With the master upgrade from Berlin, the German ice hockey team at least had a successful World Cup dress rehearsal, but the vice world champion is still not in shape four days before the start of the tournament.
The selection of the German Ice Hockey Association won the last preparation game against France in Weißwasser with 4:3 (1:0, 2:2, 0:1) after extra time. An overtime goal from Dominik Kahun (63rd minute) ensured only the third victory in the eighth World Cup test. In regular playing time, Frederik Tiffels (9th) and Leo Pföderl (34th/37th) scored for national coach Harold Kreis’ selection, which traveled on to Ostrava in the Czech Republic by bus on Tuesday. There, Germany will face Olympic bronze winner Slovakia in the first preliminary round game on Friday (4:20 p.m./ProSieben and MagentaSport).
The French are also once again opponents of the Germans at the World Cup in the last preliminary round game on May 21st, who have only improved defensively compared to the 3:5 after a 3:0 lead against France on Saturday in Wolfsburg. As the game progressed, however, the coordination problems and individual errors increased. Even in attack there could have been more than the four goals.
Eisbären professionals bring self-confidence
The focus was on the players who had recently joined the World Cup team. Defender Maksymilian Szuber, who was eliminated from the playoffs of the North American AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners, was in Weißwasser for the first time in preparation. Defenders Kai Wissmann and Jonas Müller as well as attackers Tiffels, Tobias Eder and Leo Pföderl also made their debuts. The quintet became German champions ten days ago with the Eisbären Berlin.
And the new ones immediately contributed positively with a lot of self-confidence. First, Eisbären striker Tiffels deflected a shot from Bremerhaven’s Lukas Kälble into the net after nine minutes. In the first third, the selection from the German Ice Hockey Association showed a concentrated and solid performance. Germany also survived situations when they were outnumbered, but were sometimes unlucky when they were outnumbered. NHL striker JJ Peterka in particular failed in some first-class opportunities.
Grubauer looks unhappy when Claireaux equalizes
This took revenge in the middle period immediately after NHL keeper Philipp Grubauer came in for Mathias Niederberger at half of the game, as agreed. The 32-year-old from Seattle was powerless when former DEL player Anthony Rech (31st) equalized. The game got a little wilder now. Once again it was Berlin’s offensive actions that put Germany back in the lead twice. This time Pföderl deflected a Wissmann shot into the net. Once again France came back. However, Grubauer looked a bit unhappy when Valentin Claireaux quickly equalized (35th). The German score was 3-2 when Pföderl converted a pass from Munich’s Yasin Ehliz.
In the final third, Szuber again gave Rech the equalizer at 3:3 (41′) with a hair-raising error. Germany was now clearly better in attack and had a number of top-class players, but they were no longer used in regular time. It wasn’t until extra time that the deserved winning goal finally came.
