Michelle Karvinen scores Finland's winner over Switzerland and reaches a national record 61 Women's World Championship points in her career.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / Andrea Cardin
A record-breaking goal from Michelle Karvinen fired Finland to victory at the end of its 2025 Women’s World Championship group stage campaign. A 2-1 verdict over Switzerland made it back-to-back wins for the Finns, who end with six points in Group A.
Captain Karvinen, 35, becomes her country’s all-time leading scorer in Women’s World Championship play, moving to 61 (24+37) points thanks to her second-period effort in Monday’s game in Ceske Budejovice.
The big moment came in the 28th minute. Noora Tulus fired in a shot from the right-hand circle and Karvinen used her presence in front of the net to hold off Laure Meriguet and stuff the rebound past Saskia Maurer.
“It’s ironic,” Karvinen reflected. “One of the first things I was taught as a kid was to go to the net and something good will happen.
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“At first, I was thinking ‘is that going to be the record?’ But, then again, it’s hockey. Those are the goals you need and we won the game because of that goal. I’ll take that!”
Team-mate Ronja Savolainen led the tributes to Karvinen and her record-breaking career. “She’s been working hard for this,” the defender said. “She’s a great human being and as a hockey player she’s amazing. Every time, she does everything for the team to get a win, and she did that again today.
“I’m so proud of her, she really deserves this. And I’m sure we’ll celebrate her tomorrow.”
Karvinen’s goal put Finland up 2-0 after the first period saw Suomi’s penalty kill at its best. Three times, Switzerland got on the power play, and three times the Finns held on. And it got better: the opening goal also came for a shorthanded Suomi on 10:13. Jenniina Nylund chipped a clearance that turned into a stretch pass. Nicole Vallario’s despairing leap could not reach the puck and Savolainen pounced, showing fine skills to control it at speed before slipping it through Maurer’s five-hole to claim her second marker in Ceske Budejovice.
It's not often a defender scores a shorthanded goal on the breakaway, as Savolainen noted. “When I saw it was a break I was thinking ‘Holy [cow], why am I here?’ But I blocked the shot and I was like ‘let’s go!’. Nyland took the puck and I thought ‘I’ll try my luck and maybe she’ll see me.’ Then she made a good little flip up and I took it in. I saw the five-hole was open so it was easy to put it in there.”
Swiss frustrations were enhanced by the fact that moments earlier Emilia Kyrkko made a big save on the doorstep, denying Kaleigh Quennec after a neat interchange of passes with Rahel Enzler. That extended Switzerland’s goalless run at this tournament after it was blanked by Czechia and Canada in its first two games.
The curse was lifted midway through the second period, shortly after Karvinen’s big moment. Alina Muller stepped off the bench and got right into the play. She collected the puck just inside the Finnish zone and accelerated towards the net, leaving Savolainen chasing shadows before rifling a wrister past Kyrkko from between hash marks. That ended a 149-minute goal drought in this competition and breathed new life into the game.
“I came right from the bench and the puck came basically towards me, and there was a lot of free ice,” Muller said. “I tried to go outside a few times. Didn't work, so I tried to cut to the middle.”
Muller’s partnership with Laura Zimmermann was a constant threat. The pair combined to send the Swiss scorer clear midway through the third period. Kyrkko kept the chance out, but Muller drew a foul from Karvinen and then tested the Finnish goalie a gain with a fierce one-timer on the power play.
However, there was no way back for Switzerland. And after nine unsuccessful power plays, goalscorer Muller admitted things need to improve.
“We definitely need more pressure toward the net and more shots,” she said. “I’ve got to find a way to get the puck to the net.
“Otherwise, it’s okay. We’ve got to stay patient. It’s happened to us before. But again, we’ve just got to believe that when it matters, we’re going to deliver.”
After losing its first three games, the Swiss go on to play the USA tomorrow in its final preliminary round action. Finland has two days to rest and prepare for its quarter final.
Captain Karvinen, 35, becomes her country’s all-time leading scorer in Women’s World Championship play, moving to 61 (24+37) points thanks to her second-period effort in Monday’s game in Ceske Budejovice.
That puts her clear of Riikka Sallinen and Jenni Hiirikoski, both of whom have 60 points for their country. She’s also just one behind Sallinen’s record of 25 goals.
The big moment came in the 28th minute. Noora Tulus fired in a shot from the right-hand circle and Karvinen used her presence in front of the net to hold off Laure Meriguet and stuff the rebound past Saskia Maurer.
“It’s ironic,” Karvinen reflected. “One of the first things I was taught as a kid was to go to the net and something good will happen.
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SWITZERLAND V. FINLAND
GAME HIGHLIGHTS | CONDENSED GAME
“At first, I was thinking ‘is that going to be the record?’ But, then again, it’s hockey. Those are the goals you need and we won the game because of that goal. I’ll take that!”
Team-mate Ronja Savolainen led the tributes to Karvinen and her record-breaking career. “She’s been working hard for this,” the defender said. “She’s a great human being and as a hockey player she’s amazing. Every time, she does everything for the team to get a win, and she did that again today.
“I’m so proud of her, she really deserves this. And I’m sure we’ll celebrate her tomorrow.”
Karvinen’s goal put Finland up 2-0 after the first period saw Suomi’s penalty kill at its best. Three times, Switzerland got on the power play, and three times the Finns held on. And it got better: the opening goal also came for a shorthanded Suomi on 10:13. Jenniina Nylund chipped a clearance that turned into a stretch pass. Nicole Vallario’s despairing leap could not reach the puck and Savolainen pounced, showing fine skills to control it at speed before slipping it through Maurer’s five-hole to claim her second marker in Ceske Budejovice.
It's not often a defender scores a shorthanded goal on the breakaway, as Savolainen noted. “When I saw it was a break I was thinking ‘Holy [cow], why am I here?’ But I blocked the shot and I was like ‘let’s go!’. Nyland took the puck and I thought ‘I’ll try my luck and maybe she’ll see me.’ Then she made a good little flip up and I took it in. I saw the five-hole was open so it was easy to put it in there.”
Swiss frustrations were enhanced by the fact that moments earlier Emilia Kyrkko made a big save on the doorstep, denying Kaleigh Quennec after a neat interchange of passes with Rahel Enzler. That extended Switzerland’s goalless run at this tournament after it was blanked by Czechia and Canada in its first two games.
The curse was lifted midway through the second period, shortly after Karvinen’s big moment. Alina Muller stepped off the bench and got right into the play. She collected the puck just inside the Finnish zone and accelerated towards the net, leaving Savolainen chasing shadows before rifling a wrister past Kyrkko from between hash marks. That ended a 149-minute goal drought in this competition and breathed new life into the game.
“I came right from the bench and the puck came basically towards me, and there was a lot of free ice,” Muller said. “I tried to go outside a few times. Didn't work, so I tried to cut to the middle.”
Muller’s partnership with Laura Zimmermann was a constant threat. The pair combined to send the Swiss scorer clear midway through the third period. Kyrkko kept the chance out, but Muller drew a foul from Karvinen and then tested the Finnish goalie a gain with a fierce one-timer on the power play.
However, there was no way back for Switzerland. And after nine unsuccessful power plays, goalscorer Muller admitted things need to improve.
“We definitely need more pressure toward the net and more shots,” she said. “I’ve got to find a way to get the puck to the net.
“Otherwise, it’s okay. We’ve got to stay patient. It’s happened to us before. But again, we’ve just got to believe that when it matters, we’re going to deliver.”
After losing its first three games, the Swiss go on to play the USA tomorrow in its final preliminary round action. Finland has two days to rest and prepare for its quarter final.