The Women’s Ice Hockey World Cup is underway in Canada, where Finland did what was expected on Friday night. Finland won the match against Germany with a clear 3-0 and is now charging for Sunday’s match against Sweden.
After killing off two early German power plays, Finland jumped out to a two-goal lead. Rosa Lindstedt scored the 1–0 goal when 13.18 had been played and Emilia Vesa increased the score to 2–0 after 15.58.
Immediately before the match, Viivi Vainikka stood for the 3-0 goals, which ended the match. Därmed Höll Anni Keisala i Finlands mål nil och saldot blev 16 räddningar på 16 skott.
Team captain Jenni Hiirikoski reached 400 international matches and played in her anniversary match until two goals, 1–0 and 3–0.
Juuso Toivola tog förra year över som chefstränare efter Pasi Mustonen.
Bild: Heikki Löfman / Finlands ishockeyförbund
Finland’s women’s national ice hockey team
A well-deserved and expected victory but without impressing, says head coach Juuso Toivola.
– We faced Germany for the fourth time this season. In terms of results, everyone has finished in this style, says Toivola till Yle Sports.
– It was a bit brave, even though we won the shots on goal 42-16. But the victory is most important.
Petra Nieminen, who played until the first goal, was not satisfied.
– We can’t score 14 goals in every game, but with 40 shots and talented players, we have to get a better result, she says on the IIHF website.
Finland–Sweden on Sunday
In the premiere, Finland beat France by a whopping 14-1 and the blue-white balance is now two victories in two games. Finland is a strong medal candidate in the tournament and most things point to the team taking care of the victory in the B group.
For the winners of the B group, a quarter-final awaits against the third in the A group. If nothing unforeseen happens, Canada and the USA will compete for the group victory, while Japan, Switzerland and the Czech Republic will play for places 3-5.
On Sunday evening at 18.00, Finland faces Sweden. A familiar opponent for Hiirikoski, who plays for Luleå every day.
– I think the pace will be higher than in the first two games. The Swedes are used to playing physically, says Hiirikoski.
– Their tournament has not started as expected and I expect a hungry opposition.
Results
Switzerland-US 1-9 (0-4, 0-2, 1-3)
Finland–Germany 3–0 (2–0, 1–0, 0–0)
13.18 1-0 Rosa Lindstedt (Petra Nieminen, Jenni Hiirikoski) PP
15.59 2-0 Emilia Vesa (Sofianna Sundelin, Jenniina Nylund)
28.39 3-0 Viivi Vainikka (Nelli Laitinen, Jenni Hiirikoski)
Goalkeepers:
Years Keisala, FIN: 7+1+8=16
Johanna May, GER: 7+15+18=40
Czech Republic–Canada 1–5 (1–2, 0–1, 0–2)
