Canada threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Germans, but dropped its third in a row in Riga
GAME STATS: GERMANY 3, CANADA 1
RIGA, Latvia – Nick Paul (Mississauga, Ont./Ottawa, NHL) scored late in the
first period, but Canada’s National Men’s Team fell 3-1 to Germany on
Monday at the 2021 IIHF World Championship despite their best performance
of the tournament thus far.
Canada finished with a decided advantage in shots, 40-25, but could not
find a way to put a second puck past Mathias Niederberger, who was
sensational in the German goal.
The Canadians will rue their missed opportunities on the power play; they
enjoyed eight opportunities with the man advantage, six of them in the
second period, including a pair of extended five-on-threes.
But Niederberger stood his ground, making 19 saves of his 39 saves in the
middle frame to send Canada to its third loss in a row to open the
tournament, and its first to Germany since 1996.
The Canadians, as they did against Latvia and the United States, came out
with jump. They peppered Niederberger with eight shots in the opening 10
minutes but couldn’t find the all-important first goal.
That went to Stefan Loibl, who took a pass in the slot after good work
along the boards by Tom Kuhnhackl and snapped a quick shot over the glove
of Canadian netminder Adin Hill (Calgary, Alta./Arizona, NHL) at 10:46.
Matthias Plachta added a second goal just 38 seconds later when his
centring pass redirected off the skate of Owen Power (Mississauga,
Ont./University of Michigan, Big Ten) and beat Hill.
The Paul goal with 1:41 left in the opening frame swung momentum back
towards the Canadians, but it wouldn’t be enough to get the game even.
This one had eyes ? ?
Nick Paul pulls Canada within one to end the first period! #IIHFWorlds #CANGER @HockeyCanada @Senators pic.twitter.com/lQjtPkbHTv
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 24, 2021
Canada failed to convert on a two-man advantage that lasted 1:55 early in
the second period, and they couldn’t make good on another that went for the
full two minutes late in the stanza.
Whatever chances they did have were either stymied by Niederberger or
blocked before the puck could reach him.
Not surprisingly, it was a blocked shot that led to the insurance goal from
Korbinian Holzer, who went 180 feet into an empty net with two minutes left
to seal a third win in as many tries by the Germans so far.
Canada tries again for its first win Wednesday when it faces off with
Norway (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT).
