IIHF – Czechs make rebounds count

Czechia scored two goals in the second period to break a scoreless tie and skate to a 4-0 win over Finland this afternoon in the second game of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Two goals came with the Finnish net empty.

This was the first ever penalty-free game in Women’s Worlds history.

The fact that it was a low-scoring game should come as no surprise. These teams have now played six times in Women’s Worlds history and scored only 20 total goals.

For Czechia goalie Klara Peslarova, who recorded the shutout, the game was a long time in the making. After starring in 2022 with a 6-0-1 record and 1.99 GAA, she suffered a serious knee injury and missed all of last season. Nevertheless, she sparkled in her return today, 

For the Finns, both Michelle Karvinen and Susanna Tapani were back after missing the 2023 Women’s Worlds as well.

Czechia coach Carla MacLeod was without arguably her best forward. Katerina Mrazova missed the game but has been one of the best stories of the new PWHL season. Playing for MacLeod in Ottawa, Mrazaova is fourth in the league in scoring with 17 points, but the team handled her absence well this afternoon. 

The Finns are back on the Adirondack Bank Center ice again tomorrow night against Canada while the Czechs have a day off before playing the hosts USA on Friday night.

Teams played a tight-checking opening period with few scoring chances and no penalties, but it didn’t take long for things to open in the second. Peslarova had a communication breakdown with her defender, causing a turnover, but the goalie made up for it with a sensational stop off Viivi Vainikka from the top of the crease. 

Then at the other end, Ahola gave up a nice rebound corralled by Tereza Vanisova, but Vanisova hit the post as she tried to swipe the puck in. Ahola then dove back and swept the puck out of harm’s way, keeping it a goalless game.

Ahola wasn’t so lucky a few moments later. She gave up another rebound off a Natalie Mlynkova shot, and this time 17-year-old Adela Sapovalivova was right there to give Czechia a 1-0 lead at 7:23. Sapovalivova was a star with the U18 team that won a silver medal just a few months ago, finishing second in tournament scoring. This is already her third senior WW as well as her 6th career WW goal.

Another rebound led to a second Czechia goal later in the period. Klara Hymlarova came down the left wing on a harmless play and got a shot off that Ahola couldn’t control. Defender Siiri Yrjola failed to watch…