A Nail‑Biter in the Preliminary Round
The U.S. Men's National Team fought back from an early deficit to defeat Germany 4-3 in a shootout during the preliminary round of the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.
Moritz Seider opened the scoring for Germany just a minute into the contest, but Isaac Howard answered for the United States at 14:33 to level the game at 1-1. Max Sasson later put the U.S. ahead 2-1 in the second period, only for Frederik Tiffels to tie it at 2-2 before Marc Michaelis restored the German lead.
Tommy Novak tied the contest at 3-3 in the third period, forcing the game into a shootout. Ryan Leonard capped the night by converting the decisive penalty, while goaltender Devin Cooley turned in 31 saves to preserve the lead.
With the victory, the United States will next face Latvia on May 23, a matchup that could determine the final standings in Group B.
Coach Mike Sullivan praised the team's resilience, noting that the depth of talent from both the NHL and college circuits contributed to the win. Players such as Alex Steeves, Max Sasson, and Ryan Leonard stepped up when it mattered most.