Slovak shocker

Germans pull off big Group A upset by beating Slovakia 3-0

Marc Seliger led Germany to the 3-0 upset victory by making 29 saves. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (AP) -- Marc Seliger stopped 29 shots and German pro league teammate Jurgen Rumrich scored a short-handed goal as Germany pulled off an upset at the Olympic hockey tournament, beating Slovakia 3-0 Saturday.

Jan Benda added a power play goal as Germany's special teams scored twice against goalie Pavol Rybar in a pivotal second period, making the Germans the front-runners to advance from their four-team pool into final-round play.

Klaus Kathan added a late empty-net goal in Germany's best Olympic performance since it nearly upset silver medalist Canada in Albertville in 1992.

"We had four lines going and they barely had three," said Marco Sturm, the lone NHLer in the German lineup. "They seemed tired and we took advantage of it. Our chances are very good now -- two more games to go."

The Germans' 1-4 defensive trap only works if you get the lead, so it was important for them to score that first goal and get Slovakia on its heels. Once Germany got the lead, it made it very difficult for Slovakia to get any kind of offense going. With Slovakia being tired, undermanned and really just thrown together at the last minute, it had nothing to fall back on once it got down a couple of goals. Click here for more from Eliot.

It was a discouraging loss for Slovakia, which has by far the most NHL players at its disposal of the eight preliminary round teams and was favored to move into the medal round.

"If you're not going to score a goal, you're not going to win a game," said Slovakian winger Lubos Bartecko of the Atlanta Thrashers. "The bottom line is you have to score goals to win the game and they did. It was a tough loss for us. It was tough mentally, especially coming from the NHL. It was different. It was not what I was expecting."

But even with NHL forwards Miroslav Satan of the Sabres, Ziggy Palffy of the Kings, Michal Handzus of the Coyotes and Bartecko in their lineup after general manager Peter Stastny persuaded their teams to let them play, Slovakia could not solve Seliger.

"I knew I had to play solidly, but it was a team effort and not just the play of one person that decided this game," said Seliger.

Rumrich, who plays with Seliger for Nurnberg in German's top pro league, turned the game by stealing the puck at the blue line 30 seconds into the second period and beating Rybar with a left-handed shot to the stick side just as he slid past the net.

Benda added a wrist shot through traffic at 7:03, allowing Germany to play conservatively and rely on Seliger's strong play. Seliger made a series of big saves in the third period, including a glove-hand stop of Handzus at 17:20.

"You cannot be scared of the NHL players or you're beat from the outset. We tried to keep within our system and give them as few chances as possible. It worked to near perfection," said German forward Mark MacKay, who was born in Canada.

Germany could pick up Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig and Red Wings defenseman Uwe Krupp if it advances. Germany has preliminary round games remaining against Latvia and Austria.

"We have to continue," said Mackay. "It could be one-day happiness. One day doesn't make a tournament, that is for sure. We've come a long way. ... Now we are just trying to build on that."

Goaltending was seen as Slovakia's biggest weakness -- it has no NHL-caliber players at the position -- but a bigger problem was its perceived strength: goal scoring. Slovakia -- a disappointing 10th in Nagano in 1998 -- was expected to add NHL players Peter Bondra, Pavol Demitra and Marian Hossa as the Olympics progressed, but seems likely to be eliminated.

"We just have to keep our head up," Bartecko said. "It's one game. Latvia is a better team than Germany, so the next game is going to be even tougher for us to compete and be stronger mentally."

The Slovaks also slotted in Palffy who was not supposed to play even though he dressed for the game and sat on the bench for the first period.

"We were behind and we needed to use anyone who bring bring in some new ideas [to the offense]," said Slovak coach Jan Filc of his decision to renege on the deal with the Kings.

Though it is only the first game of the tournament, the loss puts Slovakia firmly in the position of having to play catch-up if it is to take top spot in Group A and advance to the final round.

"The rules may not be so fair in that we are already a little behind, but they are the same for everyone. We have to put this game behind us and make sure we win our next two," said Satan.

 

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