The defending champs remain unstoppable so far. With an impressive 5-0 victory over Germany on Monday, the Czechs extended their winning streak at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship to six games.

It's fueling optimism that a repeat of last year's wild gold-medal celebrations in Prague could be in store. Coach Radim Rulik's men haven't trailed or conceded a point since the 5-4 overtime win over Switzerland on Day One in Herning.



Superstar David Pastrnak sparked the attack with a goal and an assist. Jakub Flek shone with two goals, while Lukas Sedlak and Jakub Lauko also scored. Captain Roman Cervenka, who had a hat trick in his 100th career WM game versus Kazakhstan, and Martin Necas added two assists apiece. Pastrnak and Cervenka are tied for the tournament scoring lead (5+7=12).

It was a battle of second-string netminders. Czechia's Daniel Vladar got the shutout versus Germany's Mathias Niederberger as final shots favoured the Czechs 25-19.

Nodding toward Vladar in the post-game mixed zone, Necas said: "I think this guy right here is playing great."

With 17 points, Czechia is dueling Switzerland for first place in Group B. Barring a massive Kazakhstan upset over the Swiss on Tuesday, the Czechs will need a win (either in regulation or overtime) over the Americans later that day to sew it up.

"This was good preparation for tomorrow," Necas said. "I think today was a good game, and tomorrow is going to be an important game as well."

The Germans, who have lost three straight games, got a stern wake-up call ahead of their Tuesday showdown with host Denmark to determine the last quarter-final berth in Group B. With a tad more puck luck, this one could have been closer, but coach Harald Kreis and his troops played second fiddle all game long.

German forward Maximilian Kastner said no extra impetus was needed to face the Danes: "I think if somebody is not motivated by himself to play for the quarter-finals, then maybe he should leave the team! But I think everybody on our team is motivated and doesn't need the extra push. Everybody can push themselves to play the best game."

The fast pace from puck drop saw both teams buoyed by tremendous fan support. While the hopping Czech fans were in the majority, the German fans compensated with their relentless football-style cheering.

At 5:54, Pastrnak drew first blood just 24 seconds into the first Czech power play with thirteenth German forward Manuel Wiederer off for interference. Cervenka and Martin Necas deftly set the Boston Bruins sniper up for a wicked one-timer from the left faceoff circle. It was his fifth goal of the tournament.

"I think it's important," Necas said. "Power plays, special teams, they decide games in the playoffs. So you've got to keep working on that. I think we're finding the way, and we've just got to keep going."

Coming hard, Czechia dominated early puck possession. The Germans didn’t register a shot on goal until nearly halfway through the first. But Germany made a last-minute push that saw Dominik Kahun ring the puck off Vladar’s right post on a give-and-go play with Wojciech Stachowiak.

Nearing the five-minute mark of the second period, Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle dangled through the Czech defence and hit the iron. German frustration was understandable. Stutzle has been limited to two assists in four games to date.

"Maybe if those two posts go in, maybe it's a little bit different," Kastner said. "But we also have to capitalize on the power play. We've got to watch this game again and learn from our mistakes."

The canny Czechs doubled their lead at 6:43. Sedlak sped around the German defence for a close-in chance and Niederberger denied Pastrnak's follow-up. But "Pasta" didn't give up on the play, retrieving the puck and dishing it again to Sedlak, who this time made no mistake high to the stick side.

Flek made it 3-0 on the rush at 9:07, taking a cross-ice pass from Daniel Vozenilek and slinging a fantastic shot from the right faceoff circle past the German netminder.

Just 43 seconds into the third period, Lauko potted the fourth Czech goal on a tough break for Detroit Red Wings star Moritz Seider. The German captain blew a tire while skating backwards in his zone and lost the puck while sliding into Niederberger. Lauko, Pastrnak's Boston teammate, gobbled it up and roofed it.

In this style of game, it was clear that there would be no dramatic bounceback for Deutschland. The main remaining question was whether Vladar would hold on to his shutout. The answer was yes. Flek rounded out the scoring with 3:20 left.

Kastner summed up what Germany needs to change against the Danes: "Tomorrow the less mistakes you make, the better chances you have."

This was the fifth consecutive Czech WM win over Germany. The Germans last won 2-0 on 3 May 2007. Michael Wolf led the way with a goal and an assist and German goalie Dmitri Kotschnew outdueled the late Roman Cechmanek, earning a 21-save shutout.