Sweden Beats Finland 4-1 in Women’s Hockey World Championship

The women’s crowns defeat Finland

Four goals powered Sweden past Finland in the second group-stage match at the women’s hockey world championship in Herning, Denmark, on Sunday afternoon.

Early Swedish dominance

Sweden took control immediately after head coach Erika Holst juggled her lines following an opening 5-1 loss to Canada. Ida Karlsson opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a shot into the top corner.

Hilda Svensson added a power-play goal three minutes later to make it 2-0. I think we do it damn well, especially the first half of this period, when we press them down really well, Svensson told SVT.

Svensson Träff preserves lead against Finnish pressure

Finland pushed back hard through the middle frames, forcing Swedish goaltender Ebba Svensson Träff to make several saves. We were a bit pinned back the whole period, Maja Nylén Persson told SVT regarding the heavy defensive workload. Svensson Träff’s performance preserved the lead through wave after wave of Finnish attacks.

Securing the final margin

Sara Hjalmarsson extended Sweden’s lead to 3-0 early in the third period by redirecting a puck past the Finnish defense. Petra Nieminen answered for Finland to cut the deficit, but 18-year-old tournament debutant Tilde Grillfors sealed the 4-1 victory by scoring into an empty net with three minutes remaining.

Sweden earns first victory against Finland since 2007

The 4-1 win marks Sweden’s first world championship victory against Finland since 2007. Sweden holds three points after two matches and faces host nation Denmark on Tuesday.

World Championship Questions

When is Sweden’s next world championship match?

Sweden plays its third group-stage game against host nation Denmark on Tuesday.

Who scored Sweden’s goals against Finland?

Ida Karlsson, Hilda Svensson, Sara Hjalmarsson, and Tilde Grillfors scored the four Swedish goals.

More on this story: Sweden Refuses to Play Russia in Ice Hockey World Championships

More on Sweden: Tomas Axnér Names Sweden's European Championship Squad · Sweden's Handball EURO Squad: Major Generation Shift and Koppang's Return