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The Czech Republic struggled to score in their win over Germany, mostly because of the play of Olaf Kolzig. |
Germans play Czechs tough,
but plan ahead
By Rich Libero | NHL.com
Feb. 15, 2006
TORINO, Italy - Ask any NHL general manager how to build a winning team and they will all tell you that it starts from the goal on out.
If that's the case, then Team Germany is off to a good start with Washington's Olaf Kolzig guarding their net. The monstrous goaltender (6-foot-3) has earned the nickname "Godzilla" and, as nice a guy as Kolzig is, he and his German teammates are hoping to smash some Olympic hopes to rubble.
The Czech Republic can tell you all about tangling with Kolzig and Co. The heavily favored Czechs squeaked through, 4-1, Wednesday in the opening match for both squads. That score isn't quite indicative of the game. The Czechs led 2-1 until late when Kolzig made a save that bounced off Sascha Goc and into the German net. The Czechs added an empty netter in the dying moments.
"We knew that if the Czechs weren't ready, we were
going to give them a game," Kolzig said.
Despite the Czechs saying they weren't ready, they still moved the puck with tremendous precision. But the Germans merely sat back and waited as the Czechs went through their usual puck possession game plan. For the Germans, that meant patience, which is something they rarely seem to lose.
"We stayed tight on the Czechs and didn't give them room," San Jose defenseman Christian Ehrhoff said.
But, Ehrhoff said, Germany faces a different challenge against Canada on Thursday.
"It's a different style," Ehrhoff said. "They shoot the puck in more where the Czechs don't shoot it in much, they like to carry it in. (The Canadians) shoot the puck more and you will get hit more and we're more suited to that style, I think."
The Germans went 3-0 during group play in the Salt Lake Olympics topping Austria, Latvia and Slovakia. They played the Canadians tight in the quarterfinals and that, along with Kolzig, gives them some confidence.
"It's always nice to know that when you make a mistake our goalie is going to be there to help us," Ehrhoff said.
Indeed he will. The Washington Capitals agree, having just signed Kolzig to a two-year contract extension. Despite playing for a young and struggling team, Kolzig recorded a 2-2-0 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
Overall, Kolzig is 15-22-0 with a 3.49 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Those numbers aren't spectacular until you consider that Kolzig has made 30 or more saves in 22 of 40 games this season and stopped more than 40 shots on three occasions.
So, it was business as usual when Kolzig turned aside 30 of 33 shots against the Czechs -- and that effort came despite feeling uncomfortable at the start of the game.
"I had trouble with my angles in warm-ups," Kolzig said. "The biggest adjustment was the blue line here is closer than in the NHL and when the puck goes back to the point it comes back at you pretty fast."
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Kolzig turned aside 30 of 33 shots against the Czechs.
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Despite his excellent effort against the Czechs, head coach Uwe Krupp, who played 729 NHL games and helped two teams win the Stanley Cup, is planning ahead. Thomas Greiss, who plays for Kolner Haie in Germany, will start against Canada.
"The games we are going to have to win are against Italy and Switzerland in order to get to the quarterfinals," Kolzig said.
So, Krupp will ask his team to play their best against the defending gold medalists without Godzilla on their side. It's a tall task and Germany may not win, but with Kolzig in net against Italy and Switzerland, their plan just might work.
"If you're not ready to play against us, we do work hard and we play with a lot of heart," Kolzig said.
And a good goalie.
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