The Austrian national ice hockey team achieved its second victory in preparation for the World Cup. In Feldkirch, the ÖEHV selection beat Italy 3-2 after extra time.
Before the game started, Dominic Zwerger was honored for 100 international matches. The Swiss legionnaire played his anniversary game during the Germany Cup last fall against our neighbors, who we also defeated 5-2. Zwerger was also one of the most noticeable players on the ice in the 60 minutes against Italy, creating numerous chances and assisting on all three goals. In the end he was named Player of the Match.
While Austria repeatedly tried its luck from the blue line in the first third, Dominic Zwerger in particular caused an initial outcry from the almost 5,000 fans in Feldkirch with a remarkable solo after almost 16 minutes. Just a few moments later, Clemens Unterweger hit the puck against the crossbar. Being outnumbered, Peter Schneider almost managed a shorthander before the end of the first section.
At the start of the second period, Italy had their first big chance, the puck narrowly missing David Kickert’s goal. After Mario Huber tested Italy’s goalkeeper Davide Fadani and Zwerger narrowly failed after another solo effort, it was Benjamin Nissner who gave the deserved 1-0 lead. The 28-year-old struck again in the power play. However, the celebrations died down a minute later after Bryce Misley scored the Italian goal.
Austria subsequently had a few great chances, but failed again and again due to Fadani, who was also named Player of the Match for Italy.
In the middle of the third third, Zwerger, outnumbered, served Nissner with a dream pass, but it didn’t find its way into the goal, as did Clemens Unterweger’s shot shortly afterwards.
In the 55th minute, Fortuna was there for the guests. David Kickert wanted to stop the rolling disc behind the goal, but it got lost and slipped from its runner in front of the goal, where Tommaso De Luca just had to push it over the line.
Austria dominated the following overtime, Peter Schneider then scored the deserved winning goal 29.3 seconds before the end.
After a short break, the national team will meet in Vienna on Sunday and play two games next week against the 2024 world champions, the Czech Republic. There will be no changes to the squad, the only question is Elias Wallenta, who was injured after the second third of the game against Italy.
World Cup preparation – test match
Austria : Italy – 3:2 aet (0:0|2:1|0:1|1:0)
Goals: 1:0 Nissner (27th), 2:0 Nissner (29th/PP), 2:1 Misley (30th), 2:2 De Luca (55th), 3:2 Schneider (65th)
eishockey.at , Image: ÖEHV/Bernd Stefan
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