The game against the USA - in front of a sellout-crowd at Munich’s Olympic Ice Arena with 6250 spectators - was the predicted rock hard task for team Germany. Though the Germans ought to have scored first in the opening period, it was the USA which dominated the first period. Eric Cole, playing forward in the German Elite League for the Eisbären Berlin and reigning German champion, put the stars and stripes on the scoreboard 12 minutes into the contest. Team Germany was limited to attacks by chance in this sequence, Oliver Jonas in goal had to show some really good saves to keep the deficit at 1-0. But it was not good enough for an irresistible appearance of Dallas Stars center and NHL-Superstar Mike Modano. He showed how classy NHL guys can be. After taunting some German defenders he brought Jonas to the ice and lifted a wrist shot right under the cross-bar. This highlight goal was even to the delight of German fans, who applauded at such skill. With the standing of 2-0 the teams went into the locker room.
The second period then saw a German team which came out of the locker room high-flying. Lasse Kopitz should have put his colors on the board on a breakaway early in the period, but Ty Conklin proved to be equal to the task and came up with a brilliant glove save. Later on Ty Conklin killed a PowerPlay almost on his own, denying the German attackers the goal. But the momentum somewhat switched to Team Germany, the guys with the Eagle on their jerseys could now withstand the US-Boys even at 5 on 5. Team USA then got a bench penalty for six players on ice, but Team Germany’s PowerPlay was too harmless to be a danger for Conklin’s goal. How a PowerPlay should look like the Americans showed some time later, providing razor-sharp passes and speed. It was lack of accuracy that hindered Team USA in scoring the third goal. The best chances for Team Germany came in minutes 35 and 38, winger Klaus Kathan and defender Jan Benda both missed the goal just within some inches. With 2-0 both teams the settled for the third period.
The third period opened with several good scoring chances for both teams and a PowerPlay for Team USA, but no goals were scored – not yet. After a penalty for defender John-Michael Liles (Colorado Avalanche, Iserlohn Roosters) Team Germany had a quality scoring chance, but the German attackers couldn’t find the puck in this goalmouth scramble. The situation somehow grew hot, as two US-players and two Germans exchanged fists. The Austrian Ref Christian Wohlgenannt sent some players to the box in order of cooling off, and Team Germany continued their PowerPlay. 48:27 into the game the crowd exploded: Sven Felski picked up a cross-crease pass from Alexander Barta and nailed home the puck into the right corner. Team Germany then pressed for the tying goal and succeeded: As “La Olà â€, the wave, was rolling through the arena, Jan Benda got his stick on a feed from Lasse Kopitz and tipped it beyond Ty Conklin. That brought people to their feet !
The arena was chanting and celebrating, but the US-Boys had yet an arrow left: At 54:30 Richard Park took a nice pass from Yan Stastny, brought the defender out of position with an excellent move and shot the puck through Jonas’ pads for the eventual game winner. Team Germany had several good chances for tying the game another time, but in the end even pulling the goalie didn’t work. Team USA won the game 3-2.
Best players (official MVP of the game): Eric Cole (Team USA), Christian Ehrhoff (Team Germany)
My opinion: The German Team could have gained a better result, for Team USA being just a bit cleverer and better in some moments of the game. Unfortunately these proved to be the chief moments of the game. The individual skill on Team USA was impressive though Team Germany weighed up everything they had against that skill. In the end Team Germany can be content with that result, having delivered a big fight and challenge for Team USA and their superstars.
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Translation of the german game report written by one of the users of the Munich Site.