Germany moved into the knockout round with hope and a chance to extend its run in Milan. The team played well in the qualifying game after the group stage but fell short in a game that would’ve taken them to the semifinals.
They had stars like Leon Draisaitl, but faced a Slovakia team that had secured a direct spot in the quarterfinals.
Leon Draisaitl Reacts After Germany’s Quarterfinal Exit at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Team Germany was eliminated from the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday following a 6-2 defeat to Slovakia in the quarterfinals. Draisaitl recorded an assist in the game and finished as Germany’s top scorer in the tournament, with 7 points.
Draisaitl had two goals and five assists across five games while taking on a major role in all situations. His play kept Germany in control of the quarterfinal game early, but Slovakia pulled away with a strong second period.
Slovakia opened the scoring late in the first period through Pavol Regenda and carried that momentum into the second. They added three more goals to take a clear lead before Germany responded. Lukas Reichel scored to cut the deficit, with Draisaitl picking up the assist on the play.
In the third period, Frederik Tiffels scored on the power play, but Slovakia answered again and sealed the game with an empty-net goal from Tomas Tatar.
After the loss, Draisaitl shared a message on Instagram on Thursday about the experience. “Not the tournament we had hoped for, but still an unforgettable experience filled with many great memories. Thank you, Milan! And thanks to everyone for your support.”
The Edmonton Oilers’ official account responded in the comments, writing, “Oil Country is proud of you, Leo,” in support of their forward.
Germany had shown promise earlier in the tournament, especially in a 5-1 win over France in the qualifying round. Draisaitl led that game with one goal and two assists while logging over 24 minutes of ice time. That win helped Germany reach the quarterfinal, but the next step proved difficult.
Draisaitl’s seven points set a national mark for a German player in an Olympic event that included NHL players. He had an impact in multiple games, including a goal just seconds into Germany’s opening win.
Draisaitl’s wife, Celeste Desjardins, also reacted after the game. She reposted a team update and wrote, “Proud of you, baby!”
Germany leaves the Olympics without a medal, but the tournament provided experience against top competition and showed where the team needs to improve going forward.
