narrow success against Slovakia
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DEB celebrates its first World Cup win
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The German national team celebrates after a goal against Slovakia.
Photo: AP / Martin Meissner
Helsinki Second match, first win: The German ice hockey team beat Slovakia 2-1 in the World Cup. The duel remained exciting until the end – goalkeeper Philip Grobur of the Seattle Kraken kept the victory.
The German ice hockey team returned with passion after the Olympic infamy against Slovakia and also celebrated its first World Cup victory thanks to a superb goal by Philipp Grobauer against the bronze medalist. Three months after the 0:4 match against the Slovaks in Beijing, national coach Toni Soderholm’s pick celebrated 2:1 (0:0, 2:1, 0:0) against the Olympic bronze medalist in Helsinki on Saturday.
Matthias Blacha of Adler Mannheim with a strong individual effort (22nd minute) and Leo Pvoderel (27) from Izbren Berlin hit the semi-finalists of the 2021 World Cup on their way to the quarter-finals to achieve success against their direct opponent. NHL goalkeeper Grubauer of the Seattle Kraken was honored as the best player on the winning team.
Grubauer was exhausted but happy. “It’s so cool when you play in front of a home crowd in Finland,” he praised the German fans for their support in the hall in an interview with Sport1. “Slovaks always fight to the bitter end. And the next matches will not be easier – we have to press on gasoline again!” demanded the happy goalkeeper, who only had to criticize the warm hall and soft ice that evening. “Now we have a day off – and then all the fun continues again.”
In Beijing, bankruptcy against Slovakia caused disappointment and the 2018 silver winner returned ahead of the top eight. This time, the Germans with only NHL goalkeeper Philipp Grobauer allowed Christian Pospisil (32) to score. And in front of 4,387 spectators in the hall, which was almost half full, the second third was decisive. With three points from a tough first week end of the World Cup, they were able to secure a good starting position for the supposedly crucial tasks of progression.
Against outsiders it should be France on Monday (7.20 pm / Sport1 /
MagentaSport) Mandatory win. Initially, the national team coach Toni Soderholm received a 3:5 net against Canada.
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Quick info on the 2022 Ice Hockey World Championship schedule
Photo: dpa / Roman Koksarov
Söderholm’s team received self-criticism and encouragement from their first match against the record world champions. For his second World Cup appearance, former NHL professional Corbinian Holzer predicted an “equal” match. Finally, world number nine Germany met eighth (Slovakia) and the expected balanced and competitive competition developed.
Söderholm, whose mother declared herself a spectator in the hall again, decided not to change the goalkeeper, which is unusual in ice hockey given the close timing of the matches. The NHL goalkeeper Grubauer played again and managed to distinguish himself several times. Goal scorer Pföderl congratulated his powerful goalkeeper with a wink: “The kicks come on goal and you think you’re kissing my butt and he’s laughing at his ass.”
Contrary to what happened against Canada, the Germans avoided going beyond this time. However, they did not carelessly use the manpower situation made possible by the Slovaks at the end of the first third, nor did they use the power game in the second period, even when they had two other players on the ice for most of the moment.
The lead resulted from a strong individual performance by Plachta: the experienced player broke into the attacking area very quickly, and the ball bounced from Slovakia into the goal. Despite the temporary lead by two goals thanks to the interaction of Berlin players Marcel Köbels and Voedel, things quickly got exciting again: Grobauer managed to dodge the shock at first, but then let Pospisil, who came from behind the goal, beat him.
At the end of the second third half, the Germans were under pressure – but they held on and survived a 3:5 deficit at the start of the final section. With morale, the Olympic tenth achieved victory over time.
Slovakia 1-2 Germany (0-0.1-2.0-0)
Slovakia: Tor: Rybar, Abwehr: Janosik, Nemec, Grman, Ceresnak, Ivan, Rosandic, Gachulinec, Angriff: Kristof, Minarik, Lantosi, Slafkovsky, Liska, Roman, Lunter, Takac, Tamasi, Regenda, Pospisil, Tatar
Deutschland: Target: Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), Defence: Bettner (Grizzles Wolfsburg), Holzer (Adler Mannheim), Weissmann (Isprien Berlin), F. Wagner (ERC Ingolstadt), J. Muller (Isbren Berlin), Ceder (Detroit Red Wings) . , Mo. Müller (Kölner Haie), Attack: Kastner (EHC Red Bull Munich), Loibl (Skellefteå AIK), Stützle (Ottawa Senators), Plachta (Adler Mannheim), Ehl (Düsseldorfer EG), Schmölz (Nürnberg Ice Tigers), Ehliz (EHC) Red Bull Munich), Soramies (ERC Ingolstadt), Michaelis (Toronto Marlies), Fischbuch (Düsseldorfer EG), Pföderl (Eisbären Berlin), Noebels (Eisbären Berlin)
to rule: Lacey Heikkinen (Finland) / Linus Olund (Schwiden)
rip: 0:1 tarpaulin (21:34), 0:2 pfudrel (26:41), 1:2 possessell (31:15)