Despite a very committed performance, the German national ice hockey team suffered its second defeat at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. National coach Toni Söderholm's team narrowly lost 1:2 (0:1, 1:0, 0:1) against Finland after an overall even duel. The final two group games will now decide who will make it to the quarter-finals. In the Arena Riga, Korbinian Holzer scored the goal for the German team.
Söderholm once again put his trust in Mathias Niederberger in goal, with Niklas Treutle available as backup this time. Otherwise, the head coach of the German team opted for a squad with seven defenders and 13 strikers. Instead of Lukas Reichel, who was still rested, John Peterka made his first World Cup appearance, while Andreas Eder and Daniel Fischbuch also made their World Cup debuts.
Finland had until the duel with the DEBteam has three wins (USA, Norway, Italy) and one defeat after a penalty shootout (Kazakhstan). The team from Scandinavia has so far appeared to be as united as it was two years ago when Finland won the world championship title.
Both teams started the game with high speed and great compactness from the beginning – especially with the same number of players on the ice. The Finns took advantage of the first power play of the evening to take the lead through Anton Lundell (7th). As the period continued, the DEB-Selection got into the game better offensively and had their first chances to score through Marcel Noebels (11th), Moritz Seider (14th) and Tobias Rieder (17th). In the second third it was Korbinian Holzer (28th) who made the German dugout celebrate with his equalizer. Already the second goal of the tournament for the defender and the reward for a tactically disciplined performance DEBteams against Finland.
Even in the final section it remained an intense and exciting duel at eye level. Finland ultimately proved a bit more effective when Arttu Ruotsalainen (52') completed a two-on-one counterattack and put his colors back in the lead. The DEBThe selection then threw everything forward and increased the pressure on the opponent's goal. But even with a sixth field player on the ice, the equalizer was not achieved despite good scoring opportunities from Markus Eisenschmid and Matthias Plachta (both 60th). Stefan Loibl was named best player.
On the DEB-Selection awaits a double game day at the end of the preliminary round in Group B. On Monday, the US boys will face captain Moritz Müller's team (live on SPORT15.00 from 1 p.m.), followed by the clash with hosts Latvia on the seventh and final match day (live on SPORT19.00 from 1 p.m.).
Voices about the game:
National coach Toni Söderholm: “It was a tactical game, both teams had some good moments. As is so often the case, such a close game is decided by little things. I have to compliment the guys on how patient they stayed. Finland didn't allow much, you have to come with a lot of speed and momentum to break the defense and there was a bit missing. All teams are getting a bit tired now and then it's a matter of the head. The new players have brought in exactly the energy and fresh legs we were hoping for.”
Defender Leon Gawanke: “Despite the defeat, we played a good game and certainly deserved a point. It wasn't easy today to get through against the Finns, who played very passive forechecking and were dangerous in the breakouts. So it wasn't easy for us to get the disc to the goal. Now we have two more games in which we will give everything.”
Striker John Peterka: “We tried to free ourselves up on offense, but the Finns defended cleverly. Even when our defenders shot from the blue line, rarely did a shot get through. The intensity we brought into the game was very good. We can take that with us for the next two games.”