Milano ran riot against the Pioneers: four goals in the first period, then the Rossoblù held off a fightback from the ICE’s bottom-placed side. Seven different players found the net for Milano, who outshot their hosts 48 to 18 against Caffi. Another power-play goal, too. Olimpija Ljubljana visit on Sunday at 5pm.
FIRST PERIOD Milano welcomed back Smith in goal after he picked up an injury a week ago against Klagenfurt and missed the last road trips. The surprise of the evening was forward Samuel Houde slotting into the second defensive pairing alongside Dello, a tactical move by coach Shedden to add more power to Milano’s play. The top line featured Saracino, Frycklund (back after a game’s rest) and Kostner up front. Milano’s start was close to perfect, with plenty of work for opposing netminder Caffi. It took just four minutes and 32 seconds to open the scoring: Blake McLaughlin and Nick Caamano caused havoc in the Pioneers’ defence, and the puck reached Dante Hannoun, who buried a rebound on the fly. Barely a minute later Milano struck again. At 5:33 David Lindquist found the net, converting a feed from behind the goal by Michael Dal Colle. The two-goal lead did nothing to slow the visitors, who kept their foot on the gas and put the home defence under severe pressure. The third goal came at 9:55, with Chad Pietroniro getting on the scoresheet to finish off a passing play involving Lucas Chiodo and Tory Dello. The Pioneers were unable to contain Milano’s attacks and conceded a fourth at 14:24, scored by Tory Dello himself on a quick rush for a 4-0 lead that summed up Milano’s excellent start. The goal stood after video review. In the same phase Alex Caffi was handed a two-minute penalty for protesting to the officials, and shortly afterwards Niklas Wetzl also went to the box for delay of game. The first period ended with Milano firmly in control, thanks to four goals scored in less than ten minutes.
SECOND PERIOD The momentum shifted in the middle frame. The Pioneers returned to the ice with greater determination and immediately cut the deficit. At 21:02 Noah Serdachny beat Smith with a backhand to the near post to make it 4-1. The goal restored the Austrians’ confidence as they tried to take advantage of a less incisive Milano than in the opening twenty minutes. At 25:49 the hosts scored again, Roni Allen tapping in, once more from the left side of the Milano goal, to make it 4-2. Having dominated the first period, Milano now had to fend off a comeback attempt from opponents who had halved the deficit in under five minutes. The western Austrian side also put the puck in the net a third time, but the referees disallowed the goal for a deliberate kicking motion from inside the crease. Milano, however, deserve credit for never losing control of the game. Once through the most difficult spell, they began to threaten again and took advantage of a power play awarded for a Guus van Nes infraction. At 36:51 Nicholas Saracino scored on the man advantage to make it 5-2, ending the Pioneers’ good spell and restoring calm to his side. Just thirteen seconds later Milano struck once more: at 37:04 Blake McLaughlin made it 6-2, assisted by Nick Caamano and Scott Valentine. Two goals in quick succession allowed the Rossoblù to re-establish their margin and close the second period four goals ahead. The second of those goals also sparked a scuffle between several players, with Dante Hannoun, Alex Caffi and Noah Serdachny all penalised for roughing.
THIRD PERIOD The final period opened with Milano chiefly looking to manage their comfortable lead. The Pioneers, however, kept attacking and scored a third goal at 45:46 through Marcus Kallionkieli. That made it 6-3 and showed the Austrians’ willingness to keep fighting despite the heavy early deficit. In the closing minutes the hosts pulled their goaltender well ahead of time. Milano took a while to find their range, but eventually added a seventh at 58:40 through Frycklund into the empty net, the Swede’s first goal in a Milano jersey, for a 7-3 final score.
