All five games today ended up more or less as expected, but the Group B teams showed they can hang in there with the top four — there were no embarrassing results today.

The IIHF has video highlights up for each game.

I believe but am not 100% sure that the 5-8 ranking will go Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Switzerland. Will confirm in a later post.

USA 4 vs Japan 0

Maddie Rooney gets the start aganst Nana Fujimoto, although USA is sensible enough to have Rigsby on the bench just in case. Hannah Brandt is scratched yet again, no one seems to have the story on that.

Oh nice, we’re told there are a bunch of school kids in the audience today.

First period

Things start off a little slowly which is to Japan’s advantage. They’re not going to get into the offensive zone often but they’re not shy about creating problems for the US defensively.

Fujimoto has to make a few saves but she’s less busy than I’d expected in the first five minutes. Japan even steals a couple of pucks.

USA are starting to speed up but nothing Fujimoto can’t handle and they’re also missing the net a bit. The Japanese skaters are still keeping up for the most part and starting to get deeper into the offensive zone, though they’re still without any shots six and a half minutes in.

Ohhh Rooney’s getting bored, she corrals a puck and comes out of the net with a Japanese skater bearing down. All Japan needs is one mistake, she’s gotta stay disciplined.

The Americans are trying all sorts of shots and finally pin Japan down for some extended time in the  offensive zone just past the halfway mark.  Fujimoto’s stopping things but Team USA is also hitting the iron, missing the net and being frustrated by the Japanese defenders.

Fujimoto makes a lovely glove save on Knight. Still no shots for Japan with six and a half minutes to go.

Kendall Coyne Schofield looks to be going one on one with Fujimoto but she’s intercepted by a defender. Still gets the shot off but maybe not as well as she could have.

Sydney Brodt and Amanda Kessel come in, again it looks like they’ve got clear ice and then there are skaters in front of them. Rod Black makes the declaration that USA would be up by several if it wasn’t Fujimoto and she’s certainly been good but she hasn’t had to be spectacular because her team is helping her out.

Hilary Knight is the first American to score. Michelle Picard has a shot blocked but it ricochets to find Knight who’s at the opposite side of the net. USA up 1-0 with 3:12 left in the period. Alex Carpenter gets the secondary assist.

Japan’s response? Their first shot on goal and a juicy rebound from Maddie Rooney. Ayaka Toko has the first shot and Akane Shiga is just a bit too late to the rebound to make another one.

Team USA puts the puck over the glass with five seconds left so one of the schoolkids gets a souvenir while Kelly Pannek sits and Japan gets the first power play of the game.

Shots were 22 to 2 in the first.

Second period

Japan has issues getting into the US zone to start the period. Unhelpfully, the officials call icing and then wave it off so they have to start at the centre dot again.  The power play expires on another icing, a real one this time.

A hard shot by Emily Pfalzer caroms off a Japanese player and out of the zone.

Haruna Yoneyama manages to grab the puck and head for the offensive zone, beating out a pair of Americans. She goes one on one with Picard and gets a shot on net. Rooney then has to deal with a wraparound attempt.

Japan’s getting more offensive opportunities and USA don’t seem to know how to shut them down.

Icing for USA. This is such an impressive performance for Japan. They can skate with the Americans, they can defend the Americans. We already knew that shooting was their weakness but they’ve had two already in this period and until almost eight minutes in were actually outshooting the US.

Pressure in Japan’s zone finally gets to Sena Suzuki who gets called for tripping. Fujimoto makes a textbook save quickly enough that the Americans don’t have time to pull Rooney.

Japan gets the puck out. Megan Keller puts a shot on net that ricochets off Fujimoto, off the post and in front for Dani Cameranesi and Hilary Knight. Cameranesi puts in home without hesitation. 2-0 USA 10:30 into the second period. The goal’s credited to Knight but that will probably change. (It did, but after the IIHF posted the recap citing Knight’s “two goals” in the headline.)

Sydney Brodt looks for her first goal of the tournament but Fujimoto stops her and play heads to the US zone.

Kacey Bellamy is called for interference on Mei Miura, who goes down trying to gain the zone. Again, Japan has trouble entering the US zone on the power play. Haruka Toko puts a point shot on, saved by Rooney. There’s an attempt to set up a Japanese skater in front of Rooney but she misses the pass and the penalty expires.

Hayley Scamurra and Jesse Compher try their hand at scoring on Fujimoto but she saves both the shot and the rebound.

Japan is still clogging up their zone and the Americans are having trouble finding lanes. When they do, Fujimoto is seeing things all the way.

Yoneyama gets her second breakaway and challenges Rooney, who hangs on to the puck.

Stretch pass for Akane Hosoyamada who sends an angle shot in. Japan is refusing to give up and it’s really something to watch.

Icing for Japan.

More pressure by USA and then Akane Shiga dumps Brianna Decker, who does down into the boards and USA has a power play with just under two minutes left in the period. (We learn much later, after the game, that Decker may have been injured on the play.) The Americans have trouble finding a lane again and then lose the puck out of the zone. Pfalzer to Pannek but she shoots high and wide. Kessel fires into the net. USA is winning this game but they’re very very frustrated. Japan gets the puck out and the buzzer goes as USA tries to re-enter.

Shots are 11 to 5 for the USA. This game is incredible.

Third period

The third period starts with two seconds left in the US power play. They ice the puck early.

Kendall Coyne Schofield gets the first shot on net but Fujimoto gloves it without difficulty.

Another icing for USA. Allowing Japan free time in the offensive zone seems unwise.

Cayla Barnes scores the third goal coming in backdoor and there for a lightning quick cross-ice pass from Kessel before Fujimoto can switch sides. There’s talk of “the floodgates opening” but I’m still skeptical. Sydney Brodt gets the secondary assist and it’s 3-0 USA.

Save for Fujimoto on a bomb from Megan Bozek.

“Team USA has been led by their defence offensively, 25% of their points coming from the defence” uh.... so 75% are coming from the forwards and that’s... not leading?

An American blows a tire behind their own net and that sparks a flurry in front by Japan. Rooney has to be good but she is and maintains the shutout. Knight gets a chance at the other end but is denied.

Another shot by Bozek but Fujimoto has it.

USA camps out in the Japanese zone around the halfway mark. Japan finally gets it out, the Americans come back in and a defensive mistake by Hosoyamada leads to a goal by Coyne Schofield, 4-0. 9:24 left.

Fujimoto’s seeing a few more shots this period and what she’s seeing is getting better as USA is finally figuring out this team.

Another shot on goal by Japan. Less than five minutes left, but why give up now?

Yet another, Rooney is getting more of a workout than I bet she thought she’d have, not only in number of shots but in the quality of shots she’s facing. If Japan had shot like this in some of their other games they’d have more goals on the tournament.

Japan sets up again with just over two left but can’t get a shot off.

29 seconds left and Fujimoto makes a save on a point shot from Stecklein.

Japan ices the puck with five seconds left. The US gets two more shots on before the buzzer goes. They total 53 shots in the game to 10 for Japan.

Players of the game are Ayaka Toko for Japan and Maddie Rooney for USA.

Top three players of the tournament for Japan are announced as Ayaka Toko, Akane Hosoyamada, and Moeko Fujimoto. Yes, Moeko. Not sure why Nana was left out.

Canada 5 vs Germany 0

Team Canada went with Emerance Maschmeyer in net and Genevieve Lacasse on the bench, giving Shannon Szabados the day off. As expected, Team Germany went with star goalie Jennifer Harss.

First Period

Mélodie Daoust almost scores in the first 20 seconds, a chance right from Harss’s doorstep. Not long after, a point shot from Jocelyne Larocque is gloved by Harss. Jennifer Harss is going to have a very busy game today.

Rod is talking about the German trap, and honestly, compared to the 2017-era Team Germany trap I recall them deploying against Russia, this is child’s play.

There’s a falling save by Masch on Nicola Eisenschmid; always exciting! We play exciting hockey here!

There’s a quick turning shot from Blayre Turnbull and a save by Harss. A long range shot by Brigette Lacquette, and play is whistled dead for a player in Harss’s crease. Fortino feeds Johnston right in close for a tipped shot and Harss saves it.

Blayre Turnbull uses her speed to recover a misplayed pass, cuts to the middle, makes a nice move on the defender and pushes it through Harss. 1-0 Canada.

Rebecca Johnston puts a shot off Harss, and then a second one from in close. Johnston remains my favorite.

A Daoust slapshot is saved by Harss and put right back into play. Harss seems to prefer to put the puck back into play rather than cover, which, I wonder if that’s going to bite her against a team as fast and skilled as Canada. You can’t get away with as much when you’re playing Canada’s forwards.

A Laura Fortino shot can’t be corralled by Harss and Saulnier almost puts the rebound in from her knees, but Harss keeps it out.

Sarah Nurse crashes the crease and it’s whistled dead and brought back out of the zone, but also, Sarah Nurse crashes the crease. It’s a very familiar play from her. Love you, Nursey.

Brigette Lacquette takes a holding call on Kerstin Spielberger on a rare German foray into Canada’s zone, and we have a German power play. As expected, Germany still doesn’t get much time in the offensive zone even up a player. They get stood up at the blue line repeatedly, and Canada kills it off without much trouble.

Rebecca Johnston puts in a goal from the top of the crease after a scramble, but Daoust was quite literally standing in the paint unmoving for quite a while before that Johnston shot, and the goal is immediately called off. Mélo, you’ve played too many international games to think you can get away with that.

Germany gets back into the Canadian zone, and Canada takes another penalty, which is ungreat.

Germany gets a good point shot in on Masch, and she has to make a strong save. Canada immediately forces the puck out of the zone off the next faceoff, and while they’re clearly still dominating on the penalty kill, Germay is getting more chances. Laura Kluge gets a second shot on the power play, which Maschmeyer saves, but they’ve had two whole shots on their power play!

Natalie Spooner promptly takes it the other way shorthanded and Spoons it, carrying it around the German zone despite literally every German on the ice swarming around her. What a gift. The Canadians kill off the second German power play.

Nurse almost gets a nice feed off to Turnbull but the German defender breaks it up.

This has been a less than impressive start for Canada, and it’s only partly because of Germany’s play. They look disjointed, and aren’t operating as cohesively as they really should be. When they do get shots on net, Harss is there. The period ends with a 1-0 lead for Canada.

Second Period

We start off with a quick shot from Johnston that Harss saves. Daoust gets a shot off shortly after. She’s definitely stood out so far.

Yet again, Team Canada thinks they have a goal on a Johnston shot that trickles through Harss’s five-hole, but play is whistled dead and the goal is waved off. It’s not quite clear why, but I’m also not 100% sure the puck actually crossed the goal line, so shrug.

Julia Zorn gets a shot off on Maschmeyer that she saves.

Spooner to Nurse to Turnbull at the front of the net but Turnbull can’t force it through Harss. Nurse yet again forces her way to the front of the net but she can’t elevate it over Harss’s pad. God, I love Sarah Nurse.

Jamie Lee Rattray sends a shot wide, then Saulnier does the same later that shift.

Germany’s better at forcing Canada’s plays to be one and done through the first several minutes of the period—they’re getting a lot of shots, but then Germany is sending them back out of the zone to regroup and come back in. They’re not getting set up, really.

Nurse almost tips a Spooner pass past Harss, but can’t make it go. That Spooner-Turnbull-Nurse line is the best one this game, I think, and not just because I am tremendously biased.

Rattray is hit up high in a scuffle in the slot and Germany goes to the box, giving Canada a power play. I’m not tremendously impressed by Canada’s power play, honestly. They’re having trouble holding the zone.

Literally, as soon as I typed that last sentence, Nurse brings the puck back in after a German clear and feeds to Brianne Jenner, who redirects it right past Harss. 2-0 Canada.

Fast puts a shot on Harss through traffic but it’s saved. Saulnier has a shot and while Daoust gets her stick on the puck she can’t get it through the German defense.

Laura Stacey adds another goal, tapping a rebound off a Micah Zandee-Hart shot into a wide-open cage. Harss is usually better at turning rebounds away towards a safe angle, but that one bounces right off her pad and straight to Stacey, who isn’t going to miss on that kind of gimme. 3-0 Canada.

There’s another great play by Daoust to try and steer a feed in the slot towards the net-front woman, but it doesn’t end up in the net.

A point shot from Jaime Bourbonnais makes it through traffic, Loren Gabel finds the puck and takes a shot that I thought it had gotten in for a second. Alas, I was wrong.

Marie Delarbre puts a shot on Maschmeyer, in what is the first action Masch has seen in quite a while.

Germany is still making trouble in the neutral zone for Canada, but once Canada gets set up in the offensive zone, the Germans start looking quite lost. This is more what I expected to see this game.

Harss snags a high shot from Lacquette. No matter what her defenders are doing, Harss is on point so far. There’s an absolute scramble in the paint after a Loren Gabel shot, Harss flails a bit but she keeps everything out

Kluge gets off a shot for Germany but it looks like it just misses the cage.

The Germans look gassed. Conditioning disparities are more obvious in the games between North Americans and the rest of the world, and they’re on display here.

A backhand try for Jenner from Harss’s doorstep is lovely but Harss makes a good save.

Germany does a good job flummoxing Canada for the last minute or so of the second period, with the exception of a strong Natalie Spooner shot with two seconds remaining. Harss saves it, and we go to second intermission.

Third Period

A shot on Harss by Gabel is saved. It’s followed by a Turnbull shot from the high slot, which is also saved. I have fully run out of synonyms for “saved.”

Nina Kamenik brings it into the Canadian zone but she’s stripped by Rattray along the boards in a nice defensive play from Jamie Lee.

Whoa! Fabulous feed from Johnston at high speed, and Saulnier just redirects it right in. It’s initially ruled a goal, but they review it, and it’s waved off (apparently because it went in off her skate, which makes no sense, as there was definitely no kicking motion, but alas). Still 3-0.

Germany also takes a penalty during the not-actually-a-goal, Daria Gleissner going off for hooking, and Canada goes straight to the power play. It does not take them long. Natalie Spooner tips a Brigette Lacquette point shot and it rolls right past Harss. 4-0 Canada, for real this time.

There’s a shot from the hash marks from Renata Fast, and Harss makes the save.

Nice steal by Jamie Lee Rattray to keep the puck in the zone and maintain pressure. She’s had a couple good, clever plays so far; I like seeing the Jamie Lee Rattray I know from the Thunder while she’s wearing a Team Canada jersey.

A Saulnier shot flies up in the air and somehow stays out, and then Harss dives on a Lacquette shot to smother it. This is all Canada all the time by now.

A Fast point shot is saved by Harss, and then a Bourbonnais one-timer is as well. Jenny is doing all of the work, and she’s getting very little help from her defense.

Germany finally gets some time in the Canadian zone for maybe a half a shift, although they don’t actually get any strong chances.

A point shot from Ambrose and Harss saves it. She’s handling all those long-range shots pretty well, she’s just facing a ton of them.

For the first time in a long time, we have a penalty. Daria Gleissner trips a Canadian at the blue line, and Canada gets another power play. Yet again, it does not take them long to convert. A Daoust point shot hits the back of the net with the help of a tip by Turnbull. 5-0 Canada.

Turnbull hammers a shot from the high slot and then Nurse tries to sweep in the rebound, but Harss is there to make the save. Man, Jenny Harss is good. I’m absolutely terrified to look at the shot count for this game.

Canada’s not really pressuring as hard at this point with a five-goal lead, but they’re still getting chances. Ann-Sophie Bettez has an opportunity right on Harss’s doorstep but Harss is there to save it. Gabel feeds Bettez square in the slot shortly thereafter, but Harss turns it away.

With a bit over four minutes left, Bernadette Karpf hooks Sarah Nurse down behind Harss’s net, and we’ll see if Canada’s power play can go four for four. A Jenner shot is blocked by a German, There’s a scramble in the crease with Harss down on her stomach but the puck stays out, although Canada maintains possession for a decent stretch after. Germany does manage to kill off the penalty.

Gabel drives Gleissner into the boards, which is not great and she should probably avoid in the future. She’s whistled for charging, and Germany goes to the power play with just under two minutes remaining in the game. They don’t have a shot this period, so maybe we’ll see that change?

Brianne Jenner tries to make it 6-0 shorthanded but the German defense manages to strip her of the puck. Germany gets some zone time, but nothing really going offensively, although they do manage to get a single shot in the third period.

Canada wins this one 5-0, overcoming a shaky first period to look pretty damn dominant through the second and third. They put a total of 66 shots on Harss, which is simply absurd. Germany had 9 of their own, 5 of which came in the first period. Blayre Turnbull is player of the game for Canada, and Carina Strobel is player of the game for Germany.

The best players of the tournament for Team Germany are Julia Zorn, Anna Fiegert, and Jennifer Harss, the latter of whom I hope has a bottle of her favorite adult beverage and a massage lined up for tonight. It is truly always a pleasure to watch her play, and I’m excited to watch her in person in Halifax next year.

Russia 3 - Switzerland 0

This one’s gonna be messy, folks. It’s essentially  a battle for fourth between a couple of teams that are bad at defense. Nadezhda Morozova gets the call for Russia and it’s Andrea Braendli in net for Switzerland. Lara Stalder is not in the lineup and now we really have to ask why the Swiss bothered to put her on the roster.

First period

The first period started out with a lot of run and gun hockey from both teams. Anna Shokhina and Olga Sosina had good chances early. Braendli  was facing both more and better shots than Morozova.

The first penalty went against Switzerland, a slashing call on Sabrina Zollinger  7:50 in. The Russians held the zone and get several shots on Braendli in the first minute before settling into a cycle.

At even strength Alina Mueller got the puck and held it behind the Swiss net, finally allowing a line change for Switzerland. An attempt at a zone entry turned into icing and the Russians were right back in charge.

Braendli made save after save. It would have been nice if her team could have rewarded her for her work by making a decent attempt at scoring on Morozova.

Mueller went in as the second player on a rush but the pass was too far ahead of her and she couldn’t make it work. The closest thing to a real scoring chance the Swiss had all period.

With the sheer volume of the Russian shot attempts,  it was clear something was going to make it through Braendli eventually.

No score after one, but Russia heavily outshot Switzerland at a count of 18 to 1.

Second period

Switzerland started off the second period with some early offensive zone time but they still weren’t putting much on net.

When Russia countered it looked like there’d been some discussion about defense in Switzerland’s locker room during intermission. They kept Russia more to the outside, although the Russians still had a screen in front of Braendli most of the time.

Somewhere in there the Russians got a too many players penalty. It’s probably bad that I didn’t notice the Swiss power play.

For a while things went back to the more even play we saw at the beginning of the first.

End to end for Mueller but the shot went wide. She came back with numbers, same result. Russians counterattacked, but nothing Braendli can’t deal with

Finally, at 12:04 in the period Anna Shokhina broke the ice, collecting a pass from Alvetina Shtaryova to snipe it over Braendli and put Russia ahead 1-0. Yelena Dergachyova got the secondary assist.

A minute later Phoebe Staenz put Switzerland down a player as she was called for holding the stick. This time Switzerland didn’t lean quite as hard on Braendli to do all the penalty killing and even manage to clear the zone.

Viktoria Kulishova came in on a breakaway but she seemed to think she had someone with her as she tried to drop pass to absolutely nobody. Oddly enough this was an ineffective offensive strategy.

It looked like Switzerland might spend the last minute of the period harrassing Morozova but the Russians cleared it down to Braendli a few seconds before the buzzer.

Third period

Chaos off the faceoff saw Sabrina Zollinger collide with Anna Timofeyeva, their legs almost wrapping together as they went down. Could have been ugly but everyone seemed fine. Zollinger was sent off for a tripping call.

An errant puck made its way about halfway to Morozova, who came out of her net to play it and keep the power play going. Braendli flopped her net and it looked like Russia’s scored for a second but then play continued.

It didn’t go very long though. Shokhina put a shot just barely wide and Dergachyova was there to poke it in behind Braendli. 2-0, assist to Anna Shibanova

Switzerland got another power play when Kulishova was called for slashing. Shokhina had a shorthanded chance one on one with Braendli, who stopped her. That’s really the best scoring chance anyone had during the penalty.

Switzerland called their timeout with 3:18 to go. They didn’t pull Braendli, which turned out to be a good move as the Russians got yet another zone entry. About a minute later the Swiss gained possession and she headed to the bench.

The first Russian attempt at an empty-netter resulted in icing. The second one, when Shtaryova caaught a blueline pass and  beat the Swiss into their zone, made it 3-0 and put the semi-finals firmly out of reach for Switzerland.

To add insult to injury  Russia ended the game on a power play after Noemi Rhyner put the puck over the glass. Switzerland tried one last long-distance shot on the Russian net but they ended the tournament without a single win.

Braendli, who made 41 saves to Morozova’s 14, very deservedly got player of the game for Switzerland, Anna Shokhina for Russia.

Players of the tournament for Switzerland were Evelina Raselli, Livia Altmann, and Alina Mueller.

In the other quarter-finals we’ve seen some excellent examples of teams who can rely on solid defense and structure to at least keep themselves in the game. This game was just an unstructured mess. USA is going to have such an easy time in their semi-final, they’ll think the quarter-final was just a bad dream.

Finland 3 vs Czech Republic 1

The order of the day seems to be the Group B players playing above their heads, can the best of Group B translate that into a win? No surprises in net, Klára Peslarová for the Czech Republic and Noora Räty for Finland.

First period

The Czechs start aggressively, and Noora Räty has to deal with traffic early on.

Michelle Karvinen heads in with a Czech defender right on her, possibly too close to her, but there is neither a penalty call nor does she score.

One-timer by Natálie Mlýnková. Klára Hymlárová is next, they’ve both been very good for the Czechs this tournament.

There’s a mid-ice collision between a couple of players, still no call.

Karvinen comes in from the corner but she’s too close to Peslarová to shoot.

Peslarová makes a save on Riikka Sallinen.

Rod says that the reason the Finns have won so many bronze medals is because of Räty. She’s certainly been instrumental but she missed a couple of Worlds tournaments in a dispute with the Finnish federation and they won a bronze without her.

Sallinen challenges Peslarová but shoots wide.

Peslarová stretches out on the ice with a Finnish player literally on top of her. Still no call, what is up with these refs?

Shot by Ronja Savolainen but Peslarová is square to the puck.

Peslarová is seeing a lot of attempts but not a lot is actually hitting the net.

The Czechs steal the puck in the Finnish zone which leads to a flurry of shot attempts but a lot of blocks by Finland’s defense.

Glove save by Räty on Tereza Vanišová.

Susanna Tapani passes to Karvinen in lieu of shooting but the pass goes into Karvinen’s skate.

Shoulder save on Annina Rajahuhta, good to see her back after her fall in the game against Canada.

Noora Tulus has a nice shot but Peslarová sees it all the way.

Aneta Lédlová goes sprawling, still no whistles.

Räty nearly mishandles a long shot but regains control and sends it out for her defenders to pick up.

Final minute pressure from Finland but the last shot of the period is by Denisa Křížová. Shots were pretty even at 9 to 6 in favour of the Finland.

Second period

Natálie Mlýnková is the player to finally score just 91 seconds into the period. Lovely little play by the Czechs. Alena Mills and Klára Hymlárová get the assists and it’s 1-0. Could an upset really be imminent?

Finland keeps coming deep into the Czech zone but they’re missing the net.

The Finns get the first power play of the game when Martina Zedníková gets called for tripping. It’s Michelle Karvinen who splits the defence and goes top shelf on Peslarová to tie it up. Rosa Lindstedt provided the screen. The Czechs talk to the refs before the faceoff but there’s no goal review, which is odd because Lindstedt was very close to the goalie and looked to have been in the paint. There have been so many goal reviews this tournament I almost thought it was automatic but apparently not. The officiating in this game is deeply weird. 1-1 with an assist to Tulus.

Räty makes a glove save on Barbora Patočková.

There’s a loose puck in front of Peslarová but Karvinen misses it.

Contact with Räty doesn’t result in a penalty. Not sure what rulebook the officials are working from but it’s not the one I know. There’s a suggestion she dove but I’ve seen a penalty and a corresponding embellishment call once already this tournament, it could easily have been done again. At least they’re probably not actually rigging the game for Finland?

Savolainen draws a penalty as she goes down battling through a number of Czechs. Mlýnková is called for tripping.

Finland’s power play starts with a Jenni Hiirikoski one timer. And another one. Finland is whistled for a player in the crease so they lose the zone. Susanna Tapani is called for interference right off the faceoff so we go to 4 on 4.

Simona Studentová puts a shot off the post. At the other end Petra Nieminen just misses the net. She gets another chance as things move to a Czech power play.

Karvinen takes all of Peslarová’s attention and she comes out of the net to challenge, apparently not noticing Tapani is on her other side. Tapani gets the pass from Karvinen to score on a basically empty net. 2-1 Finland.

Mlýnková  heads to the net but is muscled off the puck by a Finnish defender. Studentová goes end to end but shoots from fairly far out.

Finland ices the puck. They’re edging up on the shot clock, this time 15 to 9.

Third period

Rosa Lindstedt goes sprawling after a shot but no call. This continues to be very bewildering officiating.

Finally there’s a call on Daniela Pejšová for holding Linda Valimaki halfway through the period. The Finnish power play lasts six seconds. Jenni Hiirikoski sends a hell of a shot right over Peslarová’s shoulder to make it 3-1, assists to Karvinen and Tulus.

The Czechs counter and Noora Räty has to be good.

Hiirikoski goes down and it’s another penalty for the Czechs. Kateřina Mrázová sits for checking. The Czechs power into the Finnish zone shorthanded, killing off at least 30 seconds. Karvinen feeds Savolainen who can’t quite finish.

Tapani has a shot with a body in front, but Peslarová has the save.

An icing call against Finland leads to traffic in front of Räty but she makes the save.

The clock starts ticking down the last five minutes and the commentators start discussing  when Peslarová will be pulled.

Mlýnková gets a shot on.

Nieminen comes in to the Czech zone suddenly, stopped by Peslarová.

The Czechs basically run out of time to pull the goalie as Finland still has possession as the one minute mark hits. The game ends with the Czechs still under pressure.  Shots on the period were 19 to 2 for Finland.

Players of the game are Aneta Tejralová for the Czech Republic and Jenni Hiirikoski for Finland. The top three Czech players of the tournament are announced as Klára Peslarová, Natálie Mlýnková, and Denisa Křížová.

Sweden 3 vs France 2

For their final match of the tournament, Sweden gave Sara Grahn her fifth consecutive start, and France returned to Caroline Baldin in net.

The only action in the first period were penalties for France as Athena Locatelli was called for hooking and Lara Escudero went off for a trip.

Marion Allemoz started off the second with another hooking call.

Sweden then took their turn in the box—Josefine Holmgren for interference, Lisa Johansson for slashing, and Olivia Carlsson for tripping.

Shortly after the Carlsson penalty expired Sweden went up 1-0 on a goal by nineteen year old rookie Sofie Lundin, her first point in the tournament. Holmgren and Hanna Olsson had the assists.

In the third period. Betty Jouanny took another penalty for France, a hooking call. Sweden finally managed a power play goal, this one by captain Emma Nordin, assisted by Pernilla Winberg and Maja Nylén-Persson. 2-0.

Five minutes later, Clara Rozier answered back for France, cutting the score in half with help from Athena Locatelli.

Isabell Palm got the Swedish lead back to two just a minute later, assisted by Nordin and Winnberg. A minute after that, Sweden took a penalty for too many players.

Chloé Aurard scored her second of the tournament on the power play, assisted by Estelle Duvin.

France took their timeout with ten seconds left but Sweden would take this one 3-2. Sweden will take 9th place and France 10th at the 2019 Worlds.

Emma Nordin and Léa Parment were named players of the game for Sweden and France respectively.

The top three players of the tournament for Sweden were Maja Nylén-Persson, Sabina Kuller and Johanna Olofsson. France named their top three as Marion Allemoz, Estelle Duvin and  Athena Locatelli.

Tomorrow is another day off and then we’re into the semi-finals on Saturday. Canada will take on Finland at 9:00 am and the USA will face off against Russia at 1:00 pm.

Women's HockeyIIHF World Championships