Germany wins key game against Denmark

Despite putting up a great performance and being the better team for most of the game Denmark didn't get any points out of the game versus Germany. Instead Germany won 2-1 after coming from behind to win it.

"We played our best game but it didn't help us. This is not our tournament", Denmark's coach Per Bäckman said after the game who was very disappointed with the result but very pleased with his team's effort. "We did a fantastic performance, we got 100 % out of our team", he added.

After a goalless first period were Denmark was the dominating team Denmark finally opened the scoring 1:35 into the second when they created a three on one counter attack. Nichlas Hardt almost gave it away with a bad pass but Morten Green manage to receive the pass and found the gap between the legs of Dennis Endras despite a bad angle.

Denmark continue to dominate the game and Germany really didn't have anything but out of nothing the game was tied when Thomas Greilinger fired away a shot from long range. And what a shot it was. A hard projectile beating Andersen in the upper corner and the game was suddenly tied after two periods.

After the 1-1 it was anyone's game. Germany scored the important 2-1 goal at 8:24. It was Philip Gogulla who was last on the puck after a quick counter attack first was saved by Andersen but some lucky bounces later Gogulla got was left with an easy finish.

Denmark's goalscorer Morten Green commented on the loss after the game "It was our game, we were the better team but they got two easy goals".

Denmark desperately tried to tie the game and had their chances, especially when Philip Larsen hit the post. But the goal never came and Denmark is still in last place of the group. Many saves by Dennis Endras gave Germany the important three points and they are still in the race for the quarter finals.

"It was a hard battle out there with a lot of hard hits. We were a bit lucky Germany's defender Christoph Schubert said. His coach Jakob Kolliker agreed with him. "We were lucky to win. We had problems in the first period when Denmark came out with high speed".

Tomorrow Germany will play Norway in key game that could be very decisive for the fourth quarter final spot. Denmark has Latvia and Norway left to play and need at least one win to stay out of relegation.

"That would be a big failure but there is two games left and no need to talk about that now", coach Bäckman replied to the question what a relegation would mean for Danish hockey. Instead he added "Our players are strong when it comes to decisive games, we've seen that before. If we play at this level the win has to come, there has to been some justice in this sport"

 

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