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Despite Strong Start, Germany Drops Opening WJC Game to Canada

Team Germany knew it wasn’t going to be easy taking on Team Canada in their first game of the 2014 World Junior Championships.

Canada is loaded with top-tier talent and handed Germany a 9-3 loss during the preliminary round of last year’s tournament.

You can see why this one might have got ugly.

Despite scoring the opening goal of the game 94 seconds in and tallying twice in the first period, Germany couldn’t contain Canada’s high flying offense and ended up dropping a 7-2 decision to the Canadians on Thursday morning.

Team Canada got a hat-trick from Detroit Red Wings prospect Anhtony Mantha, while Tampa Bay Lightning youngster Jonathan Drouin contributed with three assists.

Dorian Saeftel opened the scoring for Germany just 94 seconds in, putting a point shot through the legs of Canadian goaltender Jake Patterson. It appeared to go off a leg in front before finding its way through Patterson.

Just like that, Germany was ahead of Canada. Could an upset be possible?

Unfortunately, Germany couldn’t sustain the lead.

Canada would go on to score two goals in the next ten minutes to put themselves up 2-1.

Janik Moser brought some more life to Germany though with five minutes remaining in the first period.

Down 2-1 to the elite Canadians, the German defenseman who has committed to Ohio State College tied the game at two.

After Canadian defenseman Adam Pelech fanned on a clearing attempt, the puck would come to German forward Dominik Kahun.

Kahun would make a beautiful cross-ice pass to Moser. The assistant captain would make no mistake putting the puck into an empty cage.

Canada would go on to score five unanswered goals though, accumulating to a 7-2 victory over Germany.

German goaltender Marvin Cupper made 23 saves on 30 shots.

Mantha was named Canada’s player of the game while Moser was given the honors for Germany.

Germany’s next game is Friday against Slovakia.

Brady Trettenero

Brady Trettenero

Writer and social/digital media for Hooked on Hockey Magazine. You can follow me on Twitter @BradyTrett.
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