Germany lost its first game in the 2018 World Cup. The team of national coach Marco Sturm had to admit defeat in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning 2:3 after a penalty shoot-out against host Denmark and took only one point with it.
This marks the first, very important step towards the quarter-finals for the top four nations in each of the two groups of eight.
In the second game, the DEB team, which had to be changed in numerous positions (10 Olympic heroes, 9 World Cup debutants, 3 NHL players) compared to the silver coup at the Olympics, will face Norway on Sunday (4.15 pm in the LIVETICKER and live on DAZN).
Germany – Denmark 2:3 n.P. (0:0, 1:2, 1:0)
Goals: 0:1 J. Jensen (29.), 1:1 Draisaitl (33.), 1:2 Storm (36.), 2:2 Ehliz (51.)
Hit in the Penalty Shooter: Frans Nielsen
Penalties: 4 – 2
1st period: The first period was unsurprisingly nothing for gourmets. Both teams worked ice hockey, fought many intense duels and focused on defence. As the defensive work worked well for both teams, there were no big opportunities.
Germany may have been in slight trouble due to one or two minor mistakes in the game, but the bottom line was that they did not allow much.
Tiffels had the best chance for the DEB team after a counterattack in the 12th minute, but his shot was directed over the goal by the Danish Toronto goalie Andersen. Overall, it was 0:0 after the first 20 minutes completely okay.
2nd period: Initially, things continued as before in the second period. But in the 28th minute Yannic Seidenberg received a penalty and the German selection had to act outnumbered for the first time. First Bjorkstrand pushed the window past the gate on the right after a great individual performance. But shortly afterwards Jesper Jensen was released and hammered the puck from the right side to take the lead in the short corner.
Just as Denmark seemed closer to 2-0, Germany struck three and a half minutes after the goal. Ehliz worked outstandingly in front of the box, defended the puck against two Danes and served the Draisaitl standing in front of the box, which sank ice-cold.
But the Oilers star had to leave the ice a little later for two minutes and promptly it burned outnumbered again in front of the German housing. Denmark played themselves chances in the second clock, before Storm from behind the gate was served and the 2:1 scored. Germany were harmless overall than the hosts and deservedly went into the second break with a deficit.
Third period: Again, a quick penalty was imposed, but this time, thanks to a great save from Pielmeier, the storm troop survived an underpayment game for the first time. When Germany set a course against the strong Danish defence, it usually did so with the parade of Ehliz, Draisaitl, Plachta, Dennis Seidenberg and Holzer.
This time Draisaitl served Ehliz, who was as strong as a bear, and after his shot the puck somehow found its way into the net over Andersen’s arm and the post. Immediately afterwards, Germany even had the big chance to take the lead after a counterattack. Andersen, however, parried outstandingly against Noebels from a very short distance.
In the last four minutes both teams had huge opportunities. Once Pielmeier held the goal after a big mistake of the German defence against Nicklas Jensen, once Storm missed the goal by centimetres. On the other side, Germany was dangerous on counterattacks again, but Draisaitl pushed the window by on his own and Kahun failed Andersen. We went into extra time with a just 2:2.
Overtime: Michaelis had received a penalty 15 seconds before the end of regular time, so the DEB team went into overtime in three against four – and survived the situation. Germany was superior in the three against three, but still no decision was made after 65 minutes.
Penalty Shooting: No German penalty was in it. Hager, Kahun, Draisaitl and Michaelis all failed because of the outstanding Andersen. Plachta didn’t even get the disk in the box. Pielmeier defused four attempts by the Danes, only Frans Nielsen sunk.
Russia 7-0 France (3-0, 1-0, 3-0)
Goals: 1:0 Kaprizov (8.), 2:0 Buchnevich (9.), 3:0 Dadonov (11.), 4:0 Kaprizov (38.), 5:0 Barabanov (43.), 6:0 Shalunov (45.), 7:0 Anisimov (58.)
Sweden 5-0 Belarus (2-0, 2-0, 1-0)
Goals: 1:0 Andersson (10th), 2:0 Nyquist (10th), 3:0 Janmark (24th), 4:0 Rakell (34th), 5:0 Zibanejad (57th)
USA – Canada 5:4 after P. (1:2, 2:1, 1:1)
Goals: 0:1 Dubois (1.), 0:2 O’Reilly (13.) 1:2 Lee (14.), 2:2 Larkin (21.), 3:2 Gaudreau (30.), 3:3 Beauvillier (38.), 4:3 Larkin (44.), 4:4 Parayko (51.)
Hit in the Penalty Shooter: Atkinson (2) – Eberle