Ice Hockey World Cup After a dream start: National team ready for co-favorite USA
The selection of the German Ice Hockey Association was able to convince in the 6:4 win against Slovakia. photo
© Ožana Jaroslav/CTK/dpa
One day after the strong 6:4 against Slovakia, the German national team can take the next step towards the quarter-finals. National coach Kreis sees a need for improvement.
The start of the World Cup was a great success, and now the German national ice hockey team is waiting for one of the tournament favorites. With three points to their name, the vice world champions will face the USA today (8.20 p.m./ProSieben and MagentaSport). “We are preparing for a tough fight,” said national coach Harold Kreis. While the highly ambitious Americans are under pressure after the 2:4 defeat against Sweden in the opening game, the selection of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) was able to convince in the 6:4 win against Slovakia in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
“We just have to keep going like this,” said strong goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer from the Seattle Kraken. However, the goalie sees his team as anything but without a chance against top international stars such as Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks), Seth Jones (Chicago Blackhawks) and Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils). “We have to do the little details right and not take any penalties,” demanded the keeper.
It worked well against the Slovaks. Six different goalscorers, goals in the power play and, above all, always at the right moment. The defense, which was so shaky in preparation without star defender Moritz Seider, also appeared less vulnerable. “But we can still do some things better,” said Kreis. But his team was able to put “several exclamation points” straight away.
World Cup debutant scores important goal
One of the match winners was a World Cup debutant: defender Lukas Kälble. With his goal to make it 3-2 shortly before the end of the second third, he stopped the Slovakian momentum. The 2002 world champion was able to equalize Germany’s 2-0 lead within a very short time. Then the defender, who moved from Bremerhaven to Adler Mannheim, hit the net powerfully. “It was a good time,” said the 26-year-old after his debut goal.
For the DEB selection it was “the first step” against the Olympic bronze medalist, said captain Moritz Müller. The minimum goal of the quarter-finals has already moved closer after the first match day. For Yasin Ehliz, who prepared three goals, it wasn’t just the result that was important. “What was important was the way we approached the game,” said the EHC Red Bull Munich striker.
dpa
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