Co-favorite Sweden gave Germany its next lesson at the Ice Hockey World Cup. Nevertheless, the DEB selection still has a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
The German team was again without Nico Sturm on Monday (May 13, 2024), two days after the 1:6 against the USA, and also in the 1:6 (0:3, 0:2, 1:1) against the gold favorite Sweden no chance.
3rd group game day arrow right
With three points from the first three preliminary round games, national coach Harold Kreis’s team is in a better position than last year, but the performances shown do not reflect this. There was even a noticeable class difference against the Swedes. “We can’t solve it playfully against opponents like that,” summarized Marc Michaelis at Pro7: “That’s why we didn’t have anything to report today. If you go out like you did today, then that’s not positive.”
Biggest defeat in 33 years against Sweden
“We want to see you fight,” shouted the German supporters as their team was paraded for several minutes. Berlin’s Leo Pföderl scored the German consolation goal (48th). Erik Karlsson (3rd), Marcus Pettersson (15th), Victor Olofsson (20th), Carl Grundström (25th), Andre Burakovsky (30th) and Isac Lundeström (52nd) sealed the highest German victory in front of 8,309 spectators in Ostrava World Cup defeat against Tre Kronor for 33 years. The German team’s next opponent is Latvia on Wednesday (4:20 p.m.).
NHL striker Lukas Reichel, who arrived after being eliminated in the AHL play-offs, moved into the parade line with Dominik Kahun and Frederik Tiffels. John-Jason Peterka had to make way for him and the Buffalo Sabers attacker slipped into the third formation.
Third shot hit
As was the case against the USA, Sturm, who is suffering from a knee injury, was missing. “He’s on a very good path. But nobody knows his body as well as he does. I’m confident that he’ll be able to play again soon,” said Künast. NHL debutant Maksymilian Szuber did not play again, but defender Fabio Wagner returned to the team.
The Swedes’ third shot was already in place: Karlsson overcame NHL goalie Philipp Grubauer. His front men were significantly less aggressive in forechecking than they were against the USA, when they were often passed over. The German team achieved little offensively.
Peterka misses the first chance
When Peterka sat in the penalty box after a frustrating foul, the score was already 0:3 – two seconds before the end of the first third. Captain Moritz Müller, who played his 207th international match and thus drew level with ice hockey legend Alois Schloder, was also lost in the Swedish attack vortex.
Peterka missed the first high-profile chance for the DEB selection after a solo effort (27th). Mathias Niederberger replaced Grubauer in the final third, who had had 35 shots on goal by then. The Swedes now slowed down – and at least allowed Germany to score a consolation goal.
