United States Earns 3-1 Win vs. Germany at 2019 Hockey World Championships

The United States earned a crucial 3-1 win over Germany during Sunday play at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships behind third-period goals from Dylan Larkin and Jack Eichel. 

Frederik Tiffels scored Germany's lone goal, while James Van Riemsdyk also found the back of the net for the United States.

The victory at least temporarily put the United States atop Group A on 14 points and more importantly clinched its spot in the quarterfinals, as it went five points clear of fifth-place Slovakia with just one game remaining. With a tough matchup against Canada for the Americans on Tuesday, clinching their berth in the knockout phase ahead of time was huge.

Now, the United States will only be jockeying for final position in Group A and a favorable matchup in the quarters.

Sunday's game was no walk in the park for the United States, however.

Frederik Tiffels opened the game's scoring 12 minutes into the first period for Germany, burying his wrister after a sloppy turnover from the United States.

Leon Draisaitl was credited with the assist. 

Two minutes later, James Van Riemsdyk tipped a Clayton Keller shot into the net to even the contest.

The teams played even through the second period, with Mathias Niederberger making one of the saves of the tournament against United States superstar forward Jack Eichel.

That set up the United States' decisive third period. Ten minutes in, Larkin broke the deadlock after a beautiful centering feed from Van Riemsdyk.

Eichel would add an insurance goal with just over three minutes remaining, and the United States had their win.

Tuesday's game against Canada will still matter for positioning, but the Americans won't be desperately trying to qualify for the quarters, a situation they could have found themselves in with a loss. The Germans are sitting pretty as well.

Because fifth-place Slovakia can only get to 12 points—the number of points Germany already holds—the Germans cannot be knocked out of the tournament by Slovakia. Germany won the matchup between the teams, 3-2, and the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head matchup.

So like the Americans, the Germans are through to the quarters. Their final game against Finland on Tuesday will matter for positioning only. And with Finland already at 13 points and Canada holding the head-to-head tiebreaker on Slovakia, the four teams that will advance out of Group A are set. Only the seedings remain to be determined.