France Edges Germany at the 2016 World Championships

Igor Burdetskiy May 7, 2016

0 1 minute read

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - MAY 7: France's Cristobal Huet #39 reaches to stop a shootout attempt from Germany's Tobias Rieder #8 during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Championship. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Damien Fleury scored the shootout winner, snapping the puck high to the glove side of German goalie Timo Pielmeier. German captain Marcel Goc got a final attempt, but was pokechecked by France’s Cristobal Huet.

“It was good for me to score,” said Fleury. “I had a lot of pressure since I wasn’t scoring a lot during training camp, so this goal was great for my confidence.”

Working the kinks out, France prevailed despite taking a whopping three penalties for too many men on the ice.

It was a fine goaltending duel between Huet, the first Frenchman to hoist the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, and Pielmeier, a former prospect of the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. Germany outshot France 29-23.

In regulation time, Damien Raux and Valentin Claireaux scored for France.

Felix Schutz had a goal and an assist, and Tobias Rieder also scored for Germany. Philip Gogulla chipped in a pair of assists.

“It was a battle,” Rieder said. “We couldn’t get much going early in the game, and made a lot of mistakes, especially in the first. That led to turnovers and odd-man rushes against. We have to clean that up in our game.”

The Germans are looking to improve on their 10th place finish from last year. France came 12th in 2015.

The French got a huge man advantage opportunity in overtime when defenceman Moritz Muller was sent off for closing his hand on the puck at 1:12. But they couldn’t capitalize as defenders like Ehrhoff and Denis Reul courageously blocked shots.

“It was a tough game,” said Claireaux. “We’ve been playing strong defensively, and we were lucky to score a couple of goals, but Huet has been playing really strong in the net. It was good to get a win tonight.”

This was the tenth World Championship meeting between France and Germany, dating back to 1934, and it’s a very even rivalry. The result improved France’s all-time record to five wins and five losses.

The 2017 IIHF World Championship will take place in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany (5-21 May).

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Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine

I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!