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The Czech Republic beat Finland 2-0 in Group A while Sweden beat France 4-0 in Group B to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament on Sunday.
Finland and the Czech Republic have had a rocky start to the 2026 Olympic Games. The Czechs lost their opening game to the USA 5-1; They then lost to Switzerland 4-3.
Finland’s first match was postponed after four of them tested positive for the noro virus. They lost 5-0 to America on Saturday.
The Finns conceded twice in Sunday’s opening period. Tereza Pishtkova and Natalie Malinkova were on target for the Czechs, who, unlike the Swiss, managed to take a two-goal lead.
The Czechs took the lead in the third minute and in the neutral zone Pishtkova lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and stole the ball.
Finland could have been in more trouble with less than a minute to go when Suzanna Tapani was penalized for her hook but managed to kill the penalty.
The Czechs were then short-handed twice in a row when the Finns shot Kalara Peslarova but the keeper held on.
Finland conceded again late in the opening period after failing to score on two power plays. Malinkova put the puck into the roof of the net to double the Czech lead.
Peslarova made a great save to deny Michelle Carvin on a Finnish breakaway early in the second period. The Finns pulled their goalkeeper in the last two minutes of the game but could not find the net.
The US now sits atop Group A with six points after two games, two points behind the Czechs in second place. Champion Canada sits on three points after one game, followed by Switzerland with two points. The Finns have yet to score.
All five sides will advance to the last eight and their seeding will be based on the final standings of the qualifiers.
Sweden beat France.
Following their 4-0 win over France on Sunday, the Swedes lead Group B with a maximum of nine points after three games.
Germany, Japan and Italy are all three after two games. France are at the bottom with no points after three defeats.
The top three advance to the last eight.
France cruised to three goals in the opening period against Sweden, with Tia Johansson, Sarah Hjalmarsson and Hanna Tuvik all on target. Early in the second period, the Swedes added a fourth through Lisa Johansson.
Thea Johansen scored in the fourth minute, forcing Hilda Svensson’s cross into the net. She is currently the tournament’s top scorer.
France were left short-handed when Margot Houtte Marchand was sent to the penalty box for a foul. Hjalmarsson put the rebound in to make it two for Sweden. Tuvik added another late effort off the crossbar.
Huot-Marchand was given another penalty for an illegal tackle, Sweden was unable to make a power play count. But in the opening minute of the second period, Lisa Johansson stuck the ball between the French goalkeeper’s legs.
French forward Lorre Baudrit was penalized for roughing, which made Sweden’s Nicole Hall laugh. But Hall was later sent off in the penalty box after a collision with France’s Chloe Aurard Boucher behind the Swedish goal.
French fans in full voice
France more than held their own for the second period, withstanding Sweden’s onslaught with seven shots on goal. All marches beyond the Swedish blue line were shouted down by a large French army at a standstill.
Sweden’s Myra Jungaker received a minor penalty for interference, knocking Clara Rozier to the ice, and the French fans booed as the replay was shown on the big screen.
But France failed to capitalize on the late power play and the Swedes were celebrating in the arena at the final whistle. After the game, the players went to greet their fans and hit their sticks on the ice.
Sweden plays its final qualifying match against Japan on Tuesday, while France faces Germany on Monday.
Sweden is looking for its first medal since 2006.
Sweden has played up to expectations, outscoring their opponents 14-1 so far. However, the team finished fourth at the 2014 Sochi Games and failed to finish higher than seventh in the last two Olympics.
The tournament was remarkable for the only country outside of Canada and the United States to win an Olympic silver medal. The Swedes upset the Americans in the semifinals of the 2006 Turin Games. Sweden also won bronze in 2002.
“It’s time,” coach Ulf Lundberg said before the tournament. This is based on the “we don’t care” attitude that the players follow.
“Those guys are coming in and they’re not afraid of anything. I like it,” Lundberg said. “We want to match the Canadians and Americans who feel we’re the best.
Eight players on Sweden’s roster are 22 and under, and seven are currently competing at American colleges. It includes Svensson, who ranks seventh with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 26 games.
“Everybody on this team wants to take that medal. And I think they’re all going to work really hard for that,” Svensson said after scoring twice in the win over France.