The direction is right. Germany's national ice hockey team secures a good starting position for the targeted route to the quarter-finals at the start of the World Cup. The team spirit seems improved compared to the Olympics, the NHL trio with the strong Grubauer gives a boost.

Returned will, renewed passion and the former Stanley Cup winner Philipp Grubauer strengthen the belief in the Olympic reparations. With the NHL goalie as the trump card, the start of the World Cup for the German ice hockey team is optimistic. The 2-1 win against Slovakia, who took part in the Olympics, in Helsinki on Saturday was a first, important step on the long road to the quarter-finals. Against outsiders France, the next win is on Monday (7.20 p.m. / Sport1, MagentaSport and in the ntv.de live ticker).

"To look towards the quarter-finals, it's always a good sign when you win against Slovakia," said Marcel Noebels from champions Berlin on Sunday: "It's important that after the win and the euphoria we continue where we left off If Grubi holds up like that, we have a chance to score points every game."

After the 3:5 against the strong record world champion Canada, the Olympic tenth showed a reaction with the outstanding Grubauer and team spirit. Another defeat would have increased the pressure before the decisive preliminary round games. "That was extremely important. Of course it also helps the mood. It's a boost in self-confidence, we can use that," said captain Moritz Müller and warned: "You can't make any mistakes now. The three points are only worth something if we get something against France."

The fact that the win came in regulation time (three points) instead of overtime or in a shootout (two) can make a big difference at the end of the group stage. Along with Canada and Switzerland, the Slovaks are supposedly the strongest opponents in their group and a direct competitor for the quarter-finals. "Taking three points from them helps immensely," said Müller. NHL star defender Moritz Seider said: "It was extremely important, but we knew that."

There is hope that the ninth in the world rankings will appear at the beginning of this World Cup with a better team spirit than three months ago in Beijing and a boost thanks to the NHL professionals. In any case, there was nothing to be seen of such a bad performance against Slovakia as at the sobering Winter Games. "From the goalkeeper to the fourth line of attack, everyone did a really good job," said national coach Toni Söderholm. The 44-year-old sounded enthusiastic.

For Söderholm, the second World Cup game was "pretty close" to his ideal. "It was almost the fastest game I've seen with the national team in my last few years," said the Finn. had taken over at the end of 2018. The 0: 4 against the Slovaks as an Olympic low point was the first major setback under him after the association had finally felt at the top of the world after just missing out on the 2021 World Cup medal.

Compared to Beijing, the NHL trio with Seider, exceptional striker Tim Stützle and Grubauer can make a decisive difference. "There's shots on goal and you're like, 'Fuck me.' And he's laughing his ass off. It's just a dream to watch," enthused Eisbären striker Leo Pföderl von Grubauer. The Mannheim veteran Matthias Plachta, like Pföderl a goal scorer against Slovakia, paid tribute to the goalkeeper: "Our goalkeeper played unreal. He managed to get one or two impossible goals out of it."

But team performance and morale were also right and can be key factors. The rejuvenated squad had already shown character against defending champions Canada when they fought back after a 1:5 draw. After the Slovakia game, Seider spoke of an "incredible team spirit" on the substitutes' bench. "We have a good squad. It's fun. We can really achieve a lot if we want to," said Noebels.

France is taking part in the World Cup as outsiders. The world number 13. Playing along only because Russia and Belarus were suspended as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine. "You have to keep in mind where they come from. They want to prove themselves. Many will say they don't belong here," said Söderholm. The 44-year-old also recalled the sentence he said after the good end against Canada: "If you think it's going to continue like this, you have a problem."