U20: Hungary defeats Japan in World Championship opener

Japan-Hungary 1-3
The coaching staff have decided to go with Dávid Kovács in net with Martin Szeles in the lineup. Nátán Vértes will be back in the lineup after sitting out the 3-2 loss to Ukraine on Thursday.

The game started off well for Hungary as they already had a power play in the second minute. They did not waste time with having the extra attacker, with a tic-tac-toe play Andor sent the puck down low to Császár who made a cross crease pass to Mihály who tapped the puck into the empty net for the 1-0 lead. Minutes later Japan was called for having too many men on the ice again. Hungary did not score on the advantage but less than a minute later Alex Kovács put the puck up to the blueline to Máté Seregély who put the puck on net and behind the goalie for the 2-0 lead. Hungary killed their first penalty of the game, after which they kept the pressure on the Japanese net, hitting the post once.

In the second period Japan had an early power play but the puck spent more time in the neutral zone and the Japanese end of the ice. Just as Márk Vas come out of the penalty box Alex Kovács gave him a breakout pass, Vas skated in on net and forced the goalie to make a save. Later in the period on an odd man rush Szalma had a chance to open a three goal lead, on the next shift Fejes had  long shot on net that the goalie could not control, Révész was on the spot to put the rebound in to make it 3-0. After the third Hungarian goal Japan started to get their game together but were not able to create any real scoring chances. Late in the period Hungary had a power play but they unable to capitalize on it.

The final period of the game started off with Hungary killing another penalty. With the game back at 5 on 5 Hungary put together a number of scoring chances, Kreisz and Papp and shots on net from up close. At the midway point of the period Japan had a two man advantage, but the Hungarian penalty kill was working and Japan did not score. Late in the period Hungary had a power play that they were unable to score on despite cycling the puck well. Late in the game Hungary had a power play and almost scored but the puck was cleared off the goal line. With just over a minute left in the game Japan scored a power play goal from the slot to come back with in two goals. After the goal Japan called timeout and pulled the goalie for the extra skater. In the end Hungary to the game 3-1 with Nándor Fejes being the player of the game for Hungary.

Lineup vs Japan
Szalma, Horváth B., Mihály Á.
Révész, Papp, Vértes
Péter A., Császár, Madácsi
Péter D., Kreisz, Dézsi
Kovács A.

Kiss, Fejes
Sándor, Vas
Bugár, Seregély

Kovács D. (Szeles)
Sick: Horváth M.

World Championships Schedule
HUNGARY-Japan 1-3
December 09th, 20:00: HUNGARY-Ukraine
December 11th, 13:00: HUNGARY-Italy
December 12th, 20:00: HUNGARY-Slovenia
December 14th, 16:30: HUNGARY-Poland

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