Naisleijonat got its opening victory in the World Hockey Championships and successes on a wide front.
18:27•Updated 19:38
The Finnish women’s national ice hockey team won its opening victory at the World Ice Hockey Championships when it beat Japan in Herning with 9–3 goals (2–1, 4–1, 3–1).
As expected, Finland took the victory with a clear score, as it had previously defeated Japan 7–1 and 6–1 in the training match in August.
Naisleijonat got success for their star players in the match. Of the players in the first chain Susanna Tapani and Petra Nieminen scored their first goals of the tournament with wonderful hits.
Of the second chain players Viivi Vainikka and Elisa Holopainen scored two goals and one assist each. The one who operated in the middle Nora Tulus excelled with two assists.
The head coach Juuso Toivolan according to, the victory feels very comforting at this point.
– This is a good way to continue the tournament. Good win, Toivola summarized.
According to Toivola, the wedding scandal related to Tapani has already been dealt with in the team, and it has not affected the team’s actions.
– That team is united and strong. Those goals proved that today. Nine goals and many successes. It felt good. It wasn’t necessarily the easiest game, but an honorable result.
Sundel struck the first beats
The game was under Finland’s control from start to finish. However, we waited ten minutes for the first goal, after which Sofiana Sundelin (1+1) shovels the puck into the net Kiira Yrjæsnes get up in front of the goal.
Tapani, who missed the USA match because of his friend’s wedding, scored a goal right away in his return match. Tapani grabbed the puck, misled the defender and put the puck into the goal in a wonderful way.
Before Tapani’s goal, Japan struck from the attacking end when Akane Shiga loaded Makoto Ito button pass to the empty goal of the puck.
Japan got chances mainly thanks to Shiga and in general their number one chain. Shiga was responsible for both of his team’s goals, as he scored from a counterattack in the second period with his own loose puck into the net to make the game 4–2.
From the Finnish show
However, the second installment was from the Finnish show. In addition to Vainika, Holopainen and Nieminen, who skated through, managed to finish. Holopainen lifted the puck to the top shelf, Nieminen, on the other hand, finished off his deflection and put the puck on the ice in the goal.
Japan got one more reduction
In the final set, the Japanese players showed fatigue and Finland was allowed to embellish the readings. Defender Nelli Laitinen (1+1) succeeded from a direct attack, and Holopainen scored his second goal of the evening.
Finland took a 9–2 lead in the final set, when The blue of Karelia the shot from the line hit the goal Yrjässen (0+2) and Krista Parkkonen (0+2) passes. The final score 9–3 was completed by a successful defender from a direct attack Going to Shiga.