Canada, Finland and Sweden advanced to the semifinals of the women's ice hockey world championship in Denmark on Friday after winning their quarterfinal matches.
Canada edged the Czech Republic 3-2 in Esbjerg, with Sarah Fillier, Rebecca Leslie and Renata Fast scoring. Goaltender Eve Gascon stopped 14 shots. Kristýna Kaltounková, the No. 1 pick in last year's PWHL draft, scored twice for the Czechs in power play situations. Fillier broke the deadlock at 1:29 of the middle period on a rebound, scoring in her third straight game after missing the first two preliminary games with an upper-body injury. She leads Canada with 23 goals and 38 points in 38 career games at the worlds. The Czechs pulled goaltender Klára Peslarová with 42 seconds remaining but could not tie the game.
In Esbjerg, Finland blanked Germany 6-0 to reach the last four. Petra Nieminen had a goal and two assists. Michelle Karvinen, Julia Schalin, Viivi Vainikka, Krista Parkkonen and Elisa Holopainen also scored. Goaltender Sanni Ahola recorded a shutout with 11 saves, facing only one shot in the entire middle period. Germany's goaltender Sandra Abstreiter made several brilliant saves, but her team managed only five shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. Germany's best finish at the worlds remains fourth place from 2017.
Sweden defeated Switzerland 1-0 in Esbjerg, with Sara Hjalmarsson scoring the only goal on a deflection from Mira Jungåker's shot at 14:40 of the second period. The victory avenged Sweden's 0-1 loss to Switzerland in the Olympic bronze medal game in Milan last winter. Switzerland pulled goaltender Ebba Svensson with less than a minute remaining but could not score. Sweden now has a chance to win its first championship medal since the 2007 World Championship bronze.
Canada will face Sweden in one semifinal on Sunday, while the United States plays Finland in the other. Canada beat Sweden 5-1 in their group stage opener a week ago. Sweden's federation captain Erika Holst said the team needs to be "significantly better" than it was on Friday when it faces Canada on Sunday at 19:00.
In a relegation playoff in Herning, Austria beat Japan 2-1 in overtime to secure its place in the top division for next year. Captain Anna Meixner scored both goals, including the winner on a 5-on-4 power play 70 seconds into overtime. Meixner said: "I need a calming shot now!" She described the winning goal, which went over the Japanese goaltender's head, as a shot she "rarely had such a bad shot" but that "somehow went in." Austria coach Alexander Bröms said: "Great relief. We have shown that we are here to stay."
The semifinals are scheduled for Sunday, 15 November, with the medal matches on Monday, 16 November.
