Germany stays in top group with win over Norway

After the teams split the first two games of their best-of-three relegation series in Malmö, Germany and Norway met in a third and decisive game to decide who would stay in the top group and who would be relegated. In the decisive game, Germany got goals from their top offensive line in the last minute of the first and second periods, then split the third period and won 3-1.

"Anytime you get scored on in the last minute before the period ends, it's huge," said Leon Draisaitl, who assisted on each of the first two goals and finished the tournament with 5 points in six games. "We're really happy about scoring the goals at the right time."

The first goal, Draisaitl dished the puck to Frederik Tiffels on the left wing, and he fired a shot just inside the far post with 15 seconds left in the first period. The second goal came with 40 seconds left in the second, when Dominik Kahun finished off a pretty three-way passing play with a shot over top of Joachim Svendsen, who had no chance.

"We're the first line of our team and the coaches expect us to score big goals, and I think we showed it today," said Kahun, who led the German team in this tournament with 5 goals and 9 points.

The Germans took a stranglehold on the game when Patrick Klopper made it 3-0 early in the third period -- his shot hit the stick of a Norwegian defenceman and went through Svendsen's legs. 

Norway came back with a big push in the third period, firing 17 shots at Marvin Cüpper and scoring once -- Magnus Fischer put in a rebound with 5:35 on the clock. They couldn't muster any more, though.

"I don't know what to say, those two goals at the end of the periods really hurt us," said dejected Norwegian defenceman Mattias Norstebo. "We played well at the end, but we should have come out better and got more shots to the net early on. We finally got some chances and one goal, but it wasn't enough."

For the Germans, though, it's euphoria, especially for the many players who will be returning for next year's squad.

"We're really optimistic," said Draisaitl, looking forward to next year's tournament in Canada. "We have 13 or 14 guys who were born in 1995. It was really important to get them in here this year so they'll no what's going on next year and won't be nervous."

It is especially nice for them considering they were one period away from relegation on Friday, then came back to win that game and Sunday's.

"It was really scary, the thought of being relegated," admitted Kahun. "Next year is my last World Junior Championship, and I want to finish up in the top division."

Playing in two cities not too far from where he plays the Sudbury Wolves forward added: "It's gonna be the greatest experience I've ever had, playing in Toronto and Montreal next year. They're crazy about hockey there, and my billets will be able to come and watch."

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