Ice hockey-Czechs get off the mark as Sweden sail into quarters

MILAN, Feb 8 : The Czech Republic earned their first Group A win by defeating Finland 2-0 in the Olympic women's ice hockey tournament on Sunday, while Sweden secured a quarter-final place with a 4-0 win over France in Group B at Milano Rho arena.

Finland and the Czech Republic had difficult starts to the Games. The Czechs lost their opener 5-1 to the U.S. followed by a 4-3 shootout loss to Switzerland.

Finland's first match was postponed after four of their roster tested positive for norovirus and they lost 5-0 to the U.S. on Saturday.

The Finns conceded twice in the opening period on Sunday, Tereza Pistekova and Natalie Mlynkova on target for the Czechs who, unlike against the Swiss, managed to hold onto their two-goal lead.

The Czechs went in front in the third minute, stealing the puck in the neutral zone before Pistekova lifted her shot over the goalie.

Finland could have been in further trouble less than a minute later with Susanna Tapani penalised for hooking, but they managed to kill the penalty

The Czechs were then left shorthanded twice in quick succession, and the Finns peppered Klara Peslarova with shots but the goaltender held firm.

After failing to make two power plays count, Finland conceded again near the end of the opening period, Mlynkova blasting the puck into the roof of the net.

Peslarova made a great save to deny Michelle Karvinen on a Finnish breakaway early in the second period and the Finns pulled their goalie in the final two minutes of the game but were unable to find the net.

The U.S. top Group A with six points after two games, with the Czechs two points behind in second. Champions Canada are on three points after one game, Switzerland have two points and the Finns have yet to earn a point.

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