2:1 after shootout: Striker scored from open play and in the penalty shootout / Sturm: “Good and solid performance”
The German national ice hockey team won its first game at the Olympic ice hockey tournament and finished the preliminary round third in the group. In a hard-fought match, she prevailed DEB- Selection won 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 0:0) after a penalty shootout against Norway. “We once again showed a solid and good team performance. As expected, it was a lot of hard work, but the boys worked for and deserved this victory,” said national coach Matco Sturm.
The German team started where it left off against Sweden - with courageous and active forward play. However, the exploitation of opportunities was initially the same as in the second group game. After just five minutes, Yasin Ehliz had the chance to take the lead in a two-on-one situation with Frank Mauer, but was denied by Norway goalkeeper Lars Haugen.
In an evenly balanced game, it took until the 12th minute before Mauer had the next good opportunity DEB- had a choice. Frank Mauer, who had the advantage, dangerously deflected a shot from Yannick Seidenberg from the blue line.
It was Mauer who had the best chance of the third. After a dream pass from Frank Hördler from his own third, he ran towards Haugen alone, but was unable to overcome him. At this point the German team's shooting record was 10:3, before Norway was able to improve it to 10:8 on a late power play at the end of the first period DEB- Goalkeeper Danny from the Birches couldn't get past.
The German team was also dominant in the second period, especially when Norway's Tommy Kristiansen was quite rightly sent off the ice with a game misconduct penalty after a check to the head of Sinan Akdag. The German defender then had to leave injured and did not return. After Patrick Reimer, who had to be replaced by Leo Pföderl shortly before the warm-up, the second loss in the German team.
David Wolf was unlucky on the subsequent power play. His shot landed on the post - the record-breaking sixth German aluminum goal in this tournament (27th). But Marco Sturm's team was not impressed by this or by the toughness of the Norwegians. They remained the more active team against a destructive opponent and were rewarded: After 33 minutes, Patrick Hager used the fourth German power play to take the well-deserved lead. After a clever pass from Dominik Kahun, he turned quickly and made it 1-0. The German team had to wait 111 minutes and two seconds for this goal at the Olympic tournament.
Nevertheless, despite the overwhelming superiority, we almost went into the locker room with a draw. Ten seconds before the second break, Rosseli Olsen ran alone towards Danny aus den Birken, who was able to stop the Norwegian's break.
However, the Munich goalkeeper was powerless after 46 minutes. When Alexander Reichenberg shot to make it 1-1, the view from the birch trees was completely obscured. However, the German team quickly recovered from this goal and had the advantage eight minutes before the end. Despite a good power play, the winning goal was not achieved.
Three penalty goals
After a goalless extra time, in which the German team still had to overcome a situation where they were outnumbered, the penalty shootout had to decide. Here Patrick Hager, Matthias Plachta and Dominik Kahun scored with the first three attempts. Danny aus den Birken saved two penalties, and once the post helped to ultimately secure a deserved 2-1 win.
With this result, the German team ends the preliminary round in third place in Group C. However, the opponent for the quarter-final qualification will only be determined after the other games of the day have been completed. “We cannot influence who it ultimately comes against. But it is already clear that they will be a very strong opponent,” said Sturm.