Germany suffered its second loss of the Olympic tournament, falling to Team USA 5-1. The US had a team full of NHL players, compared to seven for Germany and four former NHLers. Although Germany has an NHL goalie on the roster in Philipp Grubauer, the German coaching staff went with Maximilian Franzreb. The Germans kept the game scoreless until the final minute of the first period, but the Americans got outstanding play from goalie Connor Hellebuyck and asserted their dominance in the second period and beyond.
TIME ON ICE
Moritz Seider again led the Germans with 26:20 on ice.
PRODUCTION
The Americans’ defense shut down Germany’s top players, including Leon Draisaitl.
Seider did his best to fill in, taking a team-high seven shots. He was minus-1 on the evening. His closest shot to a goal came early in the second period, when Hellebuyck deflected a shot with his glove
GAME NOTES
The U.S. needed to win by 10 goals to take the top seed, which sent to Canada, but the Americans stuck to their usual game plan and treated the contest like a playoff crowd before a road crowd, a nod to the preponderance of German fans in the stands. Team USA is now 9-1 against Germany. Their last previouz meeting was a 3-2 USA win in 2022.
ANALYSIS
In case there are any doubters remaining, Seider should have quieted any concern about his willingness to step up when his team needed him. He didn’t score, but was a constant presence on the ice and led his team on offense, too.
NEXT GAME
The Germans, who earned the sixth seed, take on No. 11 France on Tuesday. The winner will meet Slovakia on Wednesday.