

Czechia got off to a strong start to their 2024 IIHF women's World Championship tournament beating Finland 4-0. The two teams entered the tournament as prime candidates for a medal.
After a scoreless first period with Finland's Sanni Ahola and Czechia's Klara Peslarova turning aside each shot they faced, Czechia scored first in the game with teenage star Adela Sapovalivova gathering a rebound in the slot before lifting a backhand over a sprawling Ahola in the second period.
Czechia continued to push the play throughout the second period until Klara Hymlarova took the puck from her own blueline with speed down the left wing. Entering the zone Hymlarova, who is a top prospect for the 2024 PWHL Draft, used the Finnish defender as a screen before jumping around them before kicking her own rebound to her stick and beating Ahola on the backhand.
In the third period, Czechia tightened up defensively holding Finland off the board until Natalie Mylnkova put the game on ice for Czechia firing the puck into the empty net. With the goalie still pulled, Tereza Plosova scored another into the empty net to make it 4-0.
Klara Peslarova stopped all 21 shots she faced in the game for a shutout.
Czechia won without their top offensive player Katerina Mrazova who was injured in a pre-tournament game.