Beijing, China, February 12, 2022: Finland outclassed Japan 7-1 in their women’s ice hockey quarter-final at the Wukesong Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Japan conceded two goals within the first five minutes and, after a brief flurry, were eventually overwhelmed by the fast, physical and relentless Scandinavians.
Finland have won the Olympic bronze medal on three occasions, including PyeongChang 2018, and were much too slick and clinical for Japan.
Still, “Smile Japan” - as they are nicknamed - will have plenty to smile about once they have recovered from the disappointment of elimination as they topped Group B in the preliminary round with three victories in four games and kept going right to the end, even when the result was a foregone conclusion.
Japan’s captain, Chiho Osawa, was embraced after the game by players from Finland who know her from playing club hockey in Sweden.
“They said you have to be proud of our team,” Osawa said. “I am very happy about that but I really wanted to win today and play more games. That’s too bad. Now I wish they will win their next game. It was really difficult and hard in my heart.”
Regarding the difference between the two teams, Osawa added: “They are really smart in every zone – in the attacking zone and defensive zone and they couldn’t give us any time. They know how to win this tournament and that is different from us.”
Petra Nieminen led the Finland charge with three goals and two assists.
Japan suffered a two-minute penalty after only 50 seconds when Rui Ukita was sent to the sin bin for tripping. With the power play, Finland swept into the lead at 2:08 with a crisp left-handed shot from Nieminen as her teammate Susanna Tapani blocked the view of Japan goalie Nana Fujimoto.
The Finns were flying and totally dominating Japan. It was no surprise when Viivi Vainikka made it 2-0 at 4:32.
Japan needed a goal to lift their confidence and Akane Shiga provided the inspiration with a break down the right before cutting inside to smash home through the keeper’s pads for 2-1 at 15:01.
Finland had lost their early momentum and dominance but scored against the run of play at 25:01 to make it 3-1 when Michelle Karvinen knocked home a loose puck almost on the line.
Finland then scored their best goal of the game so far with a flowing movement that ended with Nieminen flashing a shot high into the net past Fujimoto for 4-1 at 28.29 – her second goal of the game.
Nieminen was unstoppable and completed her hat trick for 5-1 just 18 seconds into the third period before another well-worked move gave Tapani the chance to extend their lead to 6-1 at 48:28.
Sanni Hakala carved her way through the Japan defence for 7-1 at 52.29, at which point Japan changed goalkeeper with Akane Konishi replacing Fujimoto, who had been slammed into the net a few minutes earlier by Tapani and hurt her left shoulder.
Finland won the bronze medal at PyeongChang 2018, Vancouver 2010 and Nagano 1998.
Photos: OCA
