Austria and Slovenia return to top division

After their victory over Hungary on Wednesday, Slovenia were all but promoted as it is, but their place back in the world's elite was secured on Thursday evening following a hard-fought victory over a Ukraine side desperate to avoid relegation. Slovenia, who could take their foot off the pedal after Austria's victory over Hungary wanted to put on a performance for their fans, who once again packed the Arena Stozice. However, it was the Ukrainians who had the better of the first period, outshooting Slovenia 15:6 and scoring the only goal of the period, as Sergi Klymentyev found Andri Mikhnov from behind the goal, and the latter smashed home to give the away side a 1:0 lead which they kept for the rest of the period.

However, the Slovenians started to get back in the game in the middle frame, as under two minutes into the period, Robert Sabolic equalised to the delight of the Slovenian faithful. However, they began to take a string of penalties which the Ukrainians would eventually capitalise on, as a goal by Oleg Shafarenko on a 5 on 3 powerplay gave Ukraine the lead again in the 24th minute. Five minutes later, and the 9450 in the Arena were on their feet once more, as Rok Ticar scored on a rebound after Igor Karpenko made the first save, knotting the score at 2:2 and setting up a hugely important third period in regards to the relegation race.

Olexander Yakovenko took an early penalty in the third period, giving Slovenia another powerplay chance, which this time they finally converted on, as Rok Ticar bagged his second goal of the game to give the Slovenians the lead for the first time in the game. The Slovenians only had 18 shots to Ukraine's 31, but Robert Kristan was in fine form once again for the hosts, making save after save to deny the Ukrainian shooters. The teams traded penalties in the final half of the third period, but there was to be no more scoring, and the Slovenian fans could celebrate their teams success, whilst for Japan a do or die situation awaits them, where they have to beat the Japanese, and hope that the Hungarians defeat the British in the middle game on Saturday.

Six unanswered goals, four of them coming in the third period was enough for Austria, as they defeat the third seeded Hungarians to secure their ticket back to the sport's top division. Hungary had the better of the early exchanges, with the Austrians still looking a little rattled following their loss yesterday to Japan. The Austrians outshot the Hungarians 40:20, but the Hungarians took the lead twice in the third period. Stefan Geier's seventh minute goal was sandwiched by goals from Nikandrosz Galanisz and a powerplay strike by Marton Vas.

The second period was all Austria, as they kept up the pressure on the Hungarians. Their dominance was rewarded in the third minute, as whilst on the two man advantage, Gerhard Unterluggauer fired from the point and past Bence Balizs to tie the game at two. Before the period was finished, the Austrians had time to take the lead, as Manuel Latusa scopped up a rebound and put it past a flailing Balizs.

While the score may be harsh on the Hungarians, who once again did everything apart from put the puck in the net consistently, the Austrians really moved into top gear in the final frame, and were truly dominant. Patrick Harand scored in the third minute to make the score 4:2, and then it all began to fall apart in the final half of the third period, as Lunterluggauer scored his second of the game with another booming point shot, before Latusa also bagged a brace on the powerplay. The punishment was eventually over for Hungary, but not before Gregor Baumgartner had put another puck past the downcast Balizs, to leave the Austrian fans jumping in delight, and the Hungarians wondering when they will ever get their chance to go back up to the top division following yet another disappointment.

Japan impressed once again in the day's first game, as they dominated a lacklustre British side to get a 5:0, and go into the final days play with a chance of winning the bronze medal. The Japanese, full of confidence following their win against Austria in the previous day came out of the blocks quickly, and the British defencemen simply could not deal with the skating abilities of the agile Japanese forwards. Hiroki Ueno scored twice in the first period, the first goal coming whilst on a rebound whilst on a powerplay, before he stole the puck off of David Phillips, and roofed the puck to give the Japanese a 2:0 lead after the first period.

The British had chances, and they outshot the Japanese, but the actual threat of their shots were nothing compared to the opportunities the Japanese were getting. The second period began as the first, with the British trying to slow down the fast forwards, but for every chance they mustered, Masahito Haruna had an answer. In the twelfth minute of the period, Makoto Kawashima beat two British defenceman to score, and then only a minute later the score was 4:0. Shinya Yanadori found the back of the net with a lovely piece of skill. Britain only had seven shots in the final period of the game, and still they conceded more, as Takuro Yamashita's highlight reel fifth goal was the final nail in the coffin for the British, who now wait anxiously on the result of the game between Japan and Ukraine to determine whether they need to get a result against the Hungarians, while the Japanese, now assured of their place in Division 1A for next year, and will now have a chance to get the bronze medal if they are victorious against Ukraine and Britain defeat Hungary.

 

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