Germany with problems to get into the Slovakian third and Zepp left the ice for another attacker now. 6 on 4 for Germany!

Blue line shot by Ehrhoff, easy save for Stana.

Not much time left for the Germans if they want to force the overtime.

Long pass by Ehrhoff for Rankel who missed the puck – icing.

2-on-1 situation for the Slovakians just in front of Zepp but the German defense was able to clear the situation.

After a shot by Frank Hördler was deflected Michael Wolf almost had the chance with the rebound but the Slovakian defense cleared the situation.

Big check by Frank Hördler inside the German defensive zone.

Radivojevic was left completely alone and tried it with a hard shot from the slot but Zepp kept the puck outside of his net!

Slovakia had a break yesterday while Germany faced Russia and by now it's clearly visible that the Germans are more tired.

After a harmless blue line attempt Zepp chose the safe way and covered the puck up.

Vydareny tries it from the blue line at height of the left wing, the puck goes past the right post.

Zaborsky with a shot from inside the slot, misses the right corner.

The Germans started with the power play against them into the third period but now they are back at full strength without having allowed a chance.

Hudacek with a shot from short distance after getting a rebound, blocked to the side by Zepp!

The Slovakians with a shot from the blue line, goes wide past the left post.

Delayed penalty against Germany and Stana leaves his net for an additional skater.

Kukumberg deflects a blue line shot but Zepp covers the puck up.

The Slovakians are back at full strength after extremly good penalty killing.

Marcel Goc loses the puck at the Slovakian blue line. No dangerous shot on goal during the power play so far.

Felix Schütz with a shot from short distance towards the right bottom corner, blocked by Stana.

Mario Bliznak with the shot from the right circle but his stick broke when he hit the puck so that Zepp had little problems to get the save.

Hard check against Kink inside the Slovakian third but still the Germans managed to get a shot on goal – no problem though for Zepp.

Ankert with the shooting attempt from inside the slot after a nice pass by Noebels but the puck goes wide.

Martin Bartek misses the net after a fast attack by the Slovakians.

Slovakia leaves a far better image in this second period. They have more and the better opportunities.

Marcus Kink tries it with a shot from the left wing but the angle was extremly sharp so that Stana had little trouble to make the save.

During the following attack by the Slovakians Zepp showed all his class with a save against a short-distance shot!

Counter chance for the Germans but Felix Schütz needed far too much time so that his shot from the left circle was raelly harmless for Stana.

Combination between Zaborsky and Miklik but Zepp is able to cover the puck up.

Ankert with a great puck win inside the Slovakian zone but the following double chance by Tripp stayed without success.

Branislav Mezei with a blue line shot for Slovakia but Wolf makes the block.

Ölvecky with a shot from a half left position, goes just wide past the right post after a save by Zepp!

Another offside call against the Germans. Just as in the first 20 minutes they take hgih risks when they skate early into the Slovakian third.

Michal Sersen with a shot from the right circle, no danger for Zepp.

After a long pass towards the right wing Miroslav Satan appeared right to the German net but his shot from short distance was kept outside by Zepp.

Peter Ölvecky had too much space in front of Zepp which gave him a double chance but he wasn't able to use it as the goalie was there on time with saves.

John Tripp with a shot from the right wing, easily blocked to the side by Stana.

Felix Schütz almost with the break away but a Slovakian defender pushed him away from the net just in time.

Turnover inside the neutral zone but the Germans can't use it as Maurer skated into an offside position.

After Germany won a faceoff on the right circle Ankert tried it with a blue line shot but missed the target.

Icing by the German team.

Tripp and Kohl both miss the net with their distance shots for Germany.

Offside by Slovakia's Stumpel.

Radivojevic with a dangerous cross-pass just in front of the German net but the puck hit the skates of Gogulla and from there was deflected wide.

By the way: one of the Slovakians can celebrate today for sure. It's the 162nd national team match for Miroslav Satan – the same number as record holder Martin Strbak had.

Zaborsky with a harmless shot from the right wing into the gloves of Zepp.

Michal Sersen with a blue line shot for Slovakia but not precise enough, just hits the chest of Zepp.

Another try by the Germans to get into the Slovakian third was stopped as Thomas Greilinger entered the Slovakian defensive zone too early – offside.

A fast German attack was stopped due to a high stick by John Tripp.

Next shot on goal by the Slovakians who become more active now. Tomas Surovy had a lot of space when he received the puck on the German blue line and tried it from the left circle but Zepp made the glove save.

Turnover inside the neutral zone but Miklik can't use it and misses the net with his shot.

One-timer by Tomas Zaborsky, misses the net.

2-on-2 attack for the Slovakians but the shot by Vydareny from the left wing was no threat for Zepp who made an easy glove save.

So far only the Germans played hockey in this match. The Slovakians are very passive.

Mistake by the German team when they weren't able to keep the puck inside the Slovakian third while trying to increase the pressure. Ehrhoff then tried to get back into the zone fast but there was an offside call.

Offside position by Hager and the German attack is stopped by the referees.

John Tripp missed the puck just in front of the goal crease.

The question was if Wolf's stick was over the crossbar when he hit the puck or below but in the end the referees gave the goal.

The goal is currently under video review.

Double chance for the Germans. Rankel get his own rebound back in front of Stana but the Slovakian goalie was there with a pad save.

Rankel with a shot from the left circle, no danger for Stana.

Shortly afterwards again Tripp appeared dangerously in front of the Slovakian net.

After a fast attack John Tripp had the first good opportunity for Germany but his one-timer from within the slot was blocked to the side by Stana.

The two teams are on the ice and the national anthems are being played.

Starting lineups:

Germany: Zepp (Endras) – Ehrhoff, Hordler, N. Goc, Müller, Baxmann, Ankert, Kohl – Rankel, Schütz, M. Goc, Wolf, Ullmann, Gogulla, Kink, Tripp, Seidnberg, Maurer, Greilinger, Hager, Noebels.

Slovakia: Staňa (Janus) – Mezei, Sekera, Ďaloga, Sersen, Vydarený, Jurčina, Mihálik – Bližňák, Kopecký, Radivojevič, Stümpel, Šatan, Hudáček, Kukumberg, Miklík, Záborský, Bartek, Surový, Ölvecký

Referees: Fraňo, Reiber – Arm, Dedioulia.

The match between Germany and Slovakia will be very crucial for both teams as they could make a big step towards the quarterfinal qualification in the Helsinki group.

Germany twice played very well against Finland (3-4 OT) and Russia (1-4) where they even had chances to win in both matches but in the end only gained one point. On the other side Slovakia beat the outsiders France (6-2) before losing against Finland (0-2).

Everything but a win today would be a huge disappointment for either side. The Slovakianns might be in the role of the favourites a bit though as the Germans have been wasting a large amount of opportunites in this tournament already.

Welcome. Game starts at 09:15 EST / 14:15 GMT / 15:15 CET.