World Cup preliminary round: Minimum goal for DEB in danger: there is a risk of a preliminary round final

The minimum goal is in danger. Germany trembles around the quarter-finals at the Ice Hockey Championship. The 3: 6 against the United States has not improved the table situation in German group B, there is a risk of a crime thriller in the fight for the KO round. “Two games, six points. That must be our way of thinking,” said NHL defender Moritz Seider.

The world champion is waiting with the Czech Republic on Monday (4.20 p.m./ProSieben and MagentaSpot). A day later there is very likely the preliminary round final for fourth place – opponents: host Denmark.

“With a good start, we can also keep up against top teams,” said captain Seider. However, this did not work against the US boys. As in the 1: 5 against Switzerland, the selection of the German Ice Hockey Association slept a complete third.

Easy game for the Americans

In the first overpayment game, Tagson from the Buffalo Sabres met 0-1 early. The Americans, which have so far not been convincing and sometimes listless in the tournament, had no trouble to come to top opportunities. Frank Nazar used a chance to 2-0 after ten minutes. NHL goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer was powerless after previously good parades.

Grubauer’s front people seemed different from the keeper. Seider from the Detroit Red Wings or top attacker Tim Stützle from the Ottawa Senators could not hold the German team – on the contrary. Drew O’Connor from Vancouver made up for disillusionment with the 0: 3 in the first round (15th). “That was a lesson,” complained national coach Harold Kreis.

How replaced in the middle third

“Now it starts,” the German supporters chanted before the start of the second third. And the district team began to defend themselves and employed US goalkeeper Joey Daccord, who plays for Seattle as his counterpart. “We just washed everything down,” said defender Seider. “We knew that we had enough time. Dominik Kahun was just unlucky with a post bang, then Eric Mik met. The Berlin defender reduced with a placed in the short corner to 1: 3 (29).

At the latest now, Germany was at eye level and ice cold with the Americans. With a nice individual performance, Jonas Müller from the Eisbären Berlin gave the US goalkeeper Daccord no chance (35th), then Wojciech Stachowiak equalized a minute later to 3: 3. “We not only played a little better, we played much better,” said Kreis.

However, there was a short shock for the DEB selection at the beginning of the final third. The previously convincing goalkeeper Grubauer had to go off the ice after a shot, for him Mathias Niederberger from EHC Red Bull Munich came between the posts (42nd). Almost six minutes later, Grubauer came back to the playing area. An investigation should inform about the severity of the injury.

Only it was already 3: 4. Patrick Hager sat on the penalty bench after an unnecessary foul. Conor Garland used the majority to the next US leadership (45th). There was no longer another comeback for the German team. Logan Cooley (57.) and Clayton Keller (59.) finally decided the game.