The Czech Republic seizes opportunities coldly
For the Finn, the game was a special reunion with his compatriot Kari Jalonen. The new Czech national team coach was once Söderholm’s club coach in Helsinki and later something of a mentor. “It’s nothing personal for both of us,” Söderholm assured. And yet the 44-year-old would have loved to spoil his former teacher’s tournament debut.
But the Czechs, reinforced with nine NHL professionals, also used the second majority coldly. Roman Cervenka completed a fine combination to make it 2-0 (11th) when Düsseldorf striker Daniel Fischbuch was in the penalty box. The Germans had previously had the fewest penalties of all teams in the tournament and thus rarely got themselves into trouble by being outnumbered.
DEB team misses chance after chance
Even in the middle of the first third there was little to suggest that the German team could improve on the previous record of only four wins in 31 World Cup games against the Czech selection. The revenge for the bitter end three years ago at 1: 5 in the World Cup quarterfinals in Bratislava was a long way off.
Söderholm’s protégés only had chances to score at the end of the first period, attacker Lukas Reichel from the second-class North American professional league AHL hit the post (19th). But the Czechs wouldn’t allow that. Tactically well adjusted by coach Jalonen, the former ice hockey superpower constricted the German team in phases in its own third. The first majority in the middle of the second part of the game was also unsuccessful for the DEB selection.
Germany with too much respect
Instead, the next penalty and the next blow to the neck followed. Defender veteran Korbinian Holzer had to leave, David Krejci scored to make it 3-0 (33rd). The fact that polar bear attacker Marcel Noebels failed again shortly afterwards at the post matched the used day of the Germans. “We had too much respect,” admitted young NHL star Seider before the final third.