, slipped through the Italian defence and rifled home a goal from the slot. Italy started to pressure on Hungary and this paid off for them as Spinell took a centering pass low in the slot and put the puck between the pads of Szeles to tie the game at 1-1. On the ensuing shift Császár skated in on the left wing and shot the puck low glove side, the Italian goalie reacted late and the puck was in the back of the net. The Italians kept on meeting the Hungarian attack at the Hungarian blueline and tried to make it difficult to come out of the defensive end. However once Hungary was able to get into the attacking zone chances were being created. Hungary had a power play later in the period but Italy managed to kill it. Late in the period after an errant Italian pass Bálint Horváth skated in on net but the goalie made the save. Hungary closed out the period by killing a delay of game penalty.

Early in the second period Hungary made it 3-1 when Császár redirected the puck from the corner that Madácsi and thrown on net. Italy quickly made it a one goal game again when Berger got some space, and scored from just outside of the crease. The period continued with a balanced game as both Szeles and Fadani were forced to make saves. On their second power play of the game Hungary moved the puck well but were not able to have clear shots on net. Hungary had a chance to open up a two goal lead when Bugár was left alone but his shot went wide of the cage. Again late in the period Hungary was forced to kill a penalty, not much after killing it Hungary scored twice within seven seconds Vértes centered the puck and Bálint Horváth put the puck into the empty net. Right off of the ensuing faceoff Révész had a long shot that the goalie could not control, Madácsi swatted the puck out of the air into the empty net.

The third period started off with Hungary killing a penalty, during which Donát Péter had a breakaway chance. Császár and Révész brought together an excellent scoring chance but were not able to beat the goalie. At the midway point of the period Márk Vas picked up 2+10 for a boarding call. Italy kept on coming but Hungary defended well as they did not really give much space for Italy. Later in the period Fejes had a shot from the slot but the puck sailed high as the score remained unchanged. Late in the game Italy had a power play but just as they did all game Hungary killed the penalty. In the final minute of play Hungary won a faceoff in their own end, brought the puck up and ended the attack with Bence Dézsi scoring the goal as Hungary won 6-2. The player of the game for Hungary was Hunor Császár.

Lineup against Italy
Péter A., Horváth B., Vértes  
Szalma, Papp, Mihály              
Révész, Császár, Madácsi
Péter D., Kreisz, Dézsi
Kovács A.

Sándor, Fejes
Kiss, Vas
Bugár, Seregély
Horváth M.

Szeles (Kovács D.)

World Championships Schedule
HUNGARY-Japan 3-1
HUNGARY-Ukraine 9-3
HUNGARY-Italy 6-2
December 12th, 20:00: HUNGARY-Slovenia
December 14th, 16:30: HUNGARY-Poland

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