Italy rebounds after a battle

This was supposed to be the game where Italy powered back to form after yesterday’s loss to Poland put a question mark next to the promotion bid. However, although the Azzurri got a 6-4 win against Lithuania to set up a likely win-or-bust battle with Great Britain on Friday, this was anything but a gimme.

In a tournament full of fast goals, once again we saw the puck in the net early on. This time it took Lithuania just 45 second to stun Italy. Martynas Grinius’ shot was stopped by Damian Clara, but the rebound went straight to Paulius Gintautas to make it 1-0.

Then came plenty of work for Elvinas Karla, starting his first competitive international game for his country. Italy went straight onto the front foot as it looked to get back into the game. Midway through the first period, Marco Zanetti tied the scores. As the Lithuanian defence was pulled this way and that, he was left open on the slot and Luca Frigo found him with a pass from behind the net.

In the second period, there was another early goal. This time, it went to Italy. Zanetti was on target again, redirecting Enrico Miglioranzi’s shot with the puck in flight. Egidijus Binkulis was close to an instant response for Lithuania, but he took too long when well-placed in front of Clara’s net and the chance got away from him.

Then came two video reviews that led to two further Italian goals. Phil Pietroniro’s shot bounced back out of the net. Initially the officials thought it hit the piping but a look at the footage confirmed that Italy’s power play had its first goal of the game. Then Dante Hannoun’s effort survived a review amid claims that Karla was impeded by an Italian stick as he tried to make the save.

That put Italy up 4-1 and seemingly in control of the game. Time to close it down and conserve energy for the final showdown?

Well, no. A delayed penalty helped Lithuania claw one back when Aivaras Bendzius stuff the puck home at the second attempt after an Emilijus Krakauskas shot came back off the post. Then more penalty trouble late in the middle frame gave Lithuania a five-on-three power play. As shots rained in on Clara, Martynas Grinius got a good look at the open side of the net to make it a one-goal game.

It was something of a relief for Italy to see a Eimantis Noreika go to the box, and that lapse proved costly. Not only did it halt Lithuania’s momentum, it also enabled Pietroniro to pot his second power play goal of the game and restore a two-goal lead before the…