1GE 4:5 USA | Germany2 - USA (World Championship)

World Championship

Norway – Canada2	2:3 (end)	\|	Germany2 – USA	4:5 (end)	\|	Latvia – Switzerland	2:3 (end)
Denmark – Slovakia2	3:4 (end)	\|	Russia – Belarus	2:1 (end)	\|	Czech Republic – France2	5:4 (after OT)

final

Germany2

4:5 (0:0, 3:3, 1:2)

USA

Tuesday 20.05.2014, 11:45 • Minsk Arena • World Championship

		Welcome. Game starts at 11:45.
		We are about to see the last game of the group phase for both teams-Germany is already without any chance to promote to QF or relegate, so there will be no pressure at all at German players.Americans, on the other hand, need to win this one and hope that Russia can beat Belarus to secure themselves second place in group B to get to avoid meeting Canada in the first elimination round.
		Last games: Russia – Germany 3:0 (0:0, 0:0, 3:0) Goals and assists: 44. Shipachyov (Yakovlev, Plotnikov), 51. Shirokov (Zaripov, Anisimov), 60. Tikhonov (Anisimov) USA – Finland 3:1 (1:0, 0:0, 2:1) Goals and assists: 1. Nelson (Jones), 47. Johnson (Smith), 60. Johnson – 57. Mantyla (Kontiola, Hietanen)
		Starting lineups: Germany: Aus den Birken (Zepp) – Hordler, Braun, Ankert, Muller, Reul, Akdag – Rieder, Mauer, Barta – Hospelt, Oppenheimer, Noebels – Seidenberg, Draisaitl, Pietta – Plachta, Ehliz, Weiss USA: Thomas (Leggio) – Jones, DeKeyser, Gardener, Murphy, Petry, McCabe, Donovan – Johnson, Nelson, Smith – Stapleton, Gaudreau, Abdelkader – J. Hayes, Trocheck, Mueller – K. Hayes, MacDonald, Shore – Miele Referees: Bulanov (RUS), Frano (CZE) – Flurri (SUI), Kilian (NOR).
		Last five minutes until the opening face-off of the game.
		Bison Volat, official mascot of the WCH, is in the rink greeting the fans. Minsk Arena is not as crowded as it was yesterday during Latvia – Belarus game, but we are still expecting another attendance above 10.000 visitors.
		Germany in black jerseys with yellow shoulders, Americans in white tops with blue shoulders.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:04	Americans won the face-off, but icing is called after misplaced pass.
	00:28	Hospelt had puck in the zone, but he had no support and couldn't get past double-block.
	01:26	Cautios start of the game. American defenders have the puck behind their own net looking for options.
	01:46	Akdag (GER) was called for holding, power-play for USA.
	02:04	Aus den Birken with first save, puck is still in the game.
	02:35	Nelson was standing by the post, looking to feed the puck to the area in between the circles, but Smith missed the puck.
	03:22	Tyler Johnson with a one-timer from the top of the left circle, but his effort went well wide.
	03:46	Germany is playing at full strength.
	04:28	Andy Miele tried wristshot from the right side, but puck was deflected.
	04:46	Seidenberg got puck into the net, but after review, the officials decided he kicked the puck in, so its NO GOAL!
	05:54	Nelson tried to find his way past Pietta, but German players didn't let him collect the puck.
	06:49	Petry slaps it hard, but misses the net by some distance.
	07:16	Tobias Rieder tried snapshot from the left circle, but Thomas made fine save to block this one.
	07:21	McCabe (USA) is heading to the box to serve minor penalty for hooking. Germany have power-play.
	07:44	Muller get the puck in the traffic and Mauer could score on rebound, but he just couldn't reach the puck.
	08:31	Puck is in the neutral zone.
	08:53	Tyler Johnson did a fine job keeping the game on the other side if his defensive zone.
	09:21	USA is playing at full strength.
	09:57	Gaudreau with a spin-o-rama behind the net to get rid of his defender, but he didn't see any of his teammates in shooting position.
	10:08	Smith (USA) called for hooking, another power-play for Germany.
	10:33	Face-off in the neutral zone after puck left the rink.
	11:07	Kai Hospelt could score the first one! He had plenty of time and space in the right circle, faked shot to let defender slide away and went for a placed wristshot, but couldn't beat Thomas!
	11:54	Tyler Johnson stole the puck by the boards on the left, skated past two defenders and found himself in a goal-scoring opportunity, but Aus den Birken made a vital save to keep it 0:0.
	12:08	Team USA is playing at full strength.
	12:38	Germans with the puck, but they are looking just to get rid of it.
	13:27	Americans had the puck for some time in the zone, but they couldn't find a shooting opportunity and Gaudreaus lost it in the end.
	14:20	Thomas with another save, his glove was fast enough to keep this one out.
	14:54	Abdelkader collects the puck and goes behind the net to give his teammates some time.
	15:35	Game flows without any interruption for some time, but we see minimum of chances.
	16:13	Puck is in the neutral zone.
	16:38	Stapleton got past one defender, but the other one pushed him off his way and into the corner.
	17:07	McCabe hits the post! Out of the blue came his chance when he got past defender and took fine wrister from the left circle.
	17:39	Ehliz with a Rebound that missed the right post by inches.
	17:54	DeKeyser (USA) with yet another minor penalty.
	18:35	2-on-2 went Johnson with Nelson, but Nelson could fond a way to feed the puck to his teammate.
	19:14	Americans have the puck.
	19:40	Draisaitl gets rid of the defender with nice move on the blue line, but he loses the puck just second after this.
	19:54	Team USA is playing at full strength.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Next period begins at 12:30 CET.
		First twenty minutes are over. We haven't seen a goal and frankly, we haven't seen many opportunities to score one. Yannick Seidenberg managed to get the puck behind Thomas, but referees decided, that he kicked it intentionally. McCabe was pretty close on the other side when he hit the post in last moment of the first period, but that was it. Hopefully we will see more ice-hockey in the second part of this match.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:32	Johnson and Jones solve the situation in their own zone.
	20:53	AUs den Birken had to be prepared, but he didn't have to make a save in the end.
	21:18	Craig Smiths shot hit the boards and went out from the rink.
	21:44	Goal for Team USA! What a beauty by Gaudreau! He lost his defender and headed behind the net, but managed to pass the puck behind his back and find JUSTIN ABDELKADER in front of the net and Abdelkader buried it past Aus den Birken! Assisted by Johny Gaudreau.
	23:06	Game is behind the net of Tim Thomas, but he can stay calm this time.
	23:32	Goal for Team Germany! Its all square again! ALEXANDER WEISS robbed defender of the puck and hurried past the blue line and towards the goal, was fouled, but still managed to score with a backhand effort and equalize! Unassisted.
	24:32	Gaudreau with some speed in the neutral zone, but he had to wait to cross the blue line.
	24:46	Icing called against Germany.
	25:13	Jimmy Hayes didnt want to lose the puck and went for an easy shot from the blue line with no screen in front of Aus den Birken.
	25:37	Donovan (USA) is already in the penalty box, power-play for Germany.
	25:44	Americans won the face-off and puck is immediately on the other side of the rink.
	26:41	Smith took the puck into the offensive zone and spared some time.
	27:18	Goal for Team USA! What a goal by DREW SHORE! We might not see a better one during this tournament! Shore got puck on the blue line and got past defender with some style while letting the puck go in between his legs, heading to the net and beating Aus den Birken with a shot in between his legs! Assisted by Jeff Petry.
	27:37	Donovan back on the ice.
	28:32	German defender have the puck looking for their forwards to get into free space.
	29:15	Thomas faced his chest to the shot of Akdag to block it comfortably.
	29:34	Graig Smith (USA) called for high-sticking.
	30:19	Jones collects the puck, feeds it to Mueller and he gets it into the neutral zone.
	30:29	Goal for Team Germany! And the score is even again! Draisaitl changed the puck with Oppenheimer on the right wing and then found KAI HOSPELT with a backhand pass. Hospelt was alone in front of Thomas and smashed it just under the crossbar! Assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Thomas Oppenheimer.
	31:02	Ehliz (GER) with a minor penalty.
	31:38	Puck is in the neutral zone.
	32:10	Really good power-play killing by Germans, who keep the puck at distance from their own net.
	32:53	Goal for Team USA! Gaudreau is the man! Johny Gaudreau found some space in the left circle and made another perfect pass through the crease to find unmarked MATT DONOVAN who slapped it past Aus den Birken, who had no chance to stop this one! Assisted by Johny Gaudreau and Jake Gardiner.
	34:00	Americans in the zone again.
	34:24	Game is in the neutral zone.
	35:13	Goal for Team Germany! LEON DRAISAITL with another equalizer! Draisaitl received pass from Ankert and skated toward the net, got easily past defender to found himself alone in front of Thomas and shot it between the legs to make it 3:3! Assisted by Tobias Ankert.
	35:26	Thomas holds the puck.
	35:34	Offside by Germans.
	35:51	Hordler tried a light shot from distance and DeKeyser blocked it with his helmet, puck goes off and its going to be a face-off.
	36:22	Shore (USA) in the box, minor penalty for hooking.
	36:52	Puck is behind the net of Aus den Birken.
	37:06	And German goaltender has to collect it again.
	37:25	Minor penalty for Team Germany for too many players on the ice. Mauer is going to serve the penalty.
	37:46	Petry blocked the shot and his teammates can go on the counter attack.
	38:21	Oppenheimer left he puck behind his back for Hospelt who fires it on Thomas, but he had a clear view.
	38:22	Team USA is playing at full strength.
	39:24	Team Germany is playing at full strength.
	39:52	Trocheck tried to hide his shot behind defender, but Aus den Birken saw it and blocked the puck.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Wow! What a change after a goalless first period. We have seen six goals in last twenty minutes of the game and most of them were just pure beauty. Americans took the lead there times with goals by Abdelkader, Shore and Donovan, but Germands alway found their way back with Weiss, Hospelt and Draisaitl scoring the equalizers. Next period begins at 13:23 CET.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:31	Craig Smith tried to surprise Aus den Birkend with rounding the net and backhand effort, but German goalkeeper was at his post and left no free space.
	40:55	Another save by Aus den Birken.
	41:10	Mueller rise quick shot, but the puck took deflection and went behind the net.
	41:33	Stapleton lost the puck and took a hard hit in the corner.
	42:00	Aus den Birken was pushed and ended in his own net. Its a minor penalty for Hospelt (GER) who pushed his opponent, which cause Aus den Birken falling to the ice.
	42:33	What a beauty by Johny Gaudreau! He got behind two defenders so easily like nobody was standing in his way and hit the post!
	43:50	Johnson decided to take a shot, it was blocked and no rebounds allowed be Germans.
	44:00	Team Germany is playing at full strength.
	42:23	Goal for Team USA! After a review, its a goal by JOHNY GAUDREAU! Hayes didn't hit the post, but he netted the puck in and put his team back in the lead again! Assisted by Jake Gardiner.
	44:00	Aus den Birken with a save, puck is still in the game, but in the neutral zone now.
	44:22	Fine pad save by german goalkeeper against hard shot, puck is in the corner.
	44:50	Blocked shot went off the rink, its a face-off in front of Tim Thomas.
	45:20	Mauer form the blue line, Thomas with a glove save to block it.
	46:03	And another save by experienced goalkeeper.
	46:24	Puck is in the neutral zone after a face-off.
	46:55	High pass into the German offensive zone, but defenders had easy job.
	47:49	Gaudreau with another shot, He is playing great match today, but Aus den Birken had no problem this time.
	49:06	Muller with another nice move behind the net, finds his way in front of goalkeeper but could find a way to send the puck into the net.
	50:17	Nelson broke his stick in good chance, puck ends in the corner.
	50:41	Akdag has the puck after the face-off, waiting for his teammates.
	51:30	Donovan just sent the puck from the neutral zone behind the German net and headed for bench as all his teammates.
	52:22	Puck is behind the net of Thomas.
	53:14	Nelson sends the puck on the boards to Johnson, but he has two opponents on his back.
	53:54	Murphy is waiting behind his own net. Americans don't need to hurry as they still have the lead which they need.
	54:50	Muller with a slapshot from the left circle, but it goes well wide. Lot of errors in last minutes of the game.
	55:37	Icing called against Team Germany.
	55:44	Goal for Team USA! Gaudreau with another precise pass! Gaudreau, surely MVP in this match, found JUSTIN ABDELKADER on top of the crease and he hit the puck from the air and gave Team USA lead by two! Assisted by Johny Gaudreau.
	56:56	Probably last chance for Germany to get back into game, Jones (USA) gets minor penalty.
	57:11	Germany with six skaters!
	57:15	Barta with a one-timer from the left side, but the angle was not any good.
	58:03	Goal for Team Germany! Germans pull one back! TOBIAS RIEDER was alone with enough time in the right circle to hit perfect one-timer and burry it past Thomas! Assisted by Draisaitl and Hospelt.
	58:50	Germany again with six players on the ice!
	59:09	Hordler loses the puck on the blue line, its in the neutral zone.
	59:26	Abdelkader misses the open net!
	59:57	Stapleton from the corner behind his own net with a long effort that ends just inches from the left post! its icing and face-off.
	60:00	Game over.
		Its all over now, Team USA takes the win from this game, and it was a fought one. Americans took the lead three times in the second period, but they allowed three equalizers. But they continued to score in the last one and goals of Gaudreau and Abdelkader decided this match, even though Germans managed to pull one back in the last minutes.
		Best players are Alexander Weiss (GER) and Johny Gaudreau (USA).
		Three best German players in this tournament are Hospelt, Hordler and Oppenheimer. Its a bitter fair-well for them as Germany couldn't reach the quarterfinals.
		We just heard national anthem of the United states of America and its the last thing from this match. Stay tuned for our other online coverages from this day, which decides which team will promote to to QF and which matches are we going to see there. (14:06:59)

Commentary by

Lukáš Kratochvíl

@LukasKratoch

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 24. Weiss, 31. Hospelt (Draisaitl, Oppenheimer), 36. Draisaitl (Ankert), 59. Rieder (Draisaitl, Hospelt) – 22. Abdelkader (Gaudreau), 28. Shore (Petry), 33. Donovan (Gaudreau, Gardiner), 43. Gaudreau (Gardiner), 56. Abdelkader (Gaudreau)

Germany2: Aus den Birken (Zepp) – Hordler, Braun, Ankert, Muller, Reul, Akdag – Rieder, Mauer, Barta – Hospelt, Oppenheimer, Noebels – Seidenberg, Draisaitl, Pietta – Plachta, Ehliz, Weiss

USA: Thomas (Leggio) – Jones, DeKeyser, Gardener, Murphy, Petry, McCabe, Donovan – Johnson, Nelson, Smith – Stapleton, Gaudreau, Abdelkader – J. Hayes, Trocheck, Mueller – K. Hayes, MacDonald, Shore – Miele

Referees: Bulanov (RUS), Frano (CZE) – Fluri (SUI), Kilian (NOR)

Attendance: 11845

1st period
	01:46
	07:21
	10:08
	17:54
1st intermission
2nd period
	21:44
	23:32
	25:37
	27:18
	29:34
	30:29
	31:02
	32:53
	35:13
	36:22
	37:25
2nd intermission
3rd period
	42:00
	42:23
	55:44
	56:56
	58:03
Final