Italy started the game strong and didn't allow Kazakhstan to come back. The Azzurri now lead the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A.

A strong first period with a 2-0 lead and strong play from goalie Andreas Bernard and the defence were key in Italy's 3-0 win over Kazakhstan, the only team that had been undefeated after two games for each team.

It was a clash of two classic "elevator nations". Teams that often earn promotion to the top level but don't perform well enough at the elite level to stay there. A clash that Kazakhstan won recently in Division I play with a 3-0 scoreline in 2015 and 2013.

While Kazakhstan had the edge after two days of play as the only undefeated team, it was the Italians who started strong into the game. They outshot Kazakhstan 16-6 in the first period and opened the scoring already after five minutes when sending a lot of shots on the Kazakh net. After a shot from Sean McMonagle it was Peter Hochkofler who succeeded with the second rebound.

As if this were not enough damage, the Azzurri made it 2-0 four minutes later. Marco Insam skated behind the net and sent a pass to the crease where Diego Kostner beat Kazakhstan goalie Henrik Karlsson on his second attempt.

The second period didn't start promising for Kazakhstan either. While they didn't succeed with their shots, McMonagle netted the puck with a shot from the
blueline at 5:26 to make it 3-0.

Kazakhstan tried to come back and had several consecutive power plays in the third period but didn't manage to overcome the strong Italian defence and the 3-0 score stayed.

MARTIN MERK

http://wmia2018.iihf.hockey/en/news/ita-kaz/
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