WJC18 Division 1A Day 2 recap

This second day of competition offered us different programs at different levels to allow us to decide on a first classification of the teams present.
The day started with a match between Denmark, beaten the day before by Japan (5-3) and Ukraine, which had won against France in a penalty shootout (3-2). If the Ukrainians started the game with a bang, breaking the ice and opening the score on a shot after a rebound from Puzdranovsky, they then suffered the lightning of Oscar Moelgaard, projected in the first round of the next NHL draft. Oscar Linde tied the game on a textbook move (1-1) before Albert Schioldan took advantage of Moelgaard's brilliant inspiration to put his team in front after just over ten minutes of play (2-1). Schioldan then scored again to give Andersen a 3-1 lead, and then a goal late in the second half. He obliterated the defense and then the goalie to push the puck into the net (4-1). The third period was a formality for the Danes who added a fifth goal from the inevitable Moelgaard on a clear counterattack at the end of the game (5-1). The Scandinavians recovered and can still hope to compete with the Kazakhs in the race for the gold medal.For Ukraine, nothing is lost yet but it will have to repeat the performance of the game against France to continue to gain points.

The afternoon match opposed the two winners of the day before, Kazakhstan and Japan. If the last named did not demerit, fighting until the last moment, the Kazakh machine was too well oiled for the Japanese. Artur Gross opened the score at the end of the first period on a great action (1-0) and Lyapunov imitated him at the end of the second period to make the break (2-0). The second period offered a merciless battle where the two teams gave blow for blow in the conquest of the puck but the third period was fatal for Japan. Alexander Kim first (3-0), then Lyapunov for the double (4-0) and finally Migunov (5-0) sealed the outcome of this game and allowed the Kazakhs to follow up with a second consecutive shutout.

Finally, the last game of the day was between France and Hungary. The Bleuets, who play at home in front of their families and supporters, had lost the day before to Ukraine. The Hungarians, on the other hand, had been whitewashed by Kazakhstan and were looking for revenge against an opponent within their reach. The first third of the game was a bit messy but lively. The game went from one cage to another without any real big opportunity despite the Hungarian domination. The second one was the first one. Csanad Ravasz, the Hungarian captain, unblocked things with a shot that cleaned the top corner after a controlled turn of the cage. The French tried to do everything until the end of the game when a power play in their disfavor sealed the outcome of the game, Zalan Nemeth deflecting a long shot of Ravasz in the corner of the net. The Hungarians in turn blanks France and take their first points. France, who announced that they were aiming for the supreme title, is relegated to the last place of the group after two games.

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