STOCKHOLM – Petr Caslava’s two-goal outing helped the Czech Republic to a 6-0 victory over Italy on Friday afternoon. The Czechs solidified their grip on a quarter-final berth, while the Italians remain stuck at two points.
Click here for a video with post-game comments.Czech captain Tomas Plekanec felt his team, which has won three straight times, still has more to give: "We played good in parts but not all 60 minutes of this game. We have to be strong enough."
Martin Erat made his tournament debut in the Czech lineup and notched a goal and an assist. The 30-year-old winger, who led the NHL’s Nashville Predators this season with 58 points, is playing in his third IIHF World Championship.
Petr Nedved, Jiri Novotny, and Jiri Novotny also scored for the Czechs, and Jakub Petruzalek chipped in two helpers. Goalie Jakub Stepanek earned his third career World Championship shutout as the Czechs outshot the Italians 41-20. The Czech power play clicked three times.
"It was a tough game," said Italy's Matt de Marchi. "They are a good, skilled team. Put them on the power play, and they will capitalize by scoring goals."
It doesn’t get any easier for Italy, which will face Sweden (Saturday) and Russia (Monday) to complete its round-robin slate.
"If we sneak out a point or two in the next two games, it would help, but we are going against arguably the two best teams in the tournament," de Marchi said.
Coach Alois Hadamczik’s team controlled the play with their smarts and puck movement, and it was just a matter of waiting for mistakes and picking Italy apart. They’ll take on Russia (Sunday) next, followed by Germany (Tuesday).
The Czechs drew first blood on the game’s opening power play at 5:52. David Krejci’s centering pass deflected off Nedved’s skate and into the net. The goal was video-reviewed and deemed good.
At 12:45, the Czechs jumped into a 2-0 lead when Novotny scored his first goal of the tournament, capping off a nice give-and-go with Petrulazek on the rush.
It was 3-0 Czech Republic after a shorthanded rush at 7:15 of the second period. Coming late, Caslava took a pass in the slot from Tenkrat and coolly zinged it past Italian goalie Thomas Tragust.
At 11:45 the Czechs capitalized on the power play to make it 4-0, as Hemsky whirled around the net and flung in a high shot past Tragust.
Just one minute later, the Czechs stretched their gap to 5-0 on Caslava’s howitzer from the left point. And, working with the man advantage, Erat sent home a high wrister from the blueline with 5:31 left to round out the scoring.
"We need some rest after playing back-to-back games," said Plekanec. "Rest is the most important thing for us."
It was a very typical result for Italy when facing the Czechs. Since the inaugural World Championship meeting between these two sides – a 3-1 win for Czechoslovakia on February 20, 1933 – the Italians have lost all nine subsequent meetings by at least four goals.
LUCAS AYKROYD
