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The Czech Republic earned their first Group A win by defeating Finland 2-0 in the Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament on Sunday, while Sweden secured a quarter-final place with a 4-0 win over France in Group B at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
Finland and the Czech Republic had difficult starts to the 2026 Olympic Games. The Czechs lost their opener 5-1 to the U.S. followed by a 4-3 shootout loss to Switzerland.
Finland’s first match was postponed after four of their roster tested positive for norovirus. They lost 5-0 to the U.S. on Saturday.
The Finns conceded twice in the opening period on Sunday. Tereza Pištěková and Natálie Mlýnková were on target for the Czechs who, unlike against the Swiss, managed to hold onto their two-goal lead.
The Czechs went in front in the third minute, stealing the puck in the neutral zone before Pištěková lifted her shot over the goalie.
Finland could have been in further trouble less than a minute later with Susanna Tapani penalized for hooking, but they managed to kill the penalty
The Czechs were then left short-handed twice in quick succession and the Finns peppered Klára Peslarová with shots, but the goaltender held firm.
After failing to make two power plays count, Finland conceded again near the end of the opening period. Mlýnková blasted the puck into the roof of the net to double the Czech’s lead.
Peslarová made a great save to deny Michelle Karvinen on a Finnish breakaway early in the second period. The Finns pulled their goalie in the final two minutes of the game but were unable to find the net.
The U.S. currently sit atop Group A with six points after two games, with the Czechs two points behind in second. Champions Canada are on three points after one game, followed by Switzerland with two points. The Finns have yet to earn a point.
All five sides will advance to the last eight, where their seedings will depend on the final placings in the preliminary round.
Sweden sweeps past France
The Swedes have a maximum nine points after three matches to lead Group B, following a 4-0 win over France on Sunday.
Germany, Japan and Italy are all on three after two games. France are bottom without a point after three defeats.
The top three will advance to the last eight.
France shipped three goals in the opening period against Sweden, with Thea Johansson, Sara Hjalmarsson and Hanna Thuvik all on target. The Swedes added a fourth through Lisa Johansson at the start of the second period.
Thea Johansson opened the scoring in the fourth minute, forcing the puck home from Hilda Svensson’s pass into the crease for her fourth goal of these Olympics. She’s currently the top scorer of the tournament.
France were left short-handed when Margot Huot-Marchand was sent to the penalty box for tripping. Hjalmarsson converted a rebound shot to double Sweden’s lead. Thuvik added another with a backhander off the crossbar.
Huot-Marchand was given another penalty for an illegal hit, with Sweden failing to make the power play count. But in the opening minute of the second period, Lisa Johansson stuck the puck between the legs of the French goalie for the fourth goal.
French forward Lore Baudrit was penalized for roughing, which Sweden’s Nicole Hall laughed off. But Hall later spent time in the penalty box for the same offence along with France’s Chloé Aurard-Bushee after they clashed behind the Swedish goal.
French fans in full voice
France more than held their own for the remainder of the second period, resisting waves of Swedish attacks, while firing in seven shots. Every foray beyond the Swedes’ blue line was roared on by the large French contingent in the stands.
Sweden’s Mira Jungåker received a minor penalty for interference, shoving Clara Rozier to the ice, with the French fans booing when the replay was shown on the big screen.
But France failed to take advantage of the later power play and it was the Swedes celebrating in the arena at the final buzzer. The players went to salute their supporters after the game, beating their sticks on the ice.
Sweden play their final preliminary round match against Japan on Tuesday, with France facing Germany on Monday.
Sweden seeking first medal since 2006
Sweden has so far played to its high expectations by outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 14-1. But the team has finished no better than seventh at the past two Olympics after finishing fourth at the 2014 Sochi Games.
The drop-off has been dramatic for the only nation other than Canada and the U.S. to win an Olympic silver medal. The Swedes did so at the 2006 Turin Games by upsetting the Americans in the semifinals. Sweden also won bronze in 2002.
“The time for us is now,” coach Ulf Lundberg declared before the tournament opened. He based that on what he called a “we don’t care” attitude his players have adopted.
“You have those youngsters coming in and they’re not afraid of anything. I love it,” Lundberg said. “We want to be more like the Canadians and the Americans that feel that we are best, because then you have the grace and the swag.”
Sweden’s roster features eight players 22 and younger, with seven currently competing at U.S. colleges. They include Svensson, who is tied for seventh in the nation with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 26 games.
“Everyone on this team wants to take that medal. And I think everyone’s going to work very hard for that,” Svensson said after setting up two goals in the victory over France.
