Draisaitl Leads Germany into Showdown as germany vs slovakia hockey Quarterfinal Looms at 6:10 a.m. ET
Leon Draisaitl delivered a three-point performance as Germany cruised past France 5-1 to reach the quarterfinals at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Germany will meet Slovakia on Wednesday at 6: 10 a. m. ET, with a spot in the semifinals and a chance to compete for a medal at stake.
How Germany took control
Germany stamped its authority early, building a 3-0 lead in the first period. Draisaitl opened the scoring with a power-play one-timer at 3: 40 of the opening frame, converting a slick backhand feed to put the Germans ahead. Frederik Tiffels made it 2-0 at 10: 54, banking a shot off the French netminder’s mask, and JJ Peterka capped the first-period outburst at 18: 13 with a crafty backhand finish after a feed from Tim Stutzle.
Philipp Grubauer stood tall in goal with 30 saves to blunt France’s faint rally; Stutzle finished with two assists and Draisaitl led all skaters with 24: 07 of ice time. Draisaitl also assisted on goals by Josh Samanski and Nico Sturm, underpinning a balanced attack that was organized and aggressive without overcomplicating the game plan.
France finally got on the board in the second when veteran Pierre-Edouard Bellemare deflected a puck off a German defender to make it 3-1, but Germany reasserted control and shut the door defensively for the remainder of the game. The French goaltending situation shifted after the first period, with a relief netminder making 21 saves, but the Germans had already done the bulk of their damage.
After the win, Draisaitl emphasized the team focus that has driven Germany through the early rounds: "I'm thinking about our team. 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. "
Preview: germany vs slovakia hockey — what to watch Wednesday
Wednesday’s quarterfinal presents a markedly different challenge. Slovakia, one of the teams that earned a direct berth to the last eight through strong group-stage play, poses a physical and opportunistic test. Their top-end talent can flip a tight game in an instant, and Germany will need to match speed with structure while maintaining the puck discipline that paid off against France.
Tactically, Germany’s success will hinge on limiting turnovers in their own zone and sustaining pressure on Slovakia’s top forwards. Draisaitl’s ability to draw attention and create space for linemates like Stutzle and Peterka will be critical; if Germany can sustain its power play and keep Grubauer calm between the pipes, they’ll be in a strong position to control tempo.
Slovakia’s leaders are capable of changing momentum with one sequence, so Germany cannot afford lapses. Draisaitl himself noted the tournament is narrowing and competition intensifying: "It's going to get harder; the tournament is getting smaller, and it's getting harder each and every round, so teams are going to get better. We know that. We're aware of that. We’ve got a big task ahead of us tomorrow, so today was a good step. And, yeah, well, we'll get ready for tomorrow. "
Stakes and storyline
The winner of germany vs slovakia hockey moves into the semifinals and remains alive for an Olympic medal — an outcome that would amplify the tournament legacy for Germany and its NHL stars. For Slovakia, progression would validate its group-stage form and set up even bigger clashes in the medal rounds.
For neutral viewers and hockey purists, Wednesday’s 6: 10 a. m. ET start promises a high-intensity, strategically rich game: an established NHL star in Draisaitl and a hungry German squad against a well-rounded Slovak side. Expect physical play, quick transitions, and moments where individual brilliance decides a tightly contested quarterfinal.
