Germany's Dominik Bokk (#26) celebrates with Moritz Seider (#21) and Justin Schutz (#10) after scoring in the victory against the Czech Republic.
photo: Andrea Cardin / HHOF-IIHF Images
Through the first ten games of this year’s World Juniors the ten teams have all played two games each and scored a total of 26 power-play goals. The Czechs and Americans have four each, but ahead of them is Germany, with five.
And five players in the tournament lead with three goals each, two being Germans – John Peterka and Dominik Bokk. They are also in a four-way tie for the lead with two power-play goals.
Germany has scored their five man-advantage goals on the strength of only eleven power plays, a rip-roarin’ success rate of 45.6 per cent second only to the U.S. (50.0 per cent). The Germans have also required an average of only 3:09 power-play time to score, also second to the Americans (2:59).
In both their games, Germany scored early on the power play, eventually losing to the U.S. but hanging on to beat the host Czechs. In all, five of their seven goals have been scored with the extra man, which also happens to be the highest ratio of the ten teams so far.
“We know each other pretty well,” said German captain Moritz Seider of his team’s effective play with the extra man. “Tim Stutzle leads our power play on the half boards, and we have Dominik shooting on the other side. We’re working really well together.”
And five players in the tournament lead with three goals each, two being Germans – John Peterka and Dominik Bokk. They are also in a four-way tie for the lead with two power-play goals.
Germany has scored their five man-advantage goals on the strength of only eleven power plays, a rip-roarin’ success rate of 45.6 per cent second only to the U.S. (50.0 per cent). The Germans have also required an average of only 3:09 power-play time to score, also second to the Americans (2:59).
In both their games, Germany scored early on the power play, eventually losing to the U.S. but hanging on to beat the host Czechs. In all, five of their seven goals have been scored with the extra man, which also happens to be the highest ratio of the ten teams so far.
“We know each other pretty well,” said German captain Moritz Seider of his team’s effective play with the extra man. “Tim Stutzle leads our power play on the half boards, and we have Dominik shooting on the other side. We’re working really well together.”
We’ve practised it a lot, and we know what to do. It’s really important in such a big tournament to have a good power play.
“We’re just trying to shoot a lot and go to the net. It worked today again [versus the Czech Republic],” Stutzle added.
And what has the team been doing so well under coach Tobias Abstreiter? “I think we try to keep the power play simple, bring pucks to the net, try to get rebounds,” explained Justin Schutz. “In the exhibition games, we scored maybe one goal, but then we changed some things and tried to be more simple.”
He wouldn’t say exactly what things they’ve changed, but as much as anything you can see how confident they are setting up in the offensive end, moving the puck around, and maintaining possession. And with confidence on the power play comes confidence during five-on-five.
Thus you get Seider saying things like this: “Everybody is pumped and ready to go for Canada, and we say, ‘Why not?’ We need to play smart, and then anything is possible.”
Given this approach, and Canada’s bad loss to Russia last night, tomorrow afternoon's Germany-Canada game is not a fait accompli. And with a fortuitous power play, yes, indeed, who knows?
And what has the team been doing so well under coach Tobias Abstreiter? “I think we try to keep the power play simple, bring pucks to the net, try to get rebounds,” explained Justin Schutz. “In the exhibition games, we scored maybe one goal, but then we changed some things and tried to be more simple.”
He wouldn’t say exactly what things they’ve changed, but as much as anything you can see how confident they are setting up in the offensive end, moving the puck around, and maintaining possession. And with confidence on the power play comes confidence during five-on-five.
Thus you get Seider saying things like this: “Everybody is pumped and ready to go for Canada, and we say, ‘Why not?’ We need to play smart, and then anything is possible.”
Given this approach, and Canada’s bad loss to Russia last night, tomorrow afternoon's Germany-Canada game is not a fait accompli. And with a fortuitous power play, yes, indeed, who knows?
Czech Republic vs. Germany - 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship
CZE vs. GER