An Iconic Victory For Le Azzurre! 🏒 | 🇮🇹 Italy vs. Japan 🇯🇵 Ice Hockey Highlights #MilanoCortina2026

And we're off. Japan and Italy's stakes are high. And at the beginning, that was with captain Nadia Mattini. Poitis keeps that in. Wajima shoots. Save Durante. Durante's a big, tall goalie. She gets out, gives no. Her first start in the Italian uniform. She's up to it. And Sato pins Santino against the boards, comes away with a pop. Good defensive play by the 19-year-old, who plays for Dashin in the Japanese Elite. Durante. Meda. Up to Riri Noro. Noro, but she's stopped by Fortino. Santino. Lovis. And there's Fantini. Fantini shoots and scores! Stakes forever in this game on just a laser shot. Over the shoulder of Masahara. Koike goes down, trying to block the lower portion. But Masahara also down. Fantini recognizing this and just lasering that into the top shelf. Lovis, waiting for it as Mattini. Back to the point. Over to Seck. Off the shot. Overplay, looking to set up five. They have an umbrella. Three at the top, two down low. Mattini over. And it's in! Mattini with her second goal. She can wire the puck. And it's a nice little dip set up as the Italians work it around the outside perimeter. And Fantini's on the line. She puts it in exactly the same spot as she did before. Over the shoulder of Masahara. Watch the stick flex as she just leans into it and fires that puck top shelf. And this Italian fans and crap along the sideboards. Italians doing a good job. But it's kept in at the point. Just hammered down. Meymura behind the net. Out front! Sato! It's second period action between Italy and Japan at the Pro Ice Hockey Arena in the Olympic Winter Games. Milano-Pertina, 2026. It passed Garate. Set play right off the faceoff. Puck was rolling a little bit. Watch as Noro wins it back. It's on its side. And as she shoots it, handcuffs Durante. Tough one for her to find where it's going. Tough to read as a goaltender when it's on its edge like that. And Ukita gets full wood on it. Just put all of her might into that shot. Gold and silver medalist. Now a three-time Olympian with this Italian side to give away Akane Shiga. And she goes on her backhand. And it's a wonderful save by Gabrielle Durante. Turnover to the Italians. But it's kicked out of the zone by Como. Didn't realize that she had it. She's eating. She's coming back the other way. Como with a shot. Big blocker save by Miyu Masahara. And it's a save by Miyu Masahara. And Wajima has it on her stick again. Here, Ukita. Rebound opportunity for the Japanese. And Durante is able to get her glove smashed down on the ice and covers this puck. She does. It's blocked. Wajima, two-on-one with Ukita. Wajima shoots, rebound. Japan can't capitalize on the one-timer from Akane Shiga. She has power behind it. Out in front. And it's there. But Durante makes the save again. And the Italians find themselves up 2-1 after two periods of play. But that got out shot 15-4 that last period of play. Reyes gives it to Como. She's squished out by Hitosato. Hitosato connects, and De La Rivera picks her own rebound and she's miscommunication by the two Japanese defenders. Shiga and Hitosato get mixed up. But De La Rivera there to put Italia up 3-1. Japanese defenders. Saved by Masahara, still free. Finally, Masahara able to cover this up. She'll switch with Akane Shiga. Down to Oioi Shiga. Ukita one-timer. And Akane Shiga gets full wood on it. But Durante is there. Miura at the sideboard just gets that out. Space. Looking high on Masahara. This time on the blocker, it doesn't make it. Over to the side. Defending. De La Rivera, Hatibi. Hatibi to De La Rivera. She shoots. That's blocked in front by Seki. And Masahara just pounces on it in front. Koike. Koike, the captain of this team. Shiga around Hatibi. Shoots. It's in. Is able to cover it with her blocker hand. We'll have to take another look at this bouncing cock. Durante down the back. Here's a shot by Shiga. Goes right up over. And it does cross the line. Akane Shiga has scored for Japan. You can see the elation on the bench. What a moment for Akane Shiga as she brings the Japanese team within one. Looks like it is lost the line. But it has to come up on the ice. And Fantini does get her stick on it. After reviewing the play, the call on the ice has been overturned. We have a good goal. So it is a goal for the Japanese side. She shoots. And Durante makes the save.