Third win in a row – Germany on course for the quarter-finals
Stand: 21.05.2023
Nico Sturm (left) scored the 4-0 win against Hungary
What: AP/Pavel Golovkin
After the unfortunate start to the tournament, the German national team caught up at the World Cup. The clear victory against Hungary brings the quarterfinals very close. Now only one success is missing.
DGermany’s national ice hockey team has significantly improved their chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the world championships in Finland and Latvia with their third win in a row. On Sunday, the selection of national coach Harold Kreis defeated outsiders Hungary in Tampere 7:2 (1:0, 3:0, 3:2).
In front of 4821 spectators were Wojciech Stachowiak (8th minute) from ERC Ingolstadt, NHL defender Moritz Seider (36th) from the Detroit Red Wings, twice top scorer Nico Sturm (36th/38th) from the San Jose Sharks, John Jason Peterka (43rd) from the Buffalo Sabers, Dominik Kahun (51st) from SC Bern and Jonas Müller (59th) from the Eisbären Berlin successfully. For Maksymilian Szuber from EHC Red Bull Munich, the game ended early due to a match penalty after an elbow check in the second period.
On Tuesday (11.20 a.m. / Sport1 and MagentaSport) the selection of the German Ice Hockey Federation will meet France at the end of the preliminary round. Should Germany win this game as well, Denmark would have to surprisingly win both remaining games against title favorites Sweden and Finland in order to see Germany eliminated from the preliminary round. That was last in 2018 under the then national coach Marco Sturm.
The fourth storm row is convincing again
As expected, Germany was dominant from the start against the promoted team, who have never been able to stay in Group A of the World Cup for two years in a row. Despite the best chances to score in some cases, it was only 1-0 after the first third. Again it was the fourth line of attack, which was so strong at this World Cup, with three World Cup newcomers, which provided the important lead. Stachowiak completed a straightforward shot after a previous shot by Munich champion Justin Schütz. In particular, the first row of storms often made it too cumbersome.
It was down to Hungary
What: AP/Pavel Golovkin
Despite the two previous victories against Denmark (6:4) and Austria (4:2), there had already been criticism, especially of the supposed parade storm. National coach Harold Kreis had indirectly accused Peterka, Kahun and Marcel Noebels (Eisbären Berlin) of not following the guidelines. NHL talent Peterka was not used at the end of the game against Austria on Friday.
The top talent also played unluckily on Sunday and only scored in the final third after a goalkeeper error by Hungary’s Dominik Horvarth. Despite the disappointing appearances so far, Kreis decided not to make any major changes to the squad against the Hungarians and only put Frederik Tiffels from Munich, who had been weak but nimble up to now, alongside Kahun and Peterka this time.
Three goals within 170 seconds
As previously announced by the national coach, a tough patience game developed for the German team well into the second third. The big outsider, who is playing in a direct duel with Austria on Monday to stay in the A group of the World Cup, has so far only broken in late in many games.
Before the decision on Sunday, the DEB selection had to survive a five-minute shorthand after the match penalty against Szuber. The two NHL professionals Seider and Sturm then ensured clear conditions with three goals within 170 seconds. After his brace, Stanley Cup winner Sturm now has five World Cup goals.
In the final third both sides lost their concentration. Hungary scored two more goals through Istvan Terbocs (46th) and Nandor Fejes (49th), but this had no consequences, as Peterka and Kahun also scored his first World Cup goal for Germany. Müller then made sure of the final score.
