Ice hockey team looking for a turnaround

Four games, four defeats, one point – this is the sobering interim balance of Austria’s ice hockey men at the A World Championships in Finland and Latvia. That of all things on Friday against Germany (7.20 p.m., ORF Sport+) cannot be assumed from the paper form, as the big neighbor is considered a quarter-final candidate. However, after three narrow defeats against top teams, Germany is under pressure.

“I reckon we have chances, even though they are favourites,” said Austria’s team boss Roger Bader. In the games against France (1:2 a.e.t.), Sweden (0:5), Denmark (2:6) and the USA (1:4), his team often played at eye level, many shots from the pole and a poor conversion of chances prevented them but a better score. Now we finally want to reward ourselves. “I hope we can force the game luck on our side, we haven’t had that before,” continued Coach.

Three Austrians questionable

While Austria’s selection is still mentally intact despite the lack of a sense of achievement, according to Bader, the injuries are increasing: defender David Reinbacher went back onto the ice for the first time with a specially made splint after his knee injury sustained against Sweden. His appearance against Germany is just as questionable as that of Bernd Wolf (knee) and Dominic Zwerger (foot), both of whom suffered painful contusions against the USA.

Dampener for Germany: NHL star Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers will not travel to the World Cup after a season with 92 games and 146 points.