Ice Hockey World Cup group stage, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 4:20 p.m.
Captain Moritz Seider’s early own goal against Kazakhstan did not rattle the “Eagles.” After the weekend, it is clear that the DEB selection remains undefeated at the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship.
According to my Germany vs. Norway prediction, this will remain the case for the time being. The Scandinavians are no match for their northern neighbors when it comes to puck control and skating skills.
Germany delivered exactly what was expected of them in their opening game of the Ice Hockey World Championship – and perhaps even a little more.
The difference in class was evident from the start against Hungary, even if the first goal took a while to come.
In the end, the scoreboard showed a convincing 6-1, and that was without J. J. Peterka, who is normally one of the most important offensive players in the DEB selection.
The fact that they scored half a dozen goals without him shows how deep and consistent the squad is this year.
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The next day saw a somewhat tougher game against Kazakhstan, but that was also successfully won 4-1. A classic must-win game that you just take without burning too much energy – even if it was difficult at times!
Two games, six points – and, above all, a goal difference of 10:2. That’s impressive and shows that Germany is defensively solid and capable of striking when the gaps open up.
And things are set to get even better in the future: Tim Stützle, the star of the Ottawa Senators, has joined the World Championship and could now be on the ice against Norway from the start.
The situation is quite different for the Norwegians, who on paper should actually be considered a tough opponent. But so far, they don’t seem to be the team that could surprisingly advance to the quarterfinals.
That was precisely what German betting companies had secretly predicted in the run-up to the tournament.
They suffered a completely unexpected defeat against Kazakhstan in their opening game, which is likely to have dented their confidence and self-belief.
And against the Czech Republic, reality came crashing back with a vengeance – no points, no structure, no clear game plan – even if the 1-2 defeat against the world champions does not look dramatic on paper.
Norway currently looks like a team in transition, which is hardly surprising given the absences. Mats Zuccarello is not there, nor are several up-and-coming talents from North America.
The retirement of Patrick Thoresen, who was the face of this team for many years, also weighs heavily.
And Jonas Arntzen now has to take over in goal – not a bad man, but not one with the charisma of Henrik Haukeland.
Overall, the Norwegian team lacks experience, depth and, perhaps most importantly, a clear plan. In a group with teams like the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany, that’s a problem.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, there is a lot to be said for the DEB selection at first glance – not least the 5-1 victory in the last meeting between the two teams at a World Championship around four years ago.
The German team also looks extremely well-rehearsed after just a few days of competition, and the mix of experience and talent seems to be working particularly well this year.
GER is the clear favorite among the top-rated betting providers offering Apple Pay as a payment option – and that’s entirely justified. If you want to keep it simple, go for the classic 1X2 bet on Germany at odds of 1.35 to 1.40.
You can get a little more value with a win after regular time, i.e. “Germany -1.5” or directly “Germany -2.5,” which could earn you odds of up to 2.50 in the best case scenario.
This also makes sense from a gaming perspective, as the Norwegians currently seem too harmless to pose a serious threat to the German defense.
Another option: “1st period: GER win with HC -0.5” – because the Eagles may want to get the job done in the opening period. This bet is in the range of 1.92 or higher.
On the other hand, if you’re more into goal bets, you could also check out “Over/Under 5.5.” The “Over” currently pays around 1.72 and also seems solid. Norway should only be able to contribute a maximum of one goal to the final score.
Bottom line: The momentum is clearly on Germany’s side. The Norwegians are currently swimming in their own uncertainty, while Germany is showing confidence, team spirit, and a clear plan.
I don’t expect a surprise victory for the Scandinavians. Rather, I see a game that Team Germany will control for long stretches and ultimately win by at least two goals.
“GER win -1.5” is a fair choice, and those who like to be a little more speculative can bet on ‘Germany to win to nil’ – a bet with appeal given Norway’s current slump.
My tip: Germany to win with a handicap of -1.5
