Mannheimer Plachta puts on double plack / national coach Sturm grants the last days off before the start of the World Cup
The German national ice hockey team lost the second duel with the Czech Republic. Just 24 hours after the high-scoring 7:4 in Nuremberg, there was a narrow 3:4 (0:0, 0:1; 2:3; 0:0; 0:1) defeat after a penalty shootout in the Mannheim SAP Arena.
Opportunities for the home team, who this time had Dennis Endras, Stephan Daschner, Nico Krämmer and Marcus Kink instead of Timo Pielmeier, David Wolf, Moritz Müller and Tobias Rieder, remained in short supply in the first half: Matthias Plachta, in his 50th international match, l failed promisingly, while on the other side the post saved for Endras.
A quick goal came in the middle third, but for the Czechs. Milan Doudera beat Endras after just 52 seconds of play when the hosts had one man less on the ice. As a result, the German selection tried to get into the game through combat, but they were unable to score a goal until then.
That changed in the final section: local hero Plachta first scored a brace to make it 2-1, before the Czechs were outnumbered and were able to make it 2-2 again. Just 61 seconds later, Christian Ehrhoff made it 3-2. Tomáš Zohorna sent the match into extra time, in which the German team survived being outnumbered unscathed. The guests had the better end of the penalty shootout.
For the first time since preparations began in early April, the national players can enjoy three days off in a row before the team meets again for the training camp in Bietigheim next Thursday. These are the last days off before the home World Cup. In addition to Dennis Seidenberg and Thomas Greiss, the DEL finalists are also expected. Sturm wants to announce upcoming personnel changes to the squad by Tuesday at the latest.
Germany: Endras (Niederberger) – Zerressen, Ehrhoff; Krämmer, Hospelt, Kink – Ebner, Reul; Ehliz, Raedeke, Reimer – Hördler, Akdag; Gogulla, Hager, Schütz – Daschner; Oppenheimer, Noebels, Plachta; Tiffels.
Tore: 0:1 Milan Doudera (20:52), 1:1 Matthias Plachta (42:04), 2:1 Matthias Plachta (47:27), 2:2 Tomáš Zohorna (49:37), 3:2 Christian Ehrhoff (50:38), 3:3 Tomáš Zohorna (52:49), 3:4 Robin Hanzl - 65:00
Penalty minutes: Germany 12 – Czech Republic 20
spectator: 8.427