2024 Worlds Recap: Canada Gets Fast Win Over Sweden

Finland beats Switzerland, 3-1

Just over a minute into the first game of the quarter-finals, Ivana Wey got Switzerland on the board with a goal to put them ahead of Finland, despite early possession dominance by the other team.

Petra Nieminen tied it up about nine minutes later. Besides that, the first period saw some chippy play from both teams and a handful of penalties. That lasted into the second frame before Susanna Tapani scored to give Finland their first lead at 16:34.

After a few more penalties and Nelli Laitinen making it 3-1 in the third period, Switzerland pulled their goalie in an attempt to generate some scoring but could not add to their one goal.

Czechia beats Germany, 1-0

In yet another close 1-0 battle in this tournament, Daniela Pejšová was the hero over the halfway point of the third period in this game between Czechia and Germany.

There were just two penalties, one apiece, before this goal in a game that featured a clear defensive battle. After Pejšová scored, however, Denisa Křížová was given a five minute major and game misconduct penalty for checking from behind in a retaliation attempt. Regardless, it is Czechia who will move on to the semi-finals.

Canada beats Sweden, 5-1

Renata Fast wasted no time in putting Canada up 1-0 with a goal at 2:25 of the first period.

Just three minutes after that, Laura Stacey scored to make it 2-0 with the help of Blayre Turnbull.

Canada's Emily Clark took the game's first penalty for boarding at 9:28, and Sweden got to work on the power play. Two seconds before the penalty expired, Hilda Svensson scored to put Sweden on the board and make it 2-1.

Though there were two more penalties, one on each time for an illegal hit, before time expired on the first period, play seemed to even out as Sweden held momentum and played good defense against a Canadian team that was steadily outshooting them.

After killing off an early holding call against Sweden's Lina Ljungblom, they got back to work attempting to tie the game; however, it was Renata Fast who scored again next.

In her first-ever two-goal game at Worlds, Fast gave Canada some breathing room with a 3-1 lead. That goal was assisted by Jocelyne Larocque and Kristin O'Neill.

Sweden had a lot of opportunities to stay in it and really needed a goal after back-to-back penalties against the Canadians, but they could not get past Emerance Maschmeyer in net.

The third period started off with both teams trading off penalties before Canada started running away with the lead. Natalie Spooner scored at 13:56 followed by Jaime Bourbonnais scoring less than a minute later.

Ultimately, Canada outshot Sweden 44-18; however, through the middle forty minutes, it seemed like a very evenly matched up game. Sweden was able to both generate scoring chances and defend well against Canada, who can score from anywhere.

Canada is typically very good on special teams, so the time to strike for Sweden would have been during the lone penalty called against Marie-Philip Poulin. Unfortunately, they could not translate their momentum and power play chances into goals.

The United States and Japan will face off to finish the night of quarterfinal match-ups, and Lydia will have a more in-depth analysis of that game – but another thrilling USA v. Canada installment looks to be in the cards for us in this tournament.