Italy goaltender Damian Clara has been forced to exit today's game with 13:52 remaining in the third period after sustaining an apparent right leg injury, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
The injury occurred while Clara was making a spectacular breakaway save on star forward Elias Pettersson. Prior to his departure, Clara had delivered a massive performance for the Italian national team, recording 46 saves to keep the score close against high-level competition. The young goaltender's exit comes at a critical juncture in the match, with Italy trailing 3-2 at the time of the goaltender change.
Backup goaltender Davide Fadani has entered the game in relief to finish the third period. Clara, a highly-regarded prospect who was selected in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, appeared to be in significant discomfort before being helped off the ice following the save. The loss of Clara is a major blow to the Italian side, given his dominant play throughout the contest and his 46-save effort that kept the team within one goal.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting
