A bed of roses

Germany and USA starring the only game today in Montreal with different goals. United States needs the first three points after the opening victory over Finland at shootout, while opponents, 24 hours after the nightmare debut against Canada, hoping to make a better impression and maybe find some important point for the standing.  Previous records between the teams are all for Americans: team USA has won the last four games between the two teams in the WJC not allowing a goal in each of the last three meetings, for a total record of nine victories and a loss in overtime, dating back in 2006. Last December 21 in Kingston, Ontario the US earned a 5-2 victory over Germany in pre-tournament competition. Germany lost forward Manuel Wiederer due to a shoulder injury suffered against Canada and has tonight Ilja Sharipov in the goal and the Red Bulls Salzburg goalie has immediately a lot of work against American forwards. Despite some good saves, he has to pick up the puck in the net at 04.44 when Auston Matthews opens the score with a classic wrap around the net. As in the game against Canada, it’s immediately clear Germany has mainly an athletic gap with the opponents. At 11 a clear proof: Jack Eichel gets very easily into Germany defense, shooting over the bar. Sharipov is lucky minutes after when a powerful shot by Tyler Motte bounces on him getting out from the traffic in front of the cage. At the end of first power play US doubles with Hudson Fasching in his second try after a save by Sharipov. At 14 Fabio Pfohl has a great chance stealing the puck during US power play and facing goalie Halverson, but his shot misses the goal. At 17 Frederik Tiffels has his deflection stopped by Halverson. Goalire is decisive also at 19 deflecting a tentative by Pfohl in a good final for Germany.

Despite a lackluster performance of their team, German fans celebrate

Second period opens  with a great save by Sharipov on Fasching seconds before the third goal by USA: Sonny Milano is lucky in finding the puck after a deflection from a skate, but skilled in beating Sharipov. After 23 minutes the shots on goal is 26-5 for USA, a key statistic to fully understand the difference between the teams on ice. While his teammates have difficulties in shooting, Sharipov has a lot of work, included a fantastic save on Milano at 30 and another “hors categorie” on TJ Compher. At 35:04 a brilliant move by Dylan Larkin is finished in his own goal by Janik Moser, trying to anticipate Tyler Motte . Again Sharipov is superb in stopping Milano at 38, closing a second period in which Germany shots just twice.

The physical supremacy of Americans

Ten seconds in the third period and Sharipov has to make a difficult save on Fasching, a signal that also in last 20 minutes the storyboard is the same and to make matters worse Germany grants many penalties and only the skill of Sharipov avoids an high number of goals. At 53 the Canadian fans celebrate…a goal? No, a shot on goal by Germany! Two minutes later the exultation is real: a nice wrap around of captain Jack Eichel gives US the 5^th goal of the night. A great chance for Germany and the sixth goal by Dylan Larkin at 59:40 close a game dominated by US  from the beginning. Germany tonight gives the impression of being  the weaker team in Montreal.  Not an example of sportsmanship the boos that accompanied the appointment of Dylan Larkin as MVP. Goalie Ilja Sharipov was, instead, celebrated as if he was a local player. “We want to be a top-10 team. Our goal is the quarter-finals” said defender Fabio Wagner before the start of the tournament. Perhaps it’s time to have a plan B

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