Group A
United States (3-0-0-0, 9 pts) 6, Czechia (0-1-0-2, 2 pts) 2
Czechia put up a good fight in an uphill battle, even taking a 2-1 lead in the first period when Denisa Krisova and Sara Cajanova scored back-to-back goals. The Americans came back with five straight goals.
Lacey Eden’s first of the tournament was the game-winner early in the second period.
That was fast… @lacey_eden gains the lead and gets her first goal of the tournament!@usahockey 3-2 @narodnitymzen #WomensWorlds #USACZE pic.twitter.com/7x7ym0uzlp
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 9, 2023
Megan Keller, Tessa Janecke, Hilary Knight, and Abby Roque scored the other goals for Team USA. Caroline Harvey had two assists, and was the only American with multiple points as they used a balanced scoresheet to pull off the win.
Aerin Frankel made 22 saves for the win while Blanka Skodova made 23 saves on 29 shots for the Czechs.
Group B
Finland (3-0-0-0, 9 pts) 4, Sweden (1-0-0-2, 3 pts) 2
It was a great start for Sweden, who took a 2-0 lead with two goals in the second period from Hanna Thuvik and Mira Jungaker.
The Lionesses from Finland came roaring back in the third period. Viivi Vainikka scored her fourth goal of the tournament to make it 2-1 less than four minutes into the final frame.
Shortly after, Ronja Savolainen and Petra Nieminen scored two goals 1:45 apart to turn the deficit into a 3-2 lead. Savolainen scored to make it 4-2 late in the game. Nieminen leads the tournament with three goals and four assists through four games.
WE HAVE A TIE GAME! @leijonat ’s Ronja Savolainen gets the equalizer goal! @Trekronorse 2-2 #WomensWorlds #FINSWE pic.twitter.com/0QmMrPMnHH
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 9, 2023
Anni Keisala made 13 saves in the win for Finland and Sara Grahn made 34 saves on 38 shots for the Swedes.
The win clinches a quarterfinal spot for Finland as they will win Group B and will face the team that finishes third in Group A.
Germany (2-0-0-1, 6 pts) 3, France (0-0-0-3, 0 pts) 0
The Germans got a big win and moved into second in Group B. Nicola Eisenschmid had a goal and an assist to lead the way. Germany also got goals from Celina Haider and Katarina Jobst-Smith.
Opening up the 2nd period with a BANG!
Nicola Eisenschmid extends the lead! @deb_teams leads 2-0 over @Hockey_FRA #WomensWorlds #GERFRA pic.twitter.com/9Uf6KPWkoz
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 9, 2023
Germany scored one goal in each period, and had two power play goals on French goaltender Margaux Mameri, who made 23 saves on 26 shots.
Sandra Abstreiter made 28 saves for the shutout, and moved into top spot in tournament save percentage in the process.
Looking ahead
The big game on Monday is the night cap with Canada and the United States locking horns for Group A supremacy. It is their first meeting of the tournament, and both teams are undefeated entering the showdown. It will be their first meeting since Canada won four straight games in the Rivalry Series to come back from a 0-3 deficit. Puck drop is shortly after 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Hungary will look to break Finland’s winning streak and solidify their chance at a quarterfinal appearance in the day’s first game starting at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Hungary is tied with Sweden at three points, and need to win at least one of their two remaining games to move on.
The 3:00 p.m. Eastern game sees Switzerland and Japan face off. Both teams have yet to win in the tournament thus far, but Japan’s overtime loss to Czechia is the difference between the two in the standings. This could be a preview of the quarterfinal as the fourth and fifth-placed teams from Group A will play each other in the first playoff round.
