The host club Angers Ducs also went to overtime in its third game and with this secured enough points to finish second in the 2023 IIHF Continental Cup Final after a 3-2 overtime loss to Asiago Hockey.

After the 3-2 shootout loss against eventual tournament winner HK Nitra on Saturday night, the Frenchmen were back aiming to do the best out of the situation, meaning a second-place finish and bringing home the silver medals.

Asiago, winless in two games, had other ideas and could have moved to a bronze-medal finish with a regulation-time win.

Asiago showed up much improved after a tough 7-1 loss to the Cardiff Devils the day before. At 5:22 the Italians converted the first power play of the game with a high wrist shot from Nicholas Saracino after a centering pass from Allan McShane.

While the Angers Ducs didn’t capitalize on two penalty calls against Asiago, McShane scored the 2-0 goal with 12 seconds left in the period from almost identical position by deflecting Randy Gazzola’s pass from the blue line.

Angers came out stronger for the second period and capitalized on an early power play. After some passes around the net Tommy Giroux made it a one-goal game at 3:33. And with 2:50 left Jonathan Charbonneau tied the game capitalizing on a rebound after Asiago goalkeeper Justin Fazio had blocked a high shot from Neil Manning.

Despite chances and power plays at both ends, none of the teams managed to win the game in regulation time and that result favoured Angers as the one extra point was exactly enough for second place.

Asiago stayed in last place but as a consolation got the win when Giordano Finoro scored the game-winning goal 25 seconds into the 3-on-3 overtime period.

The end of the game was followed by the player awards: Angers’ Evan Cowley as best goalkeeper, Nitra’s Luke Green as best defender and Cardiff’s Cole Sanford as best forward.

Then the teams got their medals, bronze to the Cardiff Devils, silver to the Angers Ducs and gold to HK Nitra, which went through the competition undefeated.