The German men's national team achieved its first victory at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Tampere. In the game against Denmark it was 6:4 for the team after a nervous thriller DEB-Team.
The group game against Denmark, dubbed the first final, began in the first minute with a setup error in the German third, which Frederik Storm was able to convert straight into a first chance. Mathias Niederberger in the German goal saved the shot. On the other hand, Moritz Seider (3rd) hit the crossbar with his shot from the blue line. The first goal of the evening was scored by Dane Matias Lassen, whose shot was unfortunately deflected by Mo Müller's shin into the German goal. A power play for Germany in the eighth minute didn't bring much of anything compelling.
Things looked completely different after the first break. The DEBteam took control of the game and put enormous pressure on the Danish goal. The team led by national coach Harold Kreis had many good opportunities, which initially did not lead to an equalizer. After a phase that looked like a power play at 5-on-5, the Danes were able to briefly break free. JJ Peterka then grabbed the puck and shot at the Danish goal. Shortly later his shot found the net to make it 1-1. Just two minutes later, Mo Müller threw the puck from the neutral zone onto the Danish goal. Frederik Dichow couldn't hold on to it, so Alexander Ehl put the free puck through the legs Goalies was able to make it 2-1 (32'). The national team kept up the pressure. And so Marcel Noebels was able to play a pass across the slot to the advanced Mo Müller in the 38th minute. The captain fired the puck directly at the goal and made it 3-1. A dominated third of the Germans suffered a downer with 23 seconds left: the only second Danish shot in this section went through Mathias Niederberger's legs to make it 3-2 by Mathias Bau (40th).
At the beginning of the third period, the Danes became more dangerous again, so that DEBdefense and also Mathias Niederberger had more to do. Due to the high pressure, the Danes equalized 3-3 through Christian Wejse (56th). But just 20 seconds later, Jonas Müller made it 4:3. Previously, Wojciech Stachowiak had won the face-off and brought the puck to the blue line. In the 58th minute, Niklas Andersen was sent off for checking the boards. In order not to have to play outnumbered, goalie Dichow left the Danish goal. Marcel Noebels then scored the remarkable 5:3 (59th). The Danes made things even more exciting with their fourth goal from Christian Wejse. Nico Sturm scored the second Empty Net goal for the team shortly before the end DEBteam to the final score of 6:4. The best German player of the evening was captain Moritz Müller.
The German team will play its next World Cup preliminary round game tomorrow, Friday, May 19, 2023. The game against Austria starts at 19:20 p.m. German time.