Germany scored three first-period goals and chased Japanese starting goalie Miyuu Masuhara en route to a 5-2 win on Saturday in Group B action. It's Germany's first win of the 2026 Olympic women's hockey tournament.

Assistant captain Laura Kluge racked up a goal and three assists. Nicole Hadraschek stepped up with two goals and an assist, while captain Daria Gleissner and Emily Nix had a goal and an assist apiece for Germany.

"It feels very good," said German defender Ronja Hark. "Of course, after the last game, we struggled a little bit. But today, we came out perfect, and that's a win for us."
 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by IIHF Women’s Worlds (@iihfwomen)

For Japan, Mei Miura had a goal and an assist and Yumeka Wajima added a single. This was a step back after a gutsy 3-2 win over France the day before.

"They got a quick one on us at the start of the game," said Japanese assistant captain Akane Hosoyamada." I think that's what really put us apart through the game. We fought better in the second and third, and I think we did a good job. Still, we need to come out harder at the start."

German goalie Sandra Abstreiter made 20 saves for her first Olympic win. Both Germany and Japan are known for their hard-working, tight-checking style, but coach Jeff MacLeod's squad executed with more efficiency here, firing 29 shots and earning an important three points after falling 4-1 to Sweden on Day One.

Germany drew first blood at 0:44 with good teamwork. Kluge, a 29-year-old Berlin-born forward who has one assist in 13 games for the PWHL's Boston Fleet this year, broke over the Japanese blue line on left wing and sent the puck back to Luisa Welcke. The twin sister of Lilli Welcke cut into the slot and fired a high shot on Masuhara, and Gleissner was right in front to bang in the rebound.

"The game against Sweden was pretty physical and we had just 15 shots," Gleissner said. "So our goal was putting pucks on the net and attacking the net, getting the rebounds and playing hard in front. It worked out for us."

Nix doubled the German lead at 8:44, cutting hard from the left side across the slot and knifing a backhander past Masuhara’s left pad.

Unable to cash in on their first power play, the Germans kept on coming. Hadraschek exploited Japan’s defensive-zone bobbling of the puck to score from the high slot and make it 3-0.

Japanese backup goalie Riko Kawaguchi took over from Masuhara in net to start the second period. She made a miscue on Hadraschek's second goal at 5:24, as the puck deflected up in the air off her blocker and trickled over the goal line.

At 10:30, the Germans notched their fifth goal on a quick break. Celina Haider outmuscled defender Kanami Seki to send a one-handed pass across to Kluge, who went bar down.

Hark praised Kluge: '​"She's really important for our team. She brings a lot of speed and skill. I think she helps us a lot. Our team's level comes up a lot with her."

The Japanese fans finally got a chance to cheer with 3:15 left in the middle frame when Miura tipped Aoi Shiga's centre point shot in on the power play. Just 22 seconds later, Yumeka Wajima converted a rebound to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Germans settled things down in a scoreless third period, including a late penalty kill, to secure the victory.

Both teams get Sunday off. On Monday, the Japanese face host Italy, while Germany takes on winless France.

Hosoyamada assessed her team's prospects: '"The physicality in the game was a lot more today than yesterday, so it was about getting used to that, and then I think we got better as the game went on. From the start against Italy, we've got to have that physicality and maybe have more patience with the puck, create those passing lanes. We've got to support each other more."

Germany boasts a perfect Olympic record versus Japan. Their only two previous meetings were at the 2014 Winter Games, with Germany winning 4-0 and 3-2. Tanja Eisenschmid, the older sister of Nicola Hadraschek, played defence for Germany at that tournament.

The Germans achieved their best Olympic result – fifth place – in Turin, Italy 20 years ago. The Japanese have peaked at sixth place in three of their four previous Olympics (1998, 2018, 2022).