2026 IIHF Women's World Championship: Day 5

Germany 2, Czechia 1 (SO)

Czechia's inability to put the puck in the net continues to haunt them this tournament. This was an issue in the Women's Euro Hockey Tour in the leadup to Worlds but I think everyone just thought they were a little snakebit and would be fine. They have all those great goal scorers.

But this is the second straight game where they were beat by a team they likely should have beaten and the second game where they managed just a single goal of offense.

This is a team in transition with the departure of coach Carla McLeod, who really sheparded this program to the prominence it currently has. They qualified for their first Olympics under her and won their first World Championship medals. So there's new coach Brian Idalski. Then this week we had the awful sexist comments from Czechia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka. Klára Hymlárová missed most of their game against Switzerland after a game misconduct and she was suspended for this game as well.

There's no doubt been distractions.

But Czechia is not playing like a team that fought it's way to be a perennial contender for the bronze medal and is ranked third in the world and their path doesn't get any easier as they play the US in their final group game on Wednesday. They are ninth of 10 teams in scoring efficiency and on the power play - they have no power play goals in 11 attempts.

The players seem to be at a loss to talk about the how and why of the goal drought.

This game started quickly as Lilli Welcke scored 1:12 into the game. Czechia did respond well here, scoring at the midpoint of the period on a Linda Vocetková rebound to tie the game 1-1. And that would be it for the scoring for the ensuing 55 minutes or so. The teams were evenly matched and neither could get a breakthrough. High quality chances did come up, but were mostly handled quite easily by the goaltenders.

The teams needed a shootout to decide and it was the Welke sisters that came through. Lilli scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout. Luisa had scored the round before. That secured Germany the win. They will face Finland in the quarterfinals on Friday. Czechia will face either Sweden or Canada.

Finland 8, Japan 2

The Finns have bounced back well after their loss to Sweden. Thought Japan got on the board first here, it didn't seem to phase Finland and might have worked to tighten their resolve even more.

A strong forebeck from Japan put pressure on deep in the zone. A forced turnover went to Remi Koyama's stick and she winged it right back and to the back of the net to make this a 1-0 game.

But Finland responded quickly, scoring three goales in less than three minutes to really set the tone. Emma Nuutinen, Julie Liikala and Sanni Vanhanen each scored to put the Finns up 3-1. Japan started strong to open play in the second as Rio Koro scored on a two player advantage to make it a 3-2 game. Less than two minutes later Emmi Juusela scored her first World Championship goal, putting away a rebound to open up a two-goal lead for Finland.

Sanni Rantala, Nuutinena and Siiri Yrjölä each scored in the third to put the game out of reach and secure the win 8-2 for Finland.

Switzerland 4, Austria 2

This game sealed the fate of Austria - a loss means they will be facing off against either Denmark and or Japan in the relegation game on Friday. Lost will head back to Division 1A.

Austria came out strong, looking to push Switzerland off balance a bit and they did a good job of that for the first 12 minute or so of the first. But without sustained possession, they were forced into being a little too passively statonsary in the defensive zone. Sinja Leeman put Sweden on the board with a tap in at the back door on a pass from Naemi Herzig to make it 1-0 Switerland.

A big save on a bit of a breakaway in the opening five minutes of the second seemed to energize Austria and they really played their best throughout the second period. Shortly after that stop, Theresa Schafzahl tapped in a rebound to tie the game 1-1.

The Austrians were able to take advantage of a power play in the third and Lena Daubock kept with the puck to give them their first lead, 2-1.

That lasted all of 19 seconds as Alina Müller took the puck herself and buried it top shelf to tie the game 2-2. They had another chance later in the second, but it was challenged by Austria and overturned.

In the third, Ivana Wey used her strong shot from distance to score on the power play in the opening minutes of the frame to give Switerland a lead once again - and this one they would not relinquish. Müller's empty-net goal ensure the 4-2 win for Switzerland.

Sweden 10, Denmark 0

After a solid 4-1 win over Finland, the Swedes have been showing they plan to fight for a podium spot here. They scored early and often and shared the wealth among their roster - eight different skaters scored goals. Nicole Hall and Ebba Hedqvist led the team with two goals each. Michelle Löwenhielm had a goal and three assists while Mira Jungåker added four assists. In the end, Sweden outshot Denmark 63- 4. Emma Sofie Nordstrom made 53 saves for Denmark in the loss.

The Danes rarely found their way up ice and didn't spent much time together as a unit in the zone. Sweden dominated and kept up their press for a full 60 minutes. This feels like the kind of game they can really learn from and build on. The Swedes will finish second in group B and will away the fates of Switzerland and Czechia to see when and who they will play. Japan needs to finish the preliminaries ahead of Denmark in order to advance to the quarterfinals. The team that advances will get USA in the quarterfinals.