Finland finished fifth at the IIHF women's World Championship beating Sweden in a placement game to secure their return to Group A next year.
Finland finished fifth at the IIHF women's World Championship beating Sweden in a placement game to secure their return to Group A next year.
BRAMPTON, Ontario -- If Canada and USA is the North American rivalry, Finland and Sweden are the European equivalent. The two nations faced off on the final day of the women's World Championship in a placement game to decide who would advance to Group A at next year's tournament.
That honor went to Finland, who secured fifth place and a return to Group A next year with a 3-1 win over Team Sweden.
Less than a minute into the game Swedish captain Anna Kellbin took a pass at the point with her slapshot squeaking through Finnish netminder Sanni Ahola.
Passing the midway point of the period, Finland's captain answered back as Jenni Hiirokoski put what looked like a harmless shot through traffic on the powerplay, but Swedish netminder Emma Soderberg couldn't spot it in time as it drifted over her shoulder to tie the game 1-1.
Finland carried their momentum into the second period. Blueliner Ronja Savolainen carried the puck to the goal line before finding Kiira Yrjanen who buried her shot to put Finland ahead.
The third period was a back and forth wit Sweden's Emma Soderberg making several key saves to keep her team in contention, but Sweden could not generate offense being outshot 42-19 in the game.
On their seventh powerplay of the game in the third, Finland's Noora Tulus put the game on ice for the Finns ripping a shot from the left circle over Soderberg's blocker to give Finland a two goal lead late. Tulus' goal would prove to be the final of the game giving Finland the 3-1 win.
In the post game ceremony, Finland's top three players of the tournament were named as Noora Tulus, Ronja Savolainen, and Petra Nieminen. Sweden's top three players were Hilda Svensson, Lina Ljungblom, and Emma Soderberg.
Finland will now return to Group A alongside Canada, USA, Switzerland, and Czechia next season. Sweden will return to Group B and look to play their way up.