Despite another good performance, the German national ice hockey team is still waiting for its first victory in preparation for the 2021 IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia. National coach Toni Söderholm's team lost 1:4 (0:0, 1:2, 0:2) against the team from the Czech Republic in Nuremberg, but were an equal opponent. In the ARENA NÜRNBERGER Versicherung, Simon Sezemsky (38th/majority) scored the only goal for the selection of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund against the fifth in the world rankings, who secured success with two late empty net goals.
On the German side, John Peterka from Munich celebrated his international debut, while Niklas Treutle from Nuremberg was allowed to start in goal on his 30th birthday. It was also a special game for the Eder brothers. Andreas and Tobias were on the ice together for the national team for the first time. As the best player of the DEB-Selection was awarded after the game to defender Korbinian Holzer.
The DEB-Team had two great chances to take the lead in the first third, once Daniel Fischbuch and then Tobias Eder had a goal on their hands. The Czechs were aggressive in the forecheck in a very physical game, but Söderholm's team held on. In the middle section, Daniel Schmölz was unlucky with a shot against the post, while Matej Blümel (28th/powerline) and Lukas Radil (33rd) gave the guests a 2-0 lead. Sezemsky brought it about two minutes before halftime DEB-Choose to score with a precise wrist shot from the slot.
That was pressing in the final section DEBteam vehemently fought for the equalizer and gave the Czechs a great fight. Peterka and again Fischbuch had the best chances of scoring. The Czechs remained dangerous in their relief attacks, but Treutle kept the German team in the game until shortly before the end. As the DEB-Selection risked everything and brought in a sixth field player, the Czechs scored twice into the empty goal through Radil (58th) and Ondrej Beranek (59th).
They will duel on Saturday (13.30:1 p.m./live and free on MagentaSport; highlights on SPORTXNUMX). DEBteam and the Czech Republic once again in Nuremberg. Then phase two of preparation for the World Cup tournament ends.
On May 4th, the team will meet again at the same location and get ready for the next two home international games against Belarus (May 7th and 8th/live on MagentaSport and SPORT1). The immediate preparation for the World Cup begins on May 11th, with departure scheduled for May 15th DEB-Selection planned for Riga, where the first World Cup game against Italy will follow on May 21st (15.15:1 p.m./SPORTXNUMX).
National coach Toni Söderholm: “We actually got into the game better and better, in the third third we were on the push, we lacked a bit of directness to score. I would have liked to see more shots on goal. If we stopped making mistakes in the third preparatory game, it would be difficult to learn anything new. We have to minimize the mistakes, that's clear, but we will still improve. We could come out of our own zone more directly and clearly on Saturday. The most important thing would be that we get more shots on goal to be even more dangerous.
Niklas Treutle: “You have to compliment the boys, we were visually the superior team and created a lot of chances. In the end, we weren't consistent enough. The Czechs scored twice more into an empty net, I think we deserved more. There is no big birthday celebration today, there was a cake that is still being distributed at the buffet as dessert. We have really strict rules, so we’ll have to hold the celebration next year.”
John Peterka: “We presented it a little differently; we sometimes gave too much space defensively. We didn't convert our chances well enough up front. I think we had a lot of chances in the power play too, it's a shame that things like that don't go in. Of course the World Cup is a huge goal for me, I try to do my best and not put so much pressure on myself, then I’ll see if it’s enough.”
Here are the statistics of the game:
https://www.gamepitch.de/playbyplay/?gameId=aff3bc66-d6ff-4672-b796-5d924437b118&divisionId=7352
