Update: The IIHF changed the scoresheet. Kasper did score the Austrians’ 2-1 goal.
In the second Olympic Qualifying game of the day, Marco Kasper didn’t fare as well as Michael “2 goals” Brandsegg-Nygard did in Norway’s 4-2 win over Japan.
Kasper’s Austrians battled a bigger, heavier Slovak team, and Slovakia prevailed 2-1. It looked like Marco Kasper tipped in the Austrians’ 2-1 goal, but the scoresheet credits Dominique Henrich with the goal instead.
Per Red Wings Prospects on Twitter:
Marco Kasper wins the faceoff gets to the net and tips home a GOAL 🚨for Austria 🇦🇹 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/tnpNaPSWGy
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) August 29, 2024
Best replay pic.twitter.com/isdb4BGZNL
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) August 29, 2024
From what I saw of the game, Kasper was an absolute buzzsaw for the Austrians, charging to the front of the net while playing as the first-line center, mucking it up a little bit and using his bursts of speed to get up and down the ice in a hurry. He looked great against heavy competition.
The Austrians play Kazakhstan on Saturday and Hungary on Monday, and they’re going to have to win both games in order to keep up with the Slovaks, who are favored to win the group and Olympic qualification.