Moritz Seider, Germany Advance to Olympic Hockey Quarterfinals After Win Over France

Milan, Italy – Germany advanced to the quarterfinal stage of the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament on Tuesday, defeating France 5-1 in a qualification playoff match at Santaguilia Arena. The victory sets up a challenging encounter with Slovakia, the top seed in Group B, on Wednesday.

The German team’s performance was spearheaded by Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, who registered a goal and two assists, marking the first three-point game by a German player in Olympic history. Philipp Grubauer secured the win in goal, stopping 30 of 31 shots faced.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider also contributed to the German success, providing an assist and logging a team-high 23:15 of ice time for defensemen. The assist came on a power-play goal scored by Oilers prospect Josh Samanski in the third period.

Germany established a commanding lead early in the game, racing to a 3-0 advantage in the first period. Frederik Tiffels and JJ Peterka also found the back of the net for the Germans, while Nico Sturm added a late goal into an empty net.

France’s lone goal came courtesy of captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, a deflection off a German skate in the second period. Despite a couple of strong glove saves from French goaltender Antoine Keller, France was unable to mount a sustained comeback.

The win represents a significant step forward for the German national team, which finished with a 2-2 record in the preliminary round. Draisaitl, already considered one of the greatest German-born hockey players of all time with 1,036 NHL points, emphasized the team’s focus on collective achievement rather than individual accolades.

“I’m thinking about our team,” Draisaitl said after the game. “I’m thinking about wanting to compete for a medal with our group. If the legacy filters into that, then sure, I’ll take it. But you know, this is a special time. We’ve got a great opportunity.”

The quarterfinal match against Slovakia, scheduled for 6:10 a.m. Eastern Time (Peacock, CBC Gem, SN, RDS), presents a formidable challenge. Slovakia emerged as the top seed from Group B, signaling their strength as a contender for a medal. Germany will need to maintain their offensive momentum and defensive solidity to progress further in the tournament.

The French team concluded their Olympic campaign with a 0-4 record. The team was without defenseman Pierre Crinon, who was suspended by the French federation following a fight with Canadian Tom Wilson during a group-stage match against Canada.

Elsewhere in the Olympic hockey tournament, Switzerland secured their place in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over Italy. Switzerland will face Finland in their quarterfinal match. Philipp Kurashev and Roman Josi scored for Switzerland in the first period, with Nico Hischier adding a goal in the third. Italian goaltender Damian Clara delivered a strong performance, making 48 saves despite the loss.

The Olympic quarterfinals are shaping up to be a showcase of international hockey talent, with several star players from the NHL competing for their respective nations. The pursuit of a medal is intensifying as the tournament progresses and the remaining teams are bracing for increasingly competitive matchups.

Germany’s success in reaching the quarterfinals underscores the growing strength of the nation’s hockey program. With a blend of established NHL stars like Draisaitl and emerging talent like Samanski and Seider, the German team is poised to make a significant impact on the international hockey stage.