Ice Hockey IIHF World Championships 2017

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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USA - Russia  6-1

 

U.S. starts with a bang

Birthday girl Barnes nets two in 6-1 win

 

The United States began defence of its U18 women’s gold medal with a sound and speedy 6-1 win over Russia at the PSG Arena in Zlin this afternoon.

 

Captain Cayla Barnes, celebrating her 18^th birthday, scored twice for the victors.

 

Although the Russians put up a valiant fight in their own end, they were unable to generate many scoring chances that tested U.S. goalie Alex Gulstene to any great degree. Shots favoured the Americans, 39-15.

 

"We started off a little slowly," Barnes noted, "but once we got in our groove the goals started coming. It was a good way to start the tournament, and it was nice to help the team with two goals."

 

"It was a tough game, but we did our best," said Russian captain Nina Pirogova. "We didn't have a good start, and we didn't play as the coaches expected, but I think we'll be better tomorrow against Canada."

 

The Americans got the only two goals of the opening period thanks to their speed and puck pursuit. Maureen Murphy opened the scoring at 8:14 when she snapped a shot over the glove of Diana Farkhutdinova.

 

Just 34 seconds later it was 2-0 thanks to the persistence of Natalie Heising. Her first shot was stopped by Farkhutdinova, but no one checked her and she drilled the rebound between the goalies pads.

 

The U.S. had a great chance to increase its lead late in the period with a two-man advantage for 55 seconds, but the Russians defence, and some fine goaltending by Farkhutdinova, kept it a 2-0 game.

 

Barnes made it 3-0 just 55 seconds into the second when her high shot in the slot hit the crossbar and dropped in behind the goal line. 

 

"The coahces have been telling us to move the puck from defenceman to defenceman and then go to open ice," Barnes described. "Russia was running a trap and I saw a lane, so I took it. I got a shot away and it hit something and went in."

 

Taylor Wente added a fourth goal at 11:43 when she skated hard down the right wing and popped a quick shot high over Farkhutdinova’s glove. 

 

Barnes got her second of the night on a power play, sneaking in from the back side and one-timing a nice pass from Helsing over the glove of Valeria Merkusheva who took over for Farkhutdinova to start the period.

 

"That was a great play by Natalie to see that play back door," Barnes said. "It was an amazing play by her."

 

Anneke Linser rounded out the U.S. scoring with a goal late in the third.

 

The Russians broke Gulstene's shutout with a goal by Daria Beloglazova 26.7 seconds from the end of time.

 

"This is a different team from last year," Barnes said, "but our goal is the same--to win gold. We flow well together. We watched the U.S. win gold at the World Juniors, and we're hoping to do the same."

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Czech Republic - Japan  3-2

 

Host Czechs start with win

3rd-period comeback leads Czech women past Japan

 

In front of an enthusiastic home crowd, the Czechs opened up Group B of the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship with a 3-2 victory over Japan.

 

They were led offensively in the see-saw affair by Natalie Mlynkova, who assisted on the team's first goal and scored the game-winner goal midway through the third period. Airi Sato figured in on both Japanese goals in the second period, scoring one and assisting on the other.

 

“It was definitely a tough game,” Czech head coach Jan Fidrmuc said afterward. “The Japanese girls played like a machine and had us under a lot of pressure in our zone. They out-shot us, which doesn't happen very often.”

 

Japan had a decisive edge in play in the first period, thanks in part to a pair of power plays, but Kristyna Blahova was perfect in goal. 

 

“From the moment I stepped on the ice and saw all the fans in the stands, I was petty pumped,” an excited and relieved Blahova said after the game. “The adrenalin rush you get from a packed arena is pretty awesome.”

 

After killing off their second penalty with a minute to go, the Czechs went to the attack. Following a face-off win in the attacking zone by Mlynkova, Magdalena Erbenova's wrister from the point squeezed through goalie Mei Sato's body and arm and dribbled across the goal line with 10 seconds showing on the clock.

 

“I think that the younger players were a bit nervous, since it was the first game they'd ever played in the World Championships ever played,” said Erbenova, who is a month away from her 17th birthday and playing in her second U18 World Championship. “Then we warmed up, though, and it was better.”

 

The Czechs were much better in the second period and attacked hard at the start. Martina Exnerova very nearly gave her team a two-goal lead when she received the pass right in front of a wide-open net, but Mei Sato slid across to make an amazing pad save. That immediately turned into a breakaway for Japan's Remi Koyama, but she was denied by the right pad of Blahova.

 

But like the Czechs in the first period, the Japanese were outplayed but capitalized on their chances. Midway through the period, Koyama used her speed to beat the Czech defence and, while she couldn't break totally free, managed to shovel a pass over to Airi Sato, who fired it home to tie the game.

 

In the last minute of the middle period the Japanese took their first and only lead of the game. Following a turnover in the Czech zone, the puck was moved to Hiraku Yamashita in the slot, who fired a perfect wrister high off the post and in.

 

“We made too many mistakes the whole game,” Fidrmuc figured. “We were definitely better in the second period but the Japanese played a simple, patient game and out-scored us 2-0.”

 

Undaunted, the Czechs went back to the attack at the start of the third period and produced a couple more goals to regain the lead. Two minutes in, Krystyna Kaltounkova led a rush down the right wing boards to get behind the defence, then cut in front and tucked it home to tie the score.

 

Just past the midway mark of the final frame, Barbora Machalova did some good work down low to win a battle for the puck, then fed Mlynkova in front for the quick wrister that beat Sato for the eventual game-winner.

 

The Japanese did try to push for the equalizer, but just couldn't get a bounce to fall their way, with a dangerous scramble in Blahova's crease with six minutes to go not crossing the line. 

 

“We still believed (after the second period) that we would win,” said Blahova, who did her part in aiding the comeback by stopping all 10 shots she faced in the third period, and 23 of 25 overall. “We supported each other in the locker room and fought hard on the ice.”

 

In the last two minutes Japan pulled Sato, who stopped 16 of 19 shots in the game. But it was to no avail, as the Czechs held on to win, pouring over the bench at the final horn to the wild approval of the Prerov faithful.

 

With three points, the Czechs will face Switzerland in Sunday's early game. Japan will look for its first win against Finland in the later game.

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Canada - Sweden  5-1

 

Canada works for win

Sweden led 1-0 after 1st, didn’t let up

 

Canada was full measure for its 5-1 victory tonight in Zlin, but the Swedes forced Canada to come from behind for the win.

 

Olivia Knowles had a goal and an assist while Emma Buckles had two assists. In all, Canada had goals from five scorers and outshot Sweden 33-17.

 

In fact, Sweden scored the only goal of the first period, and when it fell behind in the second, Canada had its vulnerable moments.

 

"We worked really hard in the first period and tried to keep going in the second, but it was really fast hockey, and I think maybe we got a bit tired," Sweden captain Hanna Olsson, the goalscorer, said.

 

Olsson scored the opening goal at 3:18 when she snapped a quick shot over the glove of Danika Ranger, starting her first game for Canada.

 

"Lina [Ljungblom] worked really hard in the corner and got the puck to me," Olsson said. "I just tried to shoot quickly, and it went in. It was great."

 

Although Canada controlled the period, the Swedes kept their opponents to the outside, blocked shots and got sticks in the way of passes, and generally played a frustrating style of hockey.

 

"We had a slow start, but we knew we just had to stick to our game plan," Canada's captain Ashton Bell said. "We got going, got some pucks to the net, started burying our chances."

 

Canada got on the board at 5:12 of the second thanks to a fumbled puck by Swedish defenceman Paula Bergstrom at her blue line. Bell scooped up the loose puck and went in on goal, making a great deke on Anna Amholt to tie the score.

 

"It was a lucky bounce, and I happened to be there and put it in," Bell recounted.

 

Five minutes later, Sophie Shirley made a great play to set up the go-ahead goal, skating circles before dishing off to Brette Pettet whose one-timer beat Amholt cleanly.

 

The Canadians extended their lead on a late power play, Sarah Fillier taking a shot that made its way through traffic and past Amholt, who had no chance on the play.

 

"We looked to pick things up in the second, for sure," Shirley said. "We wanted to speed things up and get to the net more."

 

But Sweden had some chances of its own, notably Olsson who twice came out front before shooting into the chest of Ranger. Olsson also set up Celine Tedenby on a two-on-one, but Ranger was there to block the shot.

 

"We worked hard ot create our chances," Olsson continued. "Hopefully tomorrow they will go in. I hope so. But we have to play for three periods."

 

Any hope for a Swedish rally was squashed 17 seconds into the third when Olivia Knowles made it 4-1 for Canada. Daryl Watts added a fifth goal midway through the period.

 

"We have a lot of skilled players and play end-to-end hockey," Bell described. "We have great offence and defence this year."

 

Today's teams swap opponents tomorrow. Canada plays Russia in the early game and then the Americans and Swedes play. SAll teams have a rest day on Monday.

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Finland - Switzerland  3-1

 

Nylund's pair propels Finns

Finns strike early, cruise to 3-1 win over Swiss

 

Led by the line of Jenniina Nylund, Linnea Melotindos and Emilia Vesa, Finland dominated the first period and built up a 2-0 lead, then beat Switzerland 3-1.

 

All three of the linemates finished the game with two points. Centre Nylund led the attack, scoring both first-period goals on brilliant individual efforts.

 

Nylund's first goal was amazing. Back to retrieve the puck on the power play, she started from her own zone and beat three Swiss penalty killers by her self – moving left, right, and left again before cutting in front and backhanding the puck into the roof of the net.

 

Her second goal came inside the last two minutes of the opening period when she beat a defender to a loose puck in the Swiss zone, skated into the middle of the slot and beat Saskia Mauer with a wrister to the stick side.

 

The teams traded goals in the second period.

 

First the Swiss got on the board in the 25th minute on a strange play where Finnish goalie Jenna Silvonen stopped the shot from Rahel Enzler, but with the rebound sitting in front of her, Lara Zimmerman tried to poke at the puck. Instead, she hit the blade of Silvonen's goal stick, which propelled the puck into the net.

 

The Finns restored their two-goal lead two and a half minutes later, however. Melotindos fed the puck from below the goal line out front to Vesa, who one-timed it in.

 

Finland had chances to add to its lead in the third period, but Mauer made some key stops to keep her team in it. However, the Swiss were unable to generate the offence they needed and got no closer.

 

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Another busy Hockey world championships day to come, tomorrow Sunday will starts also the womens Under 18 Divisions I A and B tournaments,

 

Mens

 

Under 20 Division II Group B World Championships in Logroňo (ESP)

Day 2 Schedule (8th January 2017)

GMT +1

 

13:00  South Korea vs Belgium

16:30  Australia vs Mexico

20:00  Spain vs Serbia

 

Livestreams

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Top Division World Championships in Czech Republic

Day 2 Schedule  (8th January 2017)

GMT +1

 

Group A in Zlín

15:30  Canada vs Russia

19:30  Sweden vs USA

 

Group B in Přerov

16:15  Switzerland vs Czech Republic

20:15  Finland vs Japan

 

Livestreams

 

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Division I Group A World Championships in Budapest (HUN)

Day 1 Schedule (8th January 2017)

GMT +1

 

12:00  Austria vs France

15:30  Norway vs Germany

19:00  Hungary vs Slovakia

 

*Usual format, Round Robin Tournament, 1st Ranked team will advance to the Under 18 Top Division World Championships next year and will be replaced in Division I Group A by the relegated team (the 8th ranked team) from the U18 womens world championships playing this week in Czech Republic. the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th ranked teams will maintain in this division also for next year, the 6th ranked team will be relegated next year in to Womens Under 18 Division I Group B World championships and will be replaced by the winner of this years edition which will be played simultanously this week in Poland.

 

Livestreams

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Division I Group B World Championships in Katowice (POL)

Day 1 Schedule (8th January 2017)

GMT +1

 

13:00  Great Britain vs Italy

16:30  China vs Kazakhstan

20:00  Poland vs Denmark

 

*Usual format, Round Robin Tournament, 1st Ranked team will advance to the Under 18 Division I Group A World Championships next year and will be replaced in Division I Group B by the relegated team (the 6th ranked team) from the U18 womens Division I A world championships playing this week in Hungary. the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th ranked teams will maintain in this division also for next year, the 6th ranked team will be relegated next year in to Womens Under 18 Division I Group B Qualification Tournament and will be replaced by the winner of this years Qualification which will be held later this month in Spain.

 

Livestreams

 

 

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Mens

 

Under 20 Division II Group B World Championships in Logroňo (ESP)

Day 2  (8th January 2017)

 

13:00  South Korea vs Belgium  3-1

16:30  Australia vs Mexico  5-6 after OT

20:00  Spain vs Serbia  4-2

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Top Division World Championships in Czech Republic

Day 2  (8th January 2017)

 

Group A in Zlín

15:30  Canada vs Russia  4-2

19:30  Sweden vs USA  0-4

 

Group B in Přerov

16:15  Switzerland vs Czech Republic  3-2 after GWS

20:15  Finland vs Japan  2-0

 

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Division I Group A World Championships in Budapest (HUN)

Day 1 (8th January 2017)

 

12:00  Austria vs France  2-1

15:30  Norway vs Germany  3-2

19:00  Hungary vs Slovakia  0-4

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Division I Group B World Championships in Katowice (POL)

Day 1 (8th January 2017)

 

13:00  Great Britain vs Italy  0-3

16:30  China vs Kazakhstan  4-1

20:00  Poland vs Denmark  0-2

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Canada - Russia  4-2

 

Canada survives scare

Russians were 2-2 in 3rd before falling, 4-2

 

Canada scored two goals in the third to break a 2-2 tie and defeat Russia in a game that was fiercely competitive throughout.

 

The score should come as lttile surprise. Although Canada had won all six previous meetings in WW18 play by a cumulative score of 22-8, there were several close games, notably a 1-0 overtime win in 2014 and a narrow 3-2 win in 2015.

 

Russian goalie Valeria Merkusheva was sensational in keeping the score close. The Canadians peppered her with 45 shots while facing only 14, but Amy Potomak and Brette Pettet managed to bang pucks by her in the third to create the margin of victory.

 

Potomak's goal came on the power play after three sparkling saves by Merkusheva, while Pettet's was a close-in shot off a scramble.

 

"It’s going to be hard to score pretty goals here, so one important thing for us is get to the net and pound pucks in," Pettet said. "It worked out for me at the end, which is great."

 

"We were faster on offense and played well defensively today compared to yesterday [6-1 loss to the U.S.], and, of course, we didn’t make as many bad mistakes as we did against the U.S.," Merkusheva noted. 

 

Indeed, both teams incurred only two minor penalties each. Yesterday, the Russians had five short-handed situations to deal with.

 

"They’re just a good team, plain and simple," said Canada's coach, Troy Ryan. "There’s not one thing in particular they did well today. They played well in the neutral zone. They play a 1-3-1 and try to clog things up. But they compete, play physical. We had the luxury of watching them play the U.S., so we knew what we were getting ourselves into."

 

Both teams have a day off before a critical final slate of games in the round robin. Canada will play the United States in one and Russia will face Sweden in the other. The top two teams in Group A get a bye directly to the semi-finals while the third and fourth teams play the top two teams in Group B (playing in Prerov) in the quarter-finals.

 

The first period for Russia today was much the same as yesterday against the U.S. They came out of it trailing, this time, 1-0, but they kept their opponents largely to the periphery and played a physical game.

 

The only goal was not a highlight-reel gem, but they all count. Alexa Vasko banged home a loose puck at 8:25 after goalie Merkusheva failed to cover up the initial shot. 

 

Shots favoured Canada, 15-2, and Edith D’Astous-Moreau had only two long shots to contend with.

 

But the Russians came out flying in the second, and they were rewarded for their skating and tenacious play. Alina Orlova’s long shot was tipped in front by Oxana Bratisheva at 4:17, tying the game.

 

More incredibly, the Russians took a 2-1 lead some four minutes later, executing a two-on-one perfectly. Alyona Starovoitova, a left-hand shot, skated down the right wing and instead of passing opted to shoot. She beat D’Astous-Moreau over the glove on the short side, stunning the Canadians.

 

This marked only the third time Russia has ever had a lead on Canada in WW18 play and it was the latest in a game as well. Both previous occasions (2010, 2015) were 1-0 leads in the first period.

 

Despite this moment of importance, Canada got down to business and tied the score a scant 38 seconds later. Gabrielle David’s shot was blocked by Merkusheva, but Audrey-Anne Veillette smacked in the rebound, her first goal in a Canada sweater. Captain Ashton Bell collected the puck for her, but Canada was in a fight.

 

The rest of the period was evenly played, and soon after a Russia power play almost resulted in a third goal and another lead.

 

As it stood, the Russians skated with the Canadians, blocked shots, and played an even game throughout. They lacked the necessary firepower to test D'Astous-Moreau regularly, but they sure gave Canada plenty to think about.

 

"I think both teams got off to a good start," Pettet summarized. "It was a physical game, but the biggest thing for us was getting better throughout the game, which I think we did. Hopefully we’ll do the same throughout the tournament."

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Switzerland - Czech Republic  3-2 after GWS

 

Ruedi scores shootout winner

'Maurer Power' backstops Swiss to shootout win

 

Lisa Ruedi scored the only goal of the shootout and was credited with her second goal of the game as Switzerland beat the Czech Republic 3-2.

 

However, the real hero of the game was goaltender Saskia Maurer, without whom the game would have got nowhere near overtime.

 

Through 65 minutes of hockey the shots on goal were 46-14 in favour of the Czechs, but Mauer was unbeatable for nearly two periods as her team built up a two-goal lead. The Czechs battled back, but in the end the Swiss take the extra point.

 

“The hardest part was the traffic in front,” Maurer said afterward. “I couldn't see some of the shots.”

 

It was the second straight game where Switzerland was out-shot by more than 2-1. When asked the difference between the two games, Maurer said that “there were more shots in this one.”

 

“We are very happy and very proud that we could win this type of game,” said Swiss head coach Andrea Kroni. When asked about Maurer, Kroni replied, “Oh, she did a great job! She's really young – not even 16 yet – but she's a really good goalkeeper and that's why she's here.”

 

For Czech goaltender Kristyna Blahova, the game was also challenging, but in a different way.

 

"It was very difficult to stay sharp with so few shots," she said afterward. "For a goalie, the hardest thing might be if you only get two shots in a period.”

 

“We're disappointed with the outcome,” said Czech coach Jan Fidrmuc. “The way we played for two periods, it never should have gone to a shootout. We made a nice comeback, but unfortunately it didn't lead to a victory. The Swiss goalie played very well.”

 

It was another large and enthusiastic gathering in Prerov as 2230 came out to support the Czech team, but Noemi Ryhner silenced them less than three minutes in, converting Shannon Sigrist's pass and quickly firing it between Blahova's legs.

 

The Czechs shook it off and dominated the rest of the first period but were unable to score a goal, and the Swiss got a lucky bounce in the 16th minute to double their lead. Ryhner's shot deflected over the net and took a strange bounce off the end boards. Blahova took just long enough to find the puck to give the chance to Ruedi, who was parked right at the side of the net as the puck came to her.

 

Overall the shots were 11-6 in favour of the Czechs in the first period, but the tournament hosts completely took over the game in the second period in all aspects but on the scoreboard. They fired 23 shots at Mauer in the middle frame, and they would need all of them before they found an opening.

 

“In the second period we took a step back,” said Kroni. “We stopped playing aggressively and backed off and allowed the Czech Republic to have a lot of chances.”

 

The best chance was a clear-cut breakaway by Noemi Neubauerova just past the game's midpoint. The Czech forward made a great move and appeared to freeze Maurer before going to the forehand deke, but the Swiss goalie managed to stretch her left skate back to the goalpost and take away the room that Neubauerova appeared to have.

 

Asked if it was her best save of the game, Maurer grinned and replied, “It was one of them.”

 

“We played better than yesterday and out-skated our opponents, but we didn't score enough goals,” Neubauerova sighed. “After the first period we came on strong, we didn't quit, and that's important.”

 

After driving to the net in ever-increasing waves, it was finally a fortunate bounce for the Czechs that got them on the board. On the power play with just over a minute left in the period, Adela Skrdlova barely kept the puck onside at the point, then let go a wrister toward the crowd of players in front. It hit Aneta Cornova, who wasn't even facing the play, and deflected over the shoulder of Maurer, who didn't see a thing. 

Following the shooting gallery on Maurer that was the second period, the Swiss tidied up their team defence somewhat in the third period and greatly reduced the number of shots against, but they didn't prevent the tying goal. Magdalena Erbenova pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone, made a couple of nice moves to get into a good shooting position and fired a wrister just inside the far post with 8:23 to play in regulation time.

 

After a scoreless overtime, the game was decided in a shootout, where Maurer made three more saves. Blahova stopped the first two shots she faced, but in the third round was beaten by a perfect shot by Ruedi, which went off the back bar and out so quickly that the goal wasn't awarded until referee Yana Zueva consulted a linesman and the goal judge.

 

The Czechs momentarily lead Group B now with four points, while the Swiss are third with two. After two games in two days, the teams will have Monday off before finishing off the group stage on Tuesday – the Czechs against Finland with first place on the line, and Switzerland against Japan.

 

“We'll celebrate this win but that will only last one hour,” Kroni asserted. “After that we'll start looking ahead to Japan, and we have to win that game.”

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Sweden - USA  0-4

 

Americans keep going

Reideborn kept it close in 4-0 loss

 

Team USA scored three second-period goals to blow open a close game and skate to a 4-0 win over Sweden at PSG Arena in Zlin.

 

The win keeps the Americans tied with Canada for first place in Group A while Sweden is now winless in two games.

 

The Americans poured on the shots and could have won by many more goals, but goaltender Sofia Reideborn was sensational. She stopped 57 of 61 shots while Sweden fired 23 shots at Lindsay Reed.

 

"We have a good goalie," Sweden's coach Ylva Lindberg said, "so it’s okay to give up shots on goal. But what we can’t do is give them good scoring chances. We did in the second, but in the third we were much better."

 

The Americans have yet to lose to Sweden in WW18 play, a string of success that includes eight previous wins (now nine) and a goals for-against ratio of 56-4 (now 60-4).

 

In fact, the last time Sweden so much as scored one goal against the U.S. was in 2009, a period that now includes seven straight shutouts.

The Americans got the only goal of the first and could have had several more except for Reideborn, who faced an incredible 27 shots. 

 

Delaney Drake found the net, though, on a great play, coming out of the corner with a deke and beating Reideborn to the short side with a quick shot.

 

The period might have gone differently had Sweden not cashed in on an early two-man advantage, but the American penalty kill was aggressive and put too much pressure on the Swedes’ playmaking abilities.

 

"I thought we played really well," said Anneke Linser. "We played like a team and had a lot of positive energy on the bench. And I think killing those two penalties off right away was a big factor in how the game developed."

 

The Swedes played their best hockey in the first half of the second period. They forechecked well, pressured the American defence, and pressured the puck carrier effectively. The only thing they couldn’t do was create many decent scoring chances on Reed.

 

When Linser knocked in a back-side rebound at 9:51, it felt as though Sweden had lost its chance. Less than a minute later, captain Cayla Barnes scored from the point on a power play, and at 17:23 Natalie Heising made it 4-0 on a nice end-to-end rush off a turnover at the U.S. blue line.

 

"They move the puck so well," Lndberg acknowledged. "When we make the right decisions, we do well, but later in the second period we gave them too many chances. It was a big down for us and a big up for them."

 

Teams have a day off tomorrow, but on Tuesday it wil be the United States facing Canada and the Swedes taking on Russia. The U.S. might well have the upper hand in the game given that the players arrived for today's game when the Canada-Russia game was tied 2-2 eary in the third period.

 

"It gives us the thought that we have to step on them right away, get them behind and have a quick start," Linser said.

 

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WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Finland - Japan  2-0

 

Finns win vs pesky Japanese

Nieminen provides both goals in a Finnish win

 

Petra Nieminen scored twice and Jenna Silvanen made 17 saves for the shutout as Finland edged a feisty Japanese team 2-0.

 

Petra Nieminen scored twice and Jenna Silvanen made 17 saves for the shutout as Finland edged a feisty Japanese team 2-0.

 

Japan was just promoted to the top division of the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship this year, but in two games they have given fits to two countries that have won medals in this tournament before. After falling 3-2 to the host Czech Republic yesterday, they played Finland close tonight, and were within a goal into the last period.

 

Remarkable was not just that they kept the score close, but again the play was not one-sided. The first period was scoreless, with the Finns managing a slim 7-6 shots advantage.

 

The Finns opened the scoring just 23 seconds into the second period, with Nieminen receiving the pass in the high slot, swooping down low and firing a wrist shot over the glove of Ayu Tonasaki, who was playing her first game of the tournament.

 

But if anyone expected the floodgates to open at that point, they were mistaken. The Finns did get a couple of decent chances, but Tonasaki made some good saves.

 

Once again, the Finns started the third period with jump and nearly scored another first-minute goal, but couldn't jam the puck in at the side of the net. Nieminen did add her second goal of the game six minutes later with another nice shot.

 

That was all the scoring, however. With six points in two games, Finland now leads Group B, and a single point on Tuesday against the Czech Republic will be enough to secure top spot. As for the Japanese, they'll be in the relegation series, but Tuesday's action will determine their opponent.