Today's games:
Switzerland vs. Japan: Relegation, 4PM EST
Russia vs. Sweden: Quarterfinal 1, 6:30PM EST, TSN1
Finland vs. Czech Republic: Quarterfinal 2, 10:30PM EST, TSN1
With Thursday's #WomensWorlds results USA, CAN, FIN, SWE, RUS earn #PyeongChang2018 tickets! https://t.co/kJ10ZyvYBq pic.twitter.com/avfget1u6F
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) 1 April 2016
USA vs. Russia, 8-0 (full game)
The US heads to the semi-finals as top seed in Group A after defeating Russia by a score of 8-0. The Americans were very dominant. Russia had two scoring chances all game.
.@KendallCoyne opens the scoring against Russia #WomensWorlds pic.twitter.com/48JgTJ4Pty
— CWHL Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) March 31, 2016
Kendall Coyne, Megan Keller, Shiann Darkangelo, and Anne Pankowski scored, while Monique Lamoureux and Hilary Knight scored twice, making it the 11th time in a row that the US women's team has defeated Russia at the WWC.
Russia heads to quarter-finals today to face Sweden, and the US has two days off until they play the quarterfinal winner on Sunday. Russia and Sweden are fairly evenly matched but Sweden's goaltender, Sara Grahn, has been lights out all tournament and that could be the difference today.
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Czech Republic vs. Japan, 3-1
Japan lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Czech Republic, slating them for relegation play against Switzerland today. The Czechs advance to quarterfinals just two years after being relegated down to the lower division. They'll be facing Finland in the last quarterfinal match of the day. The team has surprised a lot of people by avoiding the relegation round but Finland enters the quarterfinals as the favourites.
Although Japan's captain, Chiho Osawa, opened scoring on a power play goal, Czech captain Alena Polenska leveled the score with less than a minute left in the first. Other goals were from Czech Aneta Tejralova and Japan's Mika Hori, sending the game to overtime. The overtime winner was Klara Hymlarova, getting the best of last year's Best Goalie, Nana Fujimoto. Japan ends the round robin with an 0-3 record and they'll need to pull off an upset against Switzerland to stay in the top division.
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Sweden vs. Switzerland, 2-1
Sweden, who are undefeated in Group B after beating Switzerland 2-1 in a shootout, will advance to face Russia in today's quarterfinal match. Sweden outshot Switzerland but faced a strong goaltender, only tying up the game after Lisa Johansson scored on the power play. Switzerland's Evelina Raselli scored first, but the game went to overtime and then a shootout before Anna Borgqvist scored the winner.
The Swiss will advance to face Japan in the relegation match, finishing seventh or lower for the first time since 2011. They were last relegated in 2004.
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Canada vs. Finland, 6-1 (full game)
Canada advances to the semi-final with the team's 6-1 defeat of Finland with goals by Marie-Philip Poulin, Rebecca Johnston, Brianne Jenner, and Jennifer Saulnier, and two from Jennifer Wakefield.
The first line (Agosta, Poulin, and Spooner) had a really good game. Spooner and Agosta haven't found the back of the net yet but it's not for lack of trying--they've just gotten really unlucky. Speaking of unlucky, Agosta collided knee-on-knee with Tara Watchorn in the middle of the second period. Agosta got the worst of it and couldn't skate to the bench without help. She returned for the third period and looked as good as ever, so it doesn't seem like there's anything to worry about there. Exhale.
The second line (Johnston, Jenner, and Wakefield) are on fire. Johnston leads the tournament in scoring with 7 points in 3 games. Wakefield is second in scoring and Jenner is tied for third. In net, Maschmeyer was solid again. It looks like she may have played her way into the starting job for the elimination rounds.
The team finishes second in Group A, and is now two wins away from a gold medal.
Finland will face the Czech team in the quarterfinals. Despite the lopsided score, Finland played really well, especially in the first period. They looked much better than they did against the Americans and should cruise to the semi-finals.
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Canada vs. Finland - 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship from IIHF on Vimeo.
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