Asiago’s success heavily depends on their top two attacking lines and their potent power play. The performance of their third and fourth lines, however, has been underwhelming, often allowing opposing teams to outplay them. This imbalance leaves Asiago’s top lines scrambling to catch up and salvage games.
A testament to their offensive strength is the fact that the league’s top three point scorers all play for Asiago. Matteo Gennaro leads with 25 points in 20 games, closely followed by Nick Saracino with 23 points in 18 games, and defenseman Randy Gazzola with an impressive 23 points in just 16 games. Gazzola, in particular, has been a key contributor, racking up 19 assists and elevating the offensive threat of every other player on the ice when he’s active.
As previously mentioned, Asiago’s special teams are a cornerstone of their game. Their power play ranks second in the league, while their penalty kill is third, underscoring how crucial these units are to their overall performance. Gazzola’s form and the space he’s given are pivotal; his ability to dictate the pace and create opportunities cannot be overstated.
One glaring issue for Asiago is the disparity between their top performers and the rest of the roster. Only six players boast a positive plus-minus rating, a stark contrast to our previous opponent, Linz, who has 14 players in the positive. This highlights the pressure on Asiago’s stars to carry the team and emphasizes why this is a must-win game for us.
Despite their flaws, Asiago can be devastating when their stars are given room to operate. This is the team that demolished Bolzano 8–2 on the road, trounced Salzburg 5–1 at home, and convincingly beat Graz twice, 4–1 away and 4–0 at home. These results have earned them the moniker "giant slayers," and for good reason. However, many of those victories were against teams that underestimated Asiago, something Olimpija must avoid repeating.
In goal, Asiago has a clear standout in Evan Cowley, who maintains a solid 91.2% save percentage. A tall and athletic netminder, Cowley is quicker and more agile than Linz’s Tirronen, which explains his superior numbers.
Key points to focus on in this matchup include minimizing minor penalties, capitalizing on Asiago’s mistakes, particularly through effective forechecking, and ensuring Gazzola is denied the time and space to showcase his elite passing ability.
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