It’s just a shame that our boys ended up shifting down a gear.
In the final third of the 9:4 Schützenfest against Italy, the DEB team conceded three unnecessary goals. The German team can hardly be denied a place in the quarter-finals at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland. Fourth success in a row and best World Cup game.
If France loses to Denmark on Saturday, Germany is prematurely in the knockout phase. After twenty minutes everything was clear against the weak Italians. Karachun (6th, Schwenningen), Wissmann (7th Berlin), Ehliz (14th, Munich) and Fischbuch (18th, DEG) scored 4-0 in the first third.
Reichel (26th, Rockford), again Fischbuch (35th), Ehliz (42nd) and Karachun (43rd) and Samuel Soramies (58th / Ingolstadt) make the highest DEB victory at this World Cup clear. Traversa (26′), Frigo (48′), Mantenuto (50′) and Petan (60′) score for Italy.
Lukas Reichel and Leon Gawanke (Manitoba), who were registered later, played for Germany for the first time at the World Cup. Both had failed with their AHL teams early in the playoffs. In goal, Mathias Niederberger had a quiet afternoon for long stretches. Not in the team this time: striker Leo Pföderl and defender Korbinian Holzer (Mannheim). Both were rested by coach Söderholm. Also absent: Tim Stützle (Ottawa) with a knee injury.
National coach Toni Söderholm: “All players have shown mental strength. The games are now getting harder and harder. We’re preparing for that.”
In the two final preliminary round games against Kazakhstan (Sunday) and Switzerland (Tuesday) it is now possible without much pressure.
By the way: At the World Cup a year ago, there was also a 9:4 against Italy in the group… Germany reached the semi-finals in the end.
