Damlejonen had to sweat for the victory against Sweden. But in the third period there was no talk of the matter, says Ronja Savolainen.
After two periods of play, it looked like the group stage derby between the Women’s Lions and Sweden was headed for a surprising Swedish triumph.
But Finland rose from the two-goal deficit in the final period and won 4–2 after, among other things, a double by Ronja Savolainen. Backen was one of those who set the tone as a completely different Finland stepped out onto the ice for the final period.
– Immediately after relegation in the last, it looked completely different. We started skating and playing together – and then we had fun, says the star back to Yle.
A tired Sweden failed to respond when the advance favorite Finland made an onslaught.
– In the end, the Swedes had no chance, says Savolainen.
Dreamed that Sweden would keep a clean sheet
Damlejonen came to the match as a clear favourite. In the winter’s EHT meetings, the class difference had been clear.
– The human mind is interesting. We’ve played good matches against Sweden and won, so I don’t know if that affected us now, thinks national team captain Juuso Toivola.
Juuso Toiviola kunde pusta ut efter en Stark tredje period mot Sverige.
Bild: Heikki Löfman / Finlands ishockeyförbund
Finland’s women’s national ice hockey team
Savolainen of Luleåspelare went to the match ut i svensk media och wished with a twinkle in his eye that Sweden would play badly.
– You were certainly surprised by them in the first and second period. But at the same time we weren’t fully awake and gave them chances, we made it difficult for ourselves, says Savolainen.
After the match, she laughed together with clubmate and opposing goalkeeper Sara Grahn. “You bastard,” said the cage keeper to the two-goal scorer.
Savolainen, in turn, reveals that before the match she dreamed that Grahn would keep a clean sheet.
– I thought it really can’t happen! It was fun to get a couple of pucks past her. She did well, even if her teammates couldn’t quite help her at the end.
The group Finland ends its group stage tonight against Hungary. The match starts at 18:00.
