As of: 05/13/2022 9:43 p.m
Canada’s stars from the NHL were too strong: Germany’s national ice hockey team suffered a deserved defeat at the start of the World Cup against the defending champion 3:5 (0:2, 1:3, 2:0).
Defending World Cup champion Canada against last year’s World Cup fourth-placed Germany. The German team’s opening game could be considered the real top game of the world title fights in Finland – even if the German team had hardly been able to convince at the Olympic Games.
Canadians wide awake from the start
The team of national coach Toni Söderholm wanted to meet the Canadians combative and courageous. A tactic that led to a 3-1 victory in the preliminary round against the eventual title winner at the last World Cup in Latvia.
But this time the maple leaves from America’s north were not surprised. For their part, they went to work in a gripping and physically tough manner, disrupting the German team early on. And whenever Tim Stützle, the star of the German team, was on the ice, the Canadians attacked him noticeably hard.
Mistakes in defense – Canada takes the lead
All of this impressed the German team, especially since the Canadians quickly made it 1-0: After a German player lost a disc in their own third, the only 18-year-old Cole Sillinger smashed the disc into the net over the catching hand of goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer in the 9th minute . The German goalie had already been in the spotlight several times before, and in the first minute of the game he had brilliantly saved against Nick Roy, who appeared free in front of him.
But Grubauer’s brilliant performance was hardly transferred to his teammates – Canada designed the first section in a superior manner. And made it 2-0: Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets – after another German defensive error – shot from the wrist into the left corner (17′).
Michaelis meets the connection
Leonhard Pfoderl in action
Image: IMAGO/Jari Pestelacci
For the second section, the German team came onto the ice with a noticeably different body language. Now, for their part, they attacked their opponents early and aggressively and quickly had a chance ratio of 5:0. World Cup debutant Daniel Schmölz and twice Moritz Seider, who tested Canada’s goalie Logan Thompson twice, had the best opportunities. It was deservedly 2:1 (28 th ): Marc Michaelis scored from the keeper’s stick hand after Leo Pföderl had fought hard for the puck.
The first German penalty followed when Samuel Soramies had to leave the ice for two minutes because of a high stick. Canada took advantage of that coldly and made it 3-1: Brake Batherson fitted in front of goal and in the end it was Dubois who scored his second goal with his left shin from close range.
Decision falls on the German penalty box
When Stützle then had to cool off in the penalty box, the preliminary decision was already made: the young Kent Johnson smashed the puck into the near corner of Grubauer’s box to make it 4-1 (34′). But that’s not all: After a brilliant combination, the Canadians managed to make it 5:1 (38th) through Noah Gregor before the next break.
At the beginning of the last third, the Germans proved that they can also use a majority. Matthias Plachta used a 5:3 majority game to make it 2:5 (52nd) when he slapped the puck into the Canadian goal. And when the Canadians later indulged in the next lack of discipline and had two players less on the ice, Seider reduced the lead to 3:5 (53rd minute).
Saturday against Slovakia
The German team had fought their way back – and took a risk. Goalkeeper Grubauer left the ice oval in favor of a sixth player just three minutes before the final siren. It was no use. Canada brought the safe lead over time.
The German team will play the next game – the second of a total of seven preliminary round games – on Saturday (May 14, 2022) at 7.20 p.m. against Slovakia.
Source: sportschau.de