Germany holds firm in goal to beat Team USA at World Championships

Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

Thomas Greiss had the most important start that led Germany to victory at the 2017 World Championships. The German netminder made 42 saves on the night that helped his country defeat the United States 2-1 at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The advantage of the home crowd helped two different scorers and solid goaltending put them in good shape to start.

With another year to make it back into the high points of worlds, Team USA has a strong lineup and an experienced coach that can bring them along to doing well in the preliminaries. Facing Germany hasn’t been easy in the past two years as the margin of victory was just a goal. The home team was able to defeat the Americans last year but the team as a whole haven’t been able to withstand the hardships of stronger teams around the world.

They already saw the U.S. challenge Greiss in net with Johnny Gaudreau rushing up nearly beating the goaltender near the post. They had taken two shots before goaltender Jimmy Howard saw action from Germany. Konrad Abelthauser came in on Howard who came out to make the stop and turn the offense back to his team. After another attack to the Germany end, the home team gained time to notch scoring chances in the USA zone where they had chances but were denied with the American defense clearing out the puck.

Though they had a lead on shots to the net, it was still a difficult task to hold off the Germans who were striking near the net to get one in. The home team brought the puck in deep where it ended near the boards with Patrick Reimer finding Tobias Reider near the net for a scoring shot to take the opening lead.

To make matters worse, Jacob Trouba handed Germany their first power play of the game but it was handled by the USA penalty killing unit. Time fell off the clock making the Americans push with all their might to level the score while there was a chance to do so. Germany dealt with a few shots during a play and returned to pressuring Team USA to give up another. No further scoring took place in the finals minutes but Germany made it clear to be out front on the scoreboard as they outshot the Americans 15-11.

With the need to be the power hitters in the second period, the United States with a 5-2 run in the first six minutes. Gaudreau was still hunting in the Germany zone to be the first to score for his team. Despite having many chances, the Germans were catching their chances on the loose puck to get time with the puck thereby pushing the issue on Team USA. The Americans caught a break midway in the period gaining an important power play that could help them get even. It was a productive moment for the U.S. as they took every shot they had at Greiss but the German netminder denied them anything. Gaudreau took part in the shooting spree taking his fourth but nothing to show for it.

The kill became another key to their holding the score against the Americans who remained scoreless but not out of ideas. Despite the further shooting, they took in the remaining minutes, Team USA couldn’t get it done even after gaining a power play that would begin the third period. They outshot Germany 12-6 but had a concern on their hands as Gaudreau took a hard hit from Matthias Plachta who received the penalty but with twenty minutes left, it clearly had the United States on the wrong end of things.

They brought the heat from the start of the game and exploded during the power play to start the third that wore down the German defense but Greiss in net remained perfect. He was all that was standing in the way of the U.S. scoring as they had only taken a shot with their offense. Nine minutes had gone by and the United States notched a dozen shots so far very much on a mission to get the game tied. Gaudreau’s hit in the second didn’t seem to stop him as he led the team with eight shots on the night.

Though he didn’t get the honor of the opening goal, Team USA found themselves on the board in the 11^th minute of the third. A shot from the point by team captain Connor Murphy went through traffic in front of Greiss to get behind him. It led them to almost had another one with a loose puck crossing the goal line but referees waved it off due to goaltender interference. It was a goal they wished to have counted as they handed Germany a critical power play with seven minutes left in regulation.

It only took them 32 seconds to change the pace of the game back as a centering shot from Patrick Hager bounced above Howard and to the top shelf. With the lead back in Germany’s hands, the Americans had the situation increase in difficulty. Time was no longer on the side if Team USA as they dealt with possession and a very loud German crowd who were on their feet in the last minutes of the game.

It energized Germany to use every chance they had on the puck and rush towards Howard where he had many good saves but despite his work in net, the score was the biggest factor. Brock Nelson tried to get the best of his New York Islanders teammate in net but despite the slaps on the puck near the crease, Greiss was still a force to be reckoned with. He held it together for his team who went on to take the win and an important start to the tournament.

While they’ll celebrate a second consecutive win over Team USA, a chance to keep the home crowd happy would occur on Saturday against Sweden. The U.S. see action Sunday when they hope to have a different result against Denmark.