Juraj Slafovsky with Washington Capitals (Via Getty Images)
With Germany routing France earlier tonight, the Olympic Quarterfinals are looking clearer than ever. Leon Draisaitl, despite the scare from the last game, was able to book his side’s ticket against the Slovaks, who have been the biggest dark horse in this tournament.Both sides boast some of the best names in the game, with Slovakia’s Juraj Slafkovsky giving guys like Connor McDavid a run for his money. Wednesday will see the knockout game unfold with both teams in red-hot form and eager to get that Podium Finish.
Germany depends on Leon Draisaitl’s brilliance to lead them to the semifinals
Germany rode Draisaitl’s brilliance past France in the qualification round, with the Oilers captain recording a goal and two assists in a dominant 5-1 win. He became the first German NHL player to record a three-point game at the Olympics and has six points in four games alongside Tim Stutzle, who is tied for the tournament lead in goals with four.Slovakia arrives having clinched Group B on goal differential despite a 5-3 loss to Sweden in their final game. Slafkovsky has been nothing short of spectacular, taking his place among the tournament’s elite performers with three goals and three assists in three games.Draisaitl enters Wednesday’s game fully locked in after an uneven preliminary round. Germany dropped two of three group games before their captain flipped the switch against France, barking orders at teammates and commanding the ice for more than 24 minutes.Coach Harold Kreis deployed Draisaitl, Stutzle, and JJ Peterka on the same line against France to devastating effect. Germany converted two power-play goals in the win and appears ready to challenge for a medal if that trio continues producing at this level.Slafovsky is the engine that makes Slovakia tick. Forward Dalibor Dvorsky has provided crucial support with four points in three games, while defenseman Martin Gernat contributes offensively from the blue line.The statistical gap in penalties tells an important story heading into Wednesday’s game. Slovakia has accumulated 30 penalty minutes through the preliminary round, while Germany leads the tournament in discipline alongside Czechia with just 16 minutes in the box.Slovakia’s penalty kill has absorbed the damage at 83.33 percent efficiency, but facing Draisaitl, Stutzle, and Moritz Seider on the power play represents a different challenge entirely. Germany’s disciplined approach could prove the decisive edge.Draisaitl acknowledged Slovakia’s quality directly after the France win, calling them a deep team that finished first in their group for a reason. Germany has won both previous Olympic meetings with Slovakia, but this quarterfinal, with a semifinal berth on the line, figures to be decided by the finest of margins.