Switzerland and the Czech Republic made winning starts at the women's world ice hockey championship against opponents backing up on Friday.
The Swiss beat Japan 3-1 in Herning and the Czechs routed Hungary 7-1 in Frederikshavn. Japan was flogged by the United States 10-0 on Thursday, the championship's opening day, when Hungary came from behind to beat Germany.
Japan was more focused on Friday but Switzerland always looked closer to clicking through a scoreless first period. Linemates Lara Stalder and Alina Muller scored and set up each other's goals in the second to assert Switzerland command, and Lena Marie Lutz added an empty-netter with 2:05 remaining in a third in which Japan was the better team.
Goalkeeper Miyuu Masuhara was excellent in stopping 17 of 20 shots but was pulled again at 3-0 down and Akane Shiga scored after missing a point-blank chance in the first.