photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Tim Austen
It was like David taking on Goliath. Mighty Finland, with several Olympic and World Championship medals, against Denmark, playing in its fifth top-division tournament.
Then again, David had his sling, just as Denmark had Emma-Sofie Nordstrom. In this battle, though, even Nordstrom’s heroics and glove weren’t enough to give Denmark the win, but Team Denmark sure gave its fans a lot to cheer about.
Finland beat Denmark 4-1, with four different goal scorers.
Nordstrom made 55 saves.
"We controlled the game for the full 60 minutes, but of course, it was our first game, so there are things we can improve on," said Finland's Noora Tulus. "It was a bit of a challenge, even if we knew we were strong, but you always have to respect the other team, and every game starts at 0-0."
"This was one of our greatest defensive games. I saw the puck all the time, it went according to our plan," Nordstrom said. "Stuff happens, too, it's hard to play a perfect game, the puck bounces off a skate and through my five-hole, that¨s hockey."
It was the Danish goal early in the third period that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Before that, Finland had outshot Denmark 44-3 in the game, but a neutral-zone turnover opened up a lane for Nikita Bergmann, who fired a wrister from the left circle and beat Sanni Ahola on the glove side.
The arena erupted in cheers, and even goaltender Nordstrom sprinted to the bench to celebrate with her teammates.
"I do that every time we score a goal. I always skate to the bench and give my goalie partner [Caroline Bjergstad] a big hug. And the fact that it was Nikki who scored made it all the more fun," Nordstrom added.
However, the game was all Finland. The Finns outshot Denmark 23-0 in the first period but only had a 1-0 lead as the teams headed to the dressing rooms, despite having two power-play opportunities and several great scoring chances.
The chance that led to the goal came after a Danish turnover behind their net. Julia Schalin picked up the puck and immediately flipped it to Elisa Holopainen in the slot, and she fired it short side, top shelf, to give Finland the lead just 3.56 into the game.
Finland scored twice in the second period; Denmark had two shots on goal.
About four and a half minutes into the period, Emma Nuutinen drove towards the net from the right circle. The Danish defense managed to hold her off and block her shot, but the puck landed right back on Nuutinen’s stick, catching Nordstrom off guard, and she beat the Danish goalie with a wrister, top shelf, to double the Finns’ lead.
"Sometimes that's the way it goes, one team gets the bounces," Tulus said.
Denmark got its first power play shortly after, but unfortunately for the hosts, it was the Finns who scored. Sofia Nuutinen tried to pass the puck to a teammate at the far post, but her pass hit a Danish defender’s skate and deflected into the red-and-whites’ goal to make it 3-0 at 6.38.
Bergmann made it 3-1, and then Petra Nieminen beat Nordstrom off a partial breakaway with 12.33 remaining in the game.
"I don't think any one of us imagined we'd play this well. And when we play well, we're really good. If we play like this tomorrow against Japan, we can beat them," said Nordstrom.
Then again, David had his sling, just as Denmark had Emma-Sofie Nordstrom. In this battle, though, even Nordstrom’s heroics and glove weren’t enough to give Denmark the win, but Team Denmark sure gave its fans a lot to cheer about.
Finland beat Denmark 4-1, with four different goal scorers.
Nordstrom made 55 saves.
"We controlled the game for the full 60 minutes, but of course, it was our first game, so there are things we can improve on," said Finland's Noora Tulus. "It was a bit of a challenge, even if we knew we were strong, but you always have to respect the other team, and every game starts at 0-0."
"This was one of our greatest defensive games. I saw the puck all the time, it went according to our plan," Nordstrom said. "Stuff happens, too, it's hard to play a perfect game, the puck bounces off a skate and through my five-hole, that¨s hockey."
It was the Danish goal early in the third period that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Before that, Finland had outshot Denmark 44-3 in the game, but a neutral-zone turnover opened up a lane for Nikita Bergmann, who fired a wrister from the left circle and beat Sanni Ahola on the glove side.
The arena erupted in cheers, and even goaltender Nordstrom sprinted to the bench to celebrate with her teammates.
"I do that every time we score a goal. I always skate to the bench and give my goalie partner [Caroline Bjergstad] a big hug. And the fact that it was Nikki who scored made it all the more fun," Nordstrom added.
However, the game was all Finland. The Finns outshot Denmark 23-0 in the first period but only had a 1-0 lead as the teams headed to the dressing rooms, despite having two power-play opportunities and several great scoring chances.
The chance that led to the goal came after a Danish turnover behind their net. Julia Schalin picked up the puck and immediately flipped it to Elisa Holopainen in the slot, and she fired it short side, top shelf, to give Finland the lead just 3.56 into the game.
Finland scored twice in the second period; Denmark had two shots on goal.
About four and a half minutes into the period, Emma Nuutinen drove towards the net from the right circle. The Danish defense managed to hold her off and block her shot, but the puck landed right back on Nuutinen’s stick, catching Nordstrom off guard, and she beat the Danish goalie with a wrister, top shelf, to double the Finns’ lead.
"Sometimes that's the way it goes, one team gets the bounces," Tulus said.
Denmark got its first power play shortly after, but unfortunately for the hosts, it was the Finns who scored. Sofia Nuutinen tried to pass the puck to a teammate at the far post, but her pass hit a Danish defender’s skate and deflected into the red-and-whites’ goal to make it 3-0 at 6.38.
Bergmann made it 3-1, and then Petra Nieminen beat Nordstrom off a partial breakaway with 12.33 remaining in the game.
"I don't think any one of us imagined we'd play this well. And when we play well, we're really good. If we play like this tomorrow against Japan, we can beat them," said Nordstrom.
Finland will take on Sweden on Sunday.
Denmark vs Finland - 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship
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