Olympic Games: Sweden vs Finland, Women’s Quarterfinal Match

Sweden came into the match with a loss against Switzerland whereas Finland, who were seeded number 3 in the tournament, had won against OA Russia.

So it was no surprise that it was Finland that scored first after just 6:12 through Team Kuortane’s Petra Nieminen. Sweden never really got into the game and it felt inevitable when the lead increased to 2-0 through the experienced Riika Valila who plays for Swedish club HV71. When the match’s first penalty was called against the Swedes for Tripping at 15:50 it was Lukko Rauma’s Finnish forward Susanna Tapani who put 3-0 on the boards and the final result seemed certain.

The second period started with a goalkeeper change for the losing team with MODO Hockey’s Sara Berglind coming in. But it would be a Finn who is second place in the SDHL Total Points competition, Luleå HF’s Michelle Karvinen, who was next on the scoreboard. She smashed the puck past Berglind with a fantastic shot from the blue line at 7:14. For a moment the Finns celebration was muted by a challenge for Goalkeeper Interference. But there was never any doubt on the replay and 4-0 was quickly confirmed over the tannoy system.

The match should have been over, but the goal seemed to have a miraculous effect on the Swedes who suddenly remember they were in a sudden-death Olympic match rather than a pre-season friendly. They came out with full aggression challenging every loose puck and fully deserved their first goal of the match. It was scored by the player behind Karvinen in the SDHL Total Points competition, Emma Nordin. The joy was short lived for the Luleå HF player as 30 seconds later on a superb counterattack Valila scored her second of the match to take it to 5-1.

But undisturbed by the goal Sweden continued to play with aggression, perhaps too much as MODO Hockey defender Annie Svedin was penalised for roughing at 15.24. Whereas Sweden of the first period would have let a goal in, the all-new-Sweden scored a goal with a player down. It came through yet another Luleå HF player, Rebecca Stenberg, who produced an unbelievable solo effort skating into the offensive zone and put the shot beautifully passed the left-hand side of the Finnish keeper, Noora Räty. It was 5-2 as the break but it seemed that an upset might be possible.

The Swedes seems to think so, continuing to assert themselves across the ice in the third period. But even though they were pushed back, it was the Finns who scored first at 4:32. It came through Emma Nuutinen, from Mercyhurst University in the USA. Sweden continued to play as though their life dependent on it, with great forechecking and direct attacks on the goal. But although Finland looked pressured at the back they always had things under control in the offensive zone. And it was their quality which shone through to as they put the icing on the cake with a final goal from another player from HV71, Sanni Hakala. The final result: 7-2.

Finland deservedly go on to the semi-final against the USA, hoping to better the 3-1 defeat they received in the group stages. Sweden’s medal hopes have gone, but their tournament is not over as they play against Japan in a playoff for the non-medal positions.

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