Photo: Heike Feiner/eishockey-online.com

Hershey Bear and Team Germany goalie Philipp Grubauer shut out Team Russia in a pre-World Championship exhibition game. The Germans won 3-0.

Both Alex Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov sat out (Ovechkin’s absence was described as part of an “acclimatization and adaptation” period by the team’s spokesman), while Orlov’s omission from the line-up seemed to be a part of the rotation process that comes from having 30 players (27 skaters) on the roster. Evgeny Kuznetsov played on the team’s second line.

Grubauer has yet to play in an official game for the national team. After the game, thanked his team for support.

“This was a great team performance,” Grubauer said. “Everyone helped. It was important that we had good defense. It was not so easy to come into play because there is a difference between playing on a small or large ice surface. But it was a good start and we can build on it.”

With the Germany win, the teams have split a two game series.

The teams will meet on a preliminary stage of a World Championship on Sunday, May 18th. The tournament will begin on May 9th.

Photo: Deutsche Eishockey-Bund