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 goal in his own third, the only 18-year-old smashed Cole Sillinger the disc in the 9th minute via goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer’s catch hand into the net. The German had previously goalie was in the spotlight several times, already in the first minute of the game he had against the free appearing in front of him Nick Roy brilliantly saved.
But Grubauer’s brilliant performance was hardly transferred to his teammates – Canada designed the first section in a superior manner. And came to 2:0: Pierre Luc Dubois of the Winnipeg Jets managed – after another German defensive error – a shot from the wrist into the left corner (17th).
Michaelis meets the connection
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, Canada’s goalie, had the best opportunities Logan Thompson checked twice. 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 passed in front of goal and in the end it was Dubois who scored his second goal with a 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 made: the youngster KentJohnson 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 got through Noah Gregory before the next third break the 5:1 (38th).
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.