Germany only has seven NHL players on its roster, with forwards JJ Peterka (Utah Mammoth), Lukas Reichel (Vancouver Canucks) and Nico Sturm (Minnesota Wild) and goalie Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), joining Draisaitl, Seider and Stutzle.
But U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk says with Germany, it’s a matter of quality, not quantity.
“They definitely have the most, I would say, NHL stars on their team, guys you definitely have to look out for — an NHL goalie, a No. 1 defenseman, some really good forwards,” Tkachuk said. “I’m sure they’re going to give us a really good game as well. Our goal here is to come in and win the group, really just take it one game at a time here. Win this one tomorrow is the goal whether it’s 2-1, 1-0, whatever it takes. But I think we can get comfortable in those games and we have been.”
U.S. forward Dylan Larkin knows Seider well, since they are teammates on the Red Wings. He plays against Stutzle in the Atlantic Division, and everyone knows Draisaitl.
“I think those three players are guys we are going to have to watch out for,” Larkin said. “But there are guys there that are going to battle. They’re going to play defensive. But also, we take penalties and give them chances, they are going to capitalize.”
Larkin said though the U.S. knows about the different scenarios with goal differential and standings points, they just need to play their game.
“Well, of course you think about it,” Larkin said. “But winning is the probably the most important. We take care of our business tomorrow, we play our game, we’re going to be in a good spot and that’s that.”
