Ice hockey-Switzerland overcome Czechs in thrilling shootout, Japan score late to beat France

MILAN, Feb 6 : Swiss forward Ivana Wey scored in the eighth round of a thrilling shootout to seal a 4-3 win over the Czech Republic in Olympic women's ice hockey at Santagiulia Arena on Friday, while Japan netted twice late to hand France its second successive loss of the Games 3-2.

The Czech team appeared en route to victory before Switzerland scored twice in the last 11 minutes of regulation, forcing overtime, and Wey thrust her fist in the air after whipping the puck past the Czech goalie for the Group A shootout win.

A nifty solo effort from 19-year-old forward Tereza Plosova provided a two-goal cushion for a Czech team eager to bounce back from their 5-1 loss to the United States on Thursday, but they were unable to hold off a Swiss comeback.

Switzerland next play defending Olympic champions Canada on Saturday, while Czech Republic play Finland on Sunday. All five sides from Group A will advance to the last eight.

The two sides traded goals in rapid succession in an exciting first period, as forward Kristyna Kaltounkova slipped the puck through the legs of the diving Swiss goalie less than 90 seconds into the game.

Swiss forward Laura Zimmermann levelled it in the eighth minute, but Czech Republic regained the lead more than a minute later, when Natalie Mlynkova flipped in an easy wrist shot from close range off a fine assist from Katerina Mrazova.

Goaltender Michaela Hesova pounced on the puck to keep the Czech lead late in the scoreless second period, before Plosova made it 3-1 just over six minutes into the third.

But Switzerland fought back as Alina Muller scored on the power play 10 minutes into the period and defender Lara Christen rifled the puck into the goal with less than three minutes left in regulation,