Olympics women’s hockey quarterfinal, Finland vs. Sweden highlights, updated bracket and more
Finland punches ticket to the Olympics women’s hockey semifinals with a 7-2 win over Sweden
Finland had a very frustrating group portion of the 2018 Winter Olympics. In Olympics women’s hockey, it lost its first two games to Team USA and Canada, scoring merely two goals in the process. Finland took its frustrations out on Sweden, finally looking like the dominant team it was thought to be. It won 7-2 to advance to the medal round semifinals.
Riikka Valila wasn’t prepared to let her glorious Olympics career end, leading the way for Finland with two goals. Six different Finnish skaters scored a goal against Sweden, showing an impressive team effort. The other goals came from Petra Nieminen, Emma Nuutinen, Sanni Hakala, Michelle Karvinen, and Susanna Tapani.
Sweden’s goals came from Rebecca Stenberg and Emma Nordin. Finland outshot its opponents 31-21 and dominated play for the better part of 60 minutes. It wasn’t able to capitalize much on the power-play, converting just one of five. However, Finland was able to tire out Sweden and take advantage of its mistakes.
Highlights
#FIN opened the scoring early in its quarter-final matchup against longtime rivals #SWE; Petra Nieminin notched it on assists from Venla Hovi and Jenni Hiirikoski.#PyeongChang2018#IceHockey pic.twitter.com/pxrEvqVsTg
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 17, 2018
Make that 2-0 for #FIN over #SWE -- Isa Ruhenen unassisted.
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 17, 2018
#PyeongChang2018 #IceHockey
It has been a busy second period so far here at #Kwandong Hockey Centre. #FIN and #SWE have traded goals back and forth to put it at 5-1 midway through the frame. Michelle Karvinen and Rikka Valila scored for Finland, Emma Nordin for Sweden. #PyeongChang2018 #IceHockey
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 17, 2018
#FIN increases its lead to 6-2 over #SWE on a goal from Emma Nuutinen. Noora Tulus and Isa Rahunen get the helpers.#PyeongChang2018#IceHockey
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 17, 2018
Bracket
What’s Next?
Here’s how this game will affect the rest of the tournament. Finland advances to the semifinals. Its reward for beating Sweden? A rematch against Team USA. Finland nearly beat the Americans in its first game of the preliminary round. However, Team USA got two second-period goals and an empty netter at the end to beat them 3-1. Finland will have to find a way to stop USA’s speed, something no team has done yet.
Next: Best Olympian from each state
On the other end of the ice, Sweden falls to the fifth-place bracket. They will face Japan in the upper half of it. Sweden’s women’s hockey team cannot leave South Korea with a medal now. However, it’s still fighting for future rankings. Sweden will hope to redeem itself and leave South Korea with a little momentum.
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