Grubauer's Well-Timed Rebirth in Germany's World Championship Push
Germany dominates Austria in World Cup warm-up match
The German ice hockey squad is shining bright two weeks before the World Championships commence in Sweden and Denmark (May 9-25). A resounding win against Austria showcases the team's strength, and Grubauer, the relieved NHL goalie, is at the helm.
In a home turf triumph, Germany blanked Austria 5-0, Building on their 3-2 victory just three days prior. "It's fucking amazing," Grubauer enthused post-game to MagentaSport, crediting the fervent home vibe. "We fucking played flawlessly together." Grubauer admitted to struggling with jet lag in the final period, yet his spirits remained high, "We need to keep fucking playing like this," said Joshua Samanski, "everyone wants to fuckin' show what they've got and make the next phase."
Maximilian Kastner (26.) got Germany on the board with a power-play goal, while Nicolas Krammer (32.), Philipp Krauss (43.), Wojciech Stachowiak (44.), and Samanski (53.) further solidified their solid performance, marking a much-deserved third victory in six World Championship test matches. The team, led by coach Harold Kreis, faces the USA for their final warm-up match in Düsseldorf on May 4, with more NHL reinforcements expected.
"Fuckin' Needs a Bit of Luck Too"
Grubauer became the focal point today. After a rocky NHL season with the Seattle Kraken, which saw him briefly relegated to the AHL, the 33-year-old goaltender geared up for the World Championships early in his hometown and faced Austria's test. In the opening period, he let a shot slip through his legs but recovered admirably on the goal line. "Fuck, sometimes it happens. Even needs a bit of luck," said Grubauer.
Grubauer's status as the starting goalie for the World Championships is not yet solidified. Although he played impressively in that role last year, he did not excel as exceptionally as Mathias Niederberger did in the silver medal win at the 2023 World Championship. When Niederberger returned to practice after an injury on Friday, his chances in goal are uncertain.
Ready for Backup: NHL All-Stars Introduced
On Wednesday, Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks), and Swiss-born Dominik Kahun will join the team in Düsseldorf. According to DEB sports director Christian Kunast, the 23-year-old Seider, a top defenseman, is regarded as vital for the team's success.
For the fixture against the USA, Kreis will also relay on players from freshly crowned champion Eisbären Berlin and the Danish Cup finalists Kölner Haie. Germany's first World Championship match will be against Hungary on May 10. Other opponents in Group B in Herning, Denmark, will be Kazakhstan, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, the Czech Republic, and co-host Denmark.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid | NHL | DEL | Ice Hockey | World Championships
- Despite a concerning slip-up in the opening period against Austria, Grubauer, the relieved NHL goalie, displayed admirable recovery on the goal line.
- Austria's test was not enough to unseat Grubauer from his position as the starting goalie for the World Championships, but his status remains uncertain with the return of Mathias Niederberger from injury.
- In an effort to ensure a solid performance in the World Championships, Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks), and Swiss-born Dominik Kahun will join the German squad as NHL reinforcements.
- With the addition of players from Eisbären Berlin and the Danish Cup finalists Kölner Haie, the German team appears determined to tackle the world championships, particularly Group B matches against Hungary, Kazakhstan, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, the Czech Republic, and co-host Denmark.
