German quarterfinal hopes still alive

10 May 2016Henrik Lundqvist»

After losses against France (SO) and Finland, Germany got its first win of the 2016 World Championship with an impressive 5-1 win over Slovakia.

Germany took the lead in the middle of the first period when Peter Cehlarik, in his first game of the tournament, just beat German goalie Timo Pielmeier for 1-0.

After that followed five German goals in a row - three in the second period and two in the third. First Patrick Hager tied it from close range at 24:23 and four and a half minute later Phillip Gogulla took a shot from the blueline that deflected off a Slovak player and into the net for 2-1.

Patrick Reimer, all alone on the left side of the ice scored 3-1 with the only powerplay goal of the game at 34:48.

In the third period Brooks Macek scored 4-1 for Germany and the Slovak goalie Branislav Konrad, who had allowed 4 goals in 18 shots, was replaced with Julius Hudacek. That didn't help. Instead Dominik Kahun scored his first ever World Championship goal for 5-1 five minutes before the end.

The battle for the quarter final spots in Group B is still quite open. Can German steal points in their next game - against Canada? On Wednesday their NHL goalie Thomas Greiss (NYI) joins the team.