The Finnish women’s hockey team secured a quarterfinal matchup against Switzerland after defeating the Swiss 3-1 on Tuesday, . The win came after a game previously postponed due to a stomach virus affecting the Finnish team, a situation that had cast a shadow over their Olympic preparations.
The first period remained scoreless, but Finland capitalized on their first power play opportunity at , with Viivi Vainikka finding the back of the net. Sanni Vanhanen assisted on the goal, setting up Vainikka perfectly in front of the Swiss net.
Julia Liikala extended Finland’s lead to 2-0 at the mark with a powerful shot. The goal highlighted Finland’s growing offensive momentum.
Switzerland, seeking to break a two-game scoring drought, finally answered back at thanks to Alina Müller of Boston. However, Finland quickly regained their two-goal advantage just 35 seconds later, as Vanhanen scored to make it 3-1.
This defeat marks Switzerland’s third loss in four games, confirming a quarterfinal clash with Finland. The teams will meet again in the elimination round, offering Finland a chance to continue their Olympic run.
Meanwhile, in another Group A contest, the United States delivered a dominant performance, shutting out Canada 5-0. This decisive victory ensures the U.S. Will finish atop Group A, avoiding a quarterfinal matchup against the top two teams from Group B – likely Canada or the United States themselves.
The result significantly alters the quarterfinal landscape. Sweden finished first in Group B after their 4-0 win over Japan on Tuesday. The Swedes, with a strong showing in the preliminary round, will now avoid facing Canada or the U.S. In the quarterfinals. Hanna Thuvik continued her strong tournament for Sweden, scoring to open the game against Japan. Sara Hjalmarsson assisted on the goal.
Josefin Bouveng added a goal for Sweden, extending their lead to 2-0 and also assisted on Mira Hallin’s goal, pushing the score to 3-0. Hanna Olsson then capitalized on a power play opportunity in the third period, securing a 4-0 victory. Swedish starter Ebba Svensson Traff recorded a shutout, stopping 20 of 20 shots.
Japan’s elimination from the tournament underscores Sweden’s dominance in Group B. Italy and Germany will now face off to determine second and third place in the group, respectively. The outcome of that game will determine their quarterfinal opponents.
Sweden’s win wasn’t without cost, however. Ohio State star Hilda Svensson suffered an injury early in the game, forcing her to leave after just 92 seconds of ice time. Lisa Johansson also sustained an injury after a cross-check from Japan defender Kanamai Seki, though she later returned to the game, registering three shots on goal in just over 11 minutes of play.
The Swedish team demonstrated a strong offensive presence, outshooting Japan 31-20. Riko Kawaguchi, Japan’s goaltender, faced a busy night, stopping 22 of 26 shots. Rei Halloran, a product of Wesleyan University, made five saves in the final minutes of the game.
Sweden’s power play conversion rate was 1-for-3, while Japan failed to capitalize on their two power play opportunities. The win solidifies Sweden’s position as a contender in the Olympic tournament, and their quarterfinal opponent will be crucial in determining their path to a potential medal.
The situation surrounding the Finnish team’s earlier bout with a stomach virus, initially reported as a norovirus outbreak, appears to be stabilizing. The Swiss Olympic Committee reported a positive norovirus test within their own team on Friday, leading to the entire Swiss team being placed in isolation. Finland played with a full roster on Tuesday, indicating the team has largely recovered from the illness, though the impact on their performance throughout the preliminary round remains a factor.
