The German national ice hockey team is currently preparing for the upcoming World Cup in Denmark and Sweden. In the test game against Austria, a 3-2 success was achieved, even without some top performers.
The goalkeepers Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken) and Arno Tiefensee have already joined the team for this game. The early US legionnaire Tiefensee, who signed a contract with the Dallas Stars after a strong season with Adler Mannheim, was also the one who was preferred against Austria between the posts.
In the first third, the 22-year-old had a relaxed job. Both Germany and Austria struggled to play out reasonable degrees. That changed in the second third. First Fabio Wagner (28th) put the DEB team in the lead, just a minute later Marc Michaelis (29th) increased to 2-0 at the beginning of a power play.
Germany with a double strike within two minutes
After two thirds, it was clearly recognizable that the team of national coach Harold Kreis is slowly coming into a World Cup form. Above all, goalie Tiefensee parried spectacularly against the Austrian offensive. In the connection goal by Paul Huber (39th) shortly before the break, the goalkeeper was powerless.
In the last section, Germany was again game -determining and only missed the necessary accuracy in the end. The DEB team does not use multiple overnight situations for another goal. Similar to the second third, the Austrians take advantage of the few chances they got ice cold – Clemens Unterweger (56th) for 2: 2 equalization. The German team apparently shaked this, because Wojciech Stachowiak (58th) met in the immediate return to the 3-2 final score.
Immediately after the first of two neighborhood duels, the DEB selection travels back to Rosenheim. On Saturday (April 26th) at 5 p.m. there is the “second leg” against Austria. The final test game will take place on May 4 in Düsseldorf against the United States before Germany meets Hungary at the start of the World Cup. During the dress rehearsal, the NHL professionals Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) and striker Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks) should also be on the ice.
Missing Draisaitl and Co. expected the World championship
It is still open whether other professionals from North America will strengthen the team. Striker John-Jason Peterka is not available because he is negotiating a new contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators) and Nico Sturm (Florida Panthers) are currently still in the playoffs in the NHL – just like Maksymilian Szuber and Julian Lutz (both Tucson Roadrunners) in the “second -class” AHL.