CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic (AP) — The United States cruised past Germany 3-0 to reach the semifinals at the women’s ice hockey world championship on Thursday.
Kelly Pannek, Lacey Eden and Alex Carpenter each scored and captain Hilary Knight registered an assist to extend her record at the worlds to 51.
Aerin Frankel made 12 saves in the shutout. Germany last scored against the U.S. at the worlds in 2008.
“Today was an important game, we battled and continued to fight,” U.S. coach John Wroblewski said. “Germany is a tough, physical team and we stuck to our game and got the win.”
Pannek one-timed a shot from the left circle for her third goal at the tournament 5:36 into the quarterfinal. Eden added the second midway through the opening period from the slot.
Carpenter scored from close range with 1:07 remaining in the second period.
The U.S. has reached the final in all 23 previous worlds and won 10 titles.
In the following game, Natálie Mlýnková scored a hat trick as the Czech Republic produced a five-goal opening period en route to a 7-0 rout of Switzerland and a fourth straight semifinal appearance.
Mlýnková scored two power-play goals and added another short-handed. Tereza Vanišová and Kristýna Kaltounková each had a goal and two assists, and Daniela Pejšov, and Denisa Křížová also scored for the Czechs, who claimed bronze in two of the previous three years of the championship.
Klára Peslarová stopped 14 shots for her shutout.
Earlier, Finland beat Sweden 3-2.
Jenniina Nylund and Ronja Savolainen put Finland, last year’s bronze medalist, 2-0 ahead in the opening period of their quarterfinal.
Sweden answered through goals from Ebba Hedqvist and Josefin Bouveng in the second.
Susanna Tapani gave the Finns the lead for good with 8:14 remaining in the frame.
The Swedes have to settle for the fifth-place game on Saturday.
In the final quarterfinal later on Thursday, defending champion Canada plays Japan.
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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
The Associated Press
