Germany Advances to Face Slovakia in Quarterfinals After Victory Over France
MILAN – Leon Draisaitl continues to cement his legacy as arguably the greatest German-born hockey player of all time. With 1,036 NHL points and a Hart Trophy to his name, the Edmonton Oilers star led Team Germany to the quarterfinals of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 with a dominant 5-1 win against Team France at Santaguilia Arena. Germany will now face a tough challenge against Team Slovakia on Wednesday (6:10 a.m. ET; Peacock, CBC Gem, SN, RDS) with a coveted semifinal berth and a chance for a medal on the line.
Draisaitl’s Focus: The Team, Not Legacy
When questioned about what a medal would mean for his legacy, Draisaitl remained focused on the collective. “I’m thinking about our team,” he stated. “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 this is a special time. We’ve got a great opportunity.”
Key Moments from the Germany vs. France Match
Draisaitl opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period and added two assists, setting up Oilers prospect Josh Samanski and veteran Nico Sturm. Philipp Grubauer was stellar in net, making 30 saves to secure the victory. Tim Stutzle also contributed with two assists.
“Definitely a step in the right direction today,” Draisaitl commented, leading all skaters with 24:07 of ice time. “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.”
France’s Perspective and Bellemare’s Farewell
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored the lone goal for France, who finished the group stage without a win. Antoine Keller stepped in for Julian Junca, allowing three goals on 13 shots in the first period. Bellemare acknowledged Germany’s strength, stating, “We were playing against a good team. We were too defensive… We made mistakes and turnovers.”
The game marked Bellemare’s final international appearance for France. “To continue wearing this jersey, I had to reach the quarterfinals,” he said, reflecting on his career. “It’s a little difficult emotionally… I’m proud for everyone.”
Game Highlights
- First Period: Draisaitl (power play), Tiffels
- Second Period: Peterka (Germany), Bellemare (France)
- Third Period: Samanski (power play), Sturm (empty net)
Looking Ahead: Germany vs. Slovakia
Germany is anticipating a challenging matchup against Slovakia, a team that topped Group B, including victories over Sweden and Finland. Draisaitl emphasized the need for a strong start. “They’re a deep team,” he said. “They finished first in their group for a reason, and for us, it’s a matter of finding our game early and getting to it and staying stingy.”
Sturm highlighted Draisaitl’s exceptional skills, stating, “Leon’s puck-protection skills are probably the best in the League, and he has the ability to find players where there’s no seams… he makes like a cross-ice pass with his backhand.”
You can find more in-depth coverage of the Men’s Hockey action at the Olympic Winter Games here.
