Finland defender Ronja Savolainen (88) attacks the net defended by Sweden goaltender Sara Grahn (1) and goes on to score during third period IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship hockey action in Brampton, Ont., on Sunday, April 9, 2023.. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Finland came from behind to double Sweden 4-2, the United States defeated Czechia 6-2 and Germany blanked France 3-0 at the women’s world hockey championship on Sunday.
Trailing 2-0 after two periods, the Finns rattled off three unanswered goals between 3:42 and 7:51 to take the lead. The Finns (3-0) secured first place in Pool B with a game to play Monday against Hungary in the preliminary round.
Defending champion Canada had Sunday off and faces archrival U.S. on Monday at the CAA Centre in a battle of 3-0 teams in Pool A.
The Americans spread their offence among six different goal scorers Sunday and broke open a game tied 2-2 after the first period.
Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, Tessa Janecke, Abby Roque, Eden Lacey and Hayley Scamurra all contributed goals.
Defender Carolina Harvey had a pair of assists and U.S. goaltender Aerin Frankel stopped 22 shots in the victory.
Sara Cajanova and Denisa Krizova countered for the Czechs, who led 2-1 at 13:06 in the first period before Scamurra knotted the score at 16:11.
Blanka Skodova made 23 saves in the loss.
Ronja Savolainen led Finland with a pair of power-play goals – the equalizer and an insurance goal. Petra Nieminen notched the game-winner and also assisted on Savolainen’s tying goal.
Anni Silen’s five-minute boarding major at 14:41 of the third hampered Sweden’s chances of retaking control of the game.
Finland’s goaltender Anni Keisala stopped 13 of 15 shots for the victory.
Viivi Vainikka sparked Finland’s comeback by scoring her team’s first goal of the game.
The Swedes led 2-0 on goals from Mira Jungaker and Hanna Thuvik.
Swedish starter Sara Grahn, who is appearing in a record 11th world championship for a goaltender, stopped all 22 shots she faced in the first 40 minutes, but gave up four goals on 16 shots in the third.
Celina Haider, Nicola Eisenschmid and Katarina Jobst-Smith scored for Germany in the late game, which improved to two wins and a loss in Group B.
Germany led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 heading into the third. France outshot Germany 28-26 but could not beat goaltender Sandra Abstreiter.
Germany beat Sweden 6-2 on Thursday, then lost 3-0 to unbeaten Finland on Good Friday.
France, winless after three games, lost 14-1 to Finland on Wednesday and 4-2 to Hungary on Thursday.
France outshot Germany 28-26 but could not beat goaltender Sandra Abstreiter.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2023.
