Ice Hockey World Championship live ticker: Germany needs victory in group final to reach quarterfinals
A crucial game for the German ice hockey professionals at the World Championships. A win in the final preliminary round match against Denmark is essential to reach the quarterfinals. Follow the game live.
3:15 p.m.: Welcome to the live ticker from FOCUS online. Win or lose. The German national ice hockey team faces Denmark this evening for a place in the World Cup quarterfinals. "We're playing for everything," said forward Marcel Noebels before the showdown against the co-hosts and direct rivals.
"We need the best performance of the tournament. There are no more excuses," emphasized captain Moritz Seider of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. "We have to be ready for the biggest game of the group stage."
Only with a win in Herning can national coach Harold Kreis's team travel to Stockholm on Wednesday. Otherwise, the quarterfinals will take place without the German Ice Hockey Federation's team for the first time since 2018.
The Eisbären Berlin forward called for better coordination among the players. "Currently, we have the problem that two players are working with the puck, while three are just watching," explained the 33-year-old. "When one player has the puck, he relies on the other to do something special and leave two players behind. Our strength is running. The support for each other must be there from the start against Denmark."
Noebels was also present at Germany's last preliminary round exit seven years ago – also in Herning. Back then, the German national team lost 3-2 to Denmark in their tournament opener. "We have to be well prepared against an opponent who will play with a lot of emotion," Noebels said.
The hosts may also have another trump card: NHL star Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets headed to Herning immediately after his team's elimination in the NHL playoffs and is expected to be on the ice this evening.
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