photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Tim Austen
Sweden’s strong start saves the day as they protect an early lead and take an important 4-1 preliminary round win over Finland.
Hilda Svensson, Ida Karlsson, Sara Hjalmarsson and Tilde Grillfors scored for Sweden, Ebba Svensson Traff made 26 saves for Sweden. Petra Nieminen scored for Finland and Sanni Ahola in the Finnish goal stopped the puck 28 times.
Sweden forechecked hard early on, and the Finnish defense had trouble finding ways to break out of their zone. Four minutes into the period, the Swedes rolled another wave of attacks when Henna Raunio dropped the puck to Svensson, who fired through traffic, but Ahola could make the stop.
Svensson found the puck in the corner and sent it to Ida Karlsson at the point, and her wrister found its way to the back of the net to give the female Tre Kronor a 1-0 lead at 4:14.
A few minutes later, Sweden got their first power play opportunity, and the Ohio State trio — Svensson, Raunio and Mira Jungaker — got to work. Raunio and Jungaker played the puck to Svensson, who fired a wicked wrister from the top of the left circle and beat Ahola top shelf on the stick side.
Halfway through the period, the Swedes had outshot Finland 9-0, but the Finns clawed their way back into the game, and in the second half, they outshot Sweden 8-4.
In the second period, the roles were reversed. Now it was Finland who pressured and Sweden who made hasty decisions in their own zone, unable to get out.
With grit and some fortunate bounces, the Swedish defense and Svensson Traff managed to keep the Finns off the scoreboard.
Around six minutes into the period, Michelle Lowenhielm carried the puck into the Finnish zone, all the way to Josefin Bouveng in the corner. She sent it back to Lowenhielm, who banked the puck to Jungaker on the blueline.
She fired it toward Ahola’s net, and in front, Sara Hjalmarsson tipped the shot in to make it 3-0 for Sweden at 6:14.
But the Finns didn’t give up. Two and a half minutes after the third Swedish goal, Petra Nieminen tipped Siiri Yrjola’s slapper pass top shelf, keeping the Finns' dreams alive.
However, that was as close as they got and Grillfors sealed the final score into an empty Finnish net with her first World Championship goal.
Hilda Svensson, Ida Karlsson, Sara Hjalmarsson and Tilde Grillfors scored for Sweden, Ebba Svensson Traff made 26 saves for Sweden. Petra Nieminen scored for Finland and Sanni Ahola in the Finnish goal stopped the puck 28 times.
Sweden forechecked hard early on, and the Finnish defense had trouble finding ways to break out of their zone. Four minutes into the period, the Swedes rolled another wave of attacks when Henna Raunio dropped the puck to Svensson, who fired through traffic, but Ahola could make the stop.
Svensson found the puck in the corner and sent it to Ida Karlsson at the point, and her wrister found its way to the back of the net to give the female Tre Kronor a 1-0 lead at 4:14.
A few minutes later, Sweden got their first power play opportunity, and the Ohio State trio — Svensson, Raunio and Mira Jungaker — got to work. Raunio and Jungaker played the puck to Svensson, who fired a wicked wrister from the top of the left circle and beat Ahola top shelf on the stick side.
Halfway through the period, the Swedes had outshot Finland 9-0, but the Finns clawed their way back into the game, and in the second half, they outshot Sweden 8-4.
In the second period, the roles were reversed. Now it was Finland who pressured and Sweden who made hasty decisions in their own zone, unable to get out.
With grit and some fortunate bounces, the Swedish defense and Svensson Traff managed to keep the Finns off the scoreboard.
Around six minutes into the period, Michelle Lowenhielm carried the puck into the Finnish zone, all the way to Josefin Bouveng in the corner. She sent it back to Lowenhielm, who banked the puck to Jungaker on the blueline.
She fired it toward Ahola’s net, and in front, Sara Hjalmarsson tipped the shot in to make it 3-0 for Sweden at 6:14.
But the Finns didn’t give up. Two and a half minutes after the third Swedish goal, Petra Nieminen tipped Siiri Yrjola’s slapper pass top shelf, keeping the Finns' dreams alive.
However, that was as close as they got and Grillfors sealed the final score into an empty Finnish net with her first World Championship goal.
Finland vs Sweden - 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship
OF