2024 Worlds Recap: Finland Claimed First Win While Germany Took Group B

Germany beats Sweden, 1-0

Germany and Sweden opened play on Monday with a penalty-heavy, one-goal game resulting in Germany's win and claim to the top spot in Group B.

It wasn't until the third period that Franziska Feldmeier scored to break the 0-0 tie. This was Feldmeier's first goal of the tournament and was assisted by Tabea Botthof and Celina Haider.

This was Sweden's final game of the group stage and first loss. With all four other teams in action tomorrow, this cemented Germany's spot atop Group B with nine points and a game in hand over Sweden.

Finland beats Switzerland, 5-2

In a battle for the bottom of the Group A standings, we saw the highest scoring matchup of the day as Finland took down Switzerland to earn their first win of the tournament.

Petra Nieminen started the scoring just 42 seconds into the first period but it was Switzerland's Lara Stalder who struck next with a goal to tie it up at 14:14.

Annic Buchi was called for an illegal hit at 18:14, giving Finland a critical power play opportunity that they did capitalize on. With eight seconds to go in the first frame, Ronja Savolainen scored to give Finland the 2-1 edge headed into the locker room.

Sanni Vanhanen and Susanna Tapani added to Finland's lead in the second period with goals about eight minutes apart. Jenni Hiirikoski claimed assists on both.

Switzerland's Sinja Leemann kept them in it with a goal halfway through the third period to make it 4-2 but they could not do much else with their time, and even had to kill a penalty on Lara Stalder about a minute after that goal.

With her third point of the game, Hiirikoski scored the empty net goal with under two minutes to go to seal the deal for Finland's first win of the tournament.

Switzerland will play Czechia tomorrow but not much is expected to change in the group standings so it is likely Switzerland will remain at the bottom of Group A.

USA beats Canada, 1-0 in overtime

USA took on Canada in what is typically viewed as the gold medal game preview and the most anticipated game of the group stage. In a shock to no one who has watched this tournament before, these two teams went to overtime and just one goal decided the game.

Ultimately it was Kirsten Simms with her first goal for the Team USA senior team to break the 0-0 tie that lasted all of regulation, to give the Americans the win and remain the only undefeated team in Group A.

Lydia will dive deeper into this matchup so I will leave you with the simple highlights but after the group stage game we were all waiting for, it looks like USA has an edge though stranger things have happened...We all know USA and Canada will never give us a boring match.