Finland players celebrate a goal against Germany during first period IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship hockey action in Brampton, Ont., on Friday, April 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Sanni Ahola delivered a 15-save shutout and five different players scored as Finland earned a 5-0 victory over Hungary on Monday at the world women’s hockey championship.
Nelli Laitinen, Jenni Hiirikoski, Jenniina Nylund, Emilia Vesa and Ronja Savolainen netted goals for Finland. Nylund, Vesa and Savolainen are in a five-way tie for first in goals at the tournament with four, alongside teammate Viivi Vainikka and Sweden’s Lina Ljungblom.
Aniko Nemeth stopped 27of-31 shots, while Zsuzsa Revesz allowed one goal on five shots in relief for Hungary.
Finland finished out preliminary play undefeated at 4-0 and atop Group B with a 26-3 goal ratio. The quarterfinals begin Thursday.
Hungary, meanwhile, plays Germany on Tuesday to finish out Group B play with hopes of breaking into the top three to earn a quarterfinal appearance. Hungary currently sits in fourth right behind Sweden, which plays France on Tuesday.
All five teams in Group A advance to the quarterfinals, while only the top three teams in Group B make it in.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.