Germany took to the ice for the first time tonight, while Austria had already opened their World Championship campaign yesterday with a 1–4 defeat against Czechia.
There is always a debate about whether it is better to have a game under your belt or to come in with fresh legs. Tonight, however, it was Germany who benefited from the latter, as they looked the sharper side in the opening period.
Lilli Welcke tested Austrian goaltender Selma Luggin twice in the early stages, but Luggin picked up right where she left off against Czechia, where she recorded an impressive 93.3% save percentage.
Austria, who relied on a solid defensive structure, had to wait ten minutes before registering their first shot on goal. Luggin, meanwhile, was called into action again when German captain Daria Glessner unleashed a powerful slap shot in the 11th minute.
Germany’s goaltender Sandra Abstreiter was also alert when called upon, making her first save on a redirected effort from Emma Lintner.
Following another battle between Lilli Welcke and Selma Luggin, Austria gradually managed to build some momentum towards the end of the period. However, the shot count told the story of the opening 20 minutes, with Germany holding a commanding 15–4 advantage.
Strobel's Great Work Sets Up German Opener
Germany continued to fire shots from all angles, but an outstanding Selma Luggin stood firm in the Austrian net. Seven minutes into the second period, she produced a superb glove save to deny the other Welcke sister, Luisa, leaving her shaking her head in frustration.
"Lilli (Welcke) made a great pass across the slot and we got the net covered, so it was my teammates that worked really hard for me to score both my goals," Nina Jobst-Smith said after game.
"I always want to bring a shut-out, and that goal was unlucky for me, because someone got pushed into me and I lost control of the puck," Selma Luggin said about the only goal she let in.
Austria continued to rely on odd-man rushes and created a two-on-one opportunity, but Anna Meixner and Theresa Schafzahl were unable to convert.
Luggin remained outstanding between the pipes and was even helped by the post on one occasion. But Germany came agonisingly close to doubling their lead when they broke away on a three-on-one. Franziska Feldmeier looked certain to score from close range, but Luggin once again came up with a huge save, this time getting her shoulder across to deny the German forward.
Despite Germany's overwhelming dominance, Austria headed into the second intermission just one goal behind. The shot count now stood at a staggering 31–7 in Germany's favour.
Lintner’s big chance, Germany’s empty-netter
Emma Lintner came close to giving Austria their best opportunity of the evening seven minutes into the third period, driving towards the front of the German net. However, Sandra Abstreiter remained composed and made the save to keep Germany's narrow lead intact.
The opening minutes of the final period offered a much more open game than the first two periods, with Austria showing greater willingness to push forward in search of an equaliser.
A German power play midway through the period shifted the momentum back in Germany's favour. And by now, it was almost becoming routine to see Selma Luggin standing in the way of the German attackers. The Austrian goaltender continued to produce save after save, frustrating Germany's attempts to extend their lead and keeping her team within touching distance.
Finally, Germany scored again when Jobst-Smith tallied her second of the game with the 2-0 goal which was an empty-netter.
"She (Selma Luggin) was outstanding in the goal, but I think we did a good job and kept playing and working hard all the game. Of course we would like to have scored more goals, but we're happy with the win. We handled it well going in as the "upperdog", after many years in Top Division we're getting used to that role."
"It was not the game we expected. I definately think we had more in the tank and more to give than tonight. I hoped we could have brought the game from yesterday against the Czechs and tonight's game would be more back and forth than it was. I really hoped and thought that we could tie the game at the end, but unfortunately we weren't able to," Selma Luggin concluded.
