Why not Germany?
Germany has reached the quarterfinals for the first time since the current tournament format was adopted in 1996. It's something few would have expected, especially when it played its first three games with 14 skaters because of coronavirus issues. It's game against Switzerland on Wednesday was the first time Germany had a full roster, dressing 12 forwards and seven defensemen.
But Germany players have worn their belief on their chests -- literally, wearing shirts that said, "Why Not Us?"
"I have a Canadian friend and I was talking to him, and we were talking about our roster, and I said, 'What do you think about our roster?'" Germany coach Tobias Abstreiter said. "He said, 'You can be a good surprise for the tournament.' And I said, 'Yeah, for sure it will be a surprise, so why not us?'"
He had the shirts ready for the players when they arrived in Edmonton.
"For the guys, for the players, it's a great symbol to always believe in themselves and in our team identity," Abstreiter said.
The players have worn them proudly and have relished their underdog role.
"That's our slogan, 'Why not us?'" said captain
Tim Stuetzle
, selected by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 3 pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. "I think we can work very hard, and if we work hard as a team, why not us in the quarterfinals? It's special to us. ... I think they totally fit our work ethic."
Sweden not concerned about streak
Before losing 4-3 in overtime to Russia on Wednesday, the last time Sweden had lost a game in the preliminary round was Dec. 31, 2006. The 54-game winning streak in the round robin, though, wasn't a big deal to the players.
"Doesn't matter," Sweden captain
Philip Broberg
(Edmonton Oilers) said. "We're here to win gold. That's what everybody is focused on. Doesn't matter in group play."
Since the streak began at the 2007 WJC, Sweden has won the tournament once, in 2012, and lost in the championship game five times.
Coach Joel Ronnmark said the streak hasn't been part of any conversations he's had with the players.
"We haven't focused at all on anything with that," he said. "We lost this game. We always want to win. When we go into the game that's the goal. ... Tonight we lost and it is what it is."
Ronnmark said there were some positives Sweden can take into its game against the United States on Thursday (6 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
Broberg said the end of the streak could become a positive.
"This is going to make us stronger and hopefully get us better for tomorrow," he said.
Lundell continues to excel for Finland
Finland captain
Anton Lundell
(Florida Panthers) said he's heard the criticism that his offensive upside could be limited. But he's never doubted his ability to produce.
Lundell scored one goal and assisted on two others Wednesday in Finland's 6-0 win against Slovakia. His six points (three goals, three assists) in three games are tied with defenseman Top Niemela (Toronto Maple Leafs) for the team lead.
That goes along with the 12 goals he scored in 17 games with HIFK in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland. He's tied for second in the league in goals despite last playing Dec. 1.
"I had trust in myself," Lundell said. "I know I can score goals and points so it's not like something I am wondering about. I have had a good season behind me now and it feels good to play."
