Despite blowing a two-goal first-period lead, Denmark was able to force Italy into overtime, ultimately winning 3-2 in the shootout round of their penultimate game at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
While Italy picked up the overtime point, which was the team's first of this edition of the World Championship, they were unable to remain within three points of Denmark by game's end. Alongside the fact that Slovenia remains at three points after six games, Denmark will remain in the top division for the 2027 edition of the IIHF World Championship.
Denmark vs Italy recap
Denmark enjoyed an extremely fast start to the game, with their two goals coming 16 seconds apart early in the first period. Fischtown Pinguins forward Christian Wejse scored the ice-breaking goal with two-and-a-half minutes gone in the opening frame; Wejse's teammate Phillip Bruggisser recorded the primary assist, while Sonderjyske winger Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup added the secondary assist.
16 seconds later, Skelleftea AIK forward Mikkel Aagaard scored his fifth goal of the tournament to make the score 2-0 in favor of Denmark. HC Motor Ceske Budejovice forward Nick Olesen recorded the primary assist on the goal, while Herning Blue Fox defenseman Kasper Larsen added the secondary assist.
Italy would rally to tie the game during the second period. HC Pustertal winger Tommy Purdeller recorded his first goal of the tournament just one minute into the second period, with his teammate Mikael Frycklund and Gherdëina defenseman Carmine Buono adding the assists. Purdeller's second goal of the game came with under five minutes left in the middle frame, with Frycklund and Schwenninger Wild Wings defenseman Alex Trivellato recording the respective primary and secondary assists on the game-tying goal.
No additional goals were recorded for the remainder of the second period, the third period, or overtime.
Former Edmonton Oilers winger Patrick Russell was the only player to score during the shootout, with the other nine skaters missing their respective attempts.
Relevant statistics and facts
Despite losing the game, Italy outshot Denmark by a 37-28 margin. That tally included a 17-8 second-period shots on goal count in favor of Italy.
Rytiri Kladno defenseman Phil Pietroniro recorded six shots on goal for Italy.
EHC Kloten goaltender Davide Fadani was in net for Italy, recording 26 saves on 28 shots for a .929 save percentage. Ottawa Senators/Belleville Senators netminder Mads Sogaard earned the win for Denmark, recording saves on 35 of the 37 shots that he faced; that was good enough for a .946 save percentage.
What's next?
With Great Britain already relegated courtesy of a 6-0 loss to Latvia in Group A competition, it will be one of Slovenia and Italy that gets relegated in Group B. The two teams will play each other on Monday to conclude their respective campaigns at the 2026 World Championship. Italy will need a regulation win to secure safety, while a win or overtime result will do the same for Slovenia. Puck drop in that contest will take place at 2:20 P.M. Eastern Time.
Denmark will conclude their 2026 World Championship campaign with a contest against Norway, who sits just a point above Sweden for the final knockout round spot available in Group B. That said, the Norwegians have a game in hand on Sweden and they also remain a point back of third-placed Slovakia, who concludes their group stage campaign against Sweden on Tuesday.
A win of any kind for Norway against Czechia on Monday or in their group stage finale against Denmark will be enough to give the Norwegians a knockout round berth regardless of what happens in the Slovakia-Sweden game.
While Denmark's knockout round hopes might be dashed, they could still play spoiler with a win of their own. If Norway loses to Czechia in regulation, then any kind of win for Sweden would force Norway to win their game against Denmark in order to qualify for the knockout round.
Puck drop in Tuesday's Denmark-Norway game is set for 6:20 A.M. Eastern Time.
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