Czechia – Finland 0: 1, The hockey players lost to the Finns in the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will play for 5th to 8th place

Czech hockey representatives.

Coach Tomáš Pacina’s charges longed to return to the Northerners a 1: 3 defeat from the same phase of the last championship played more than two years ago. They played an excellent match with the Finns and were a little more active in shooting in every third. In total, they won for 29:20 accurate shooting attempts, but throughout the match they failed on the flawlessly catching Anni Keisala in the Finnish goal area.

“We played a very good match. Especially in the first period we didn’t leave a bit of ice for the opponents. We had some good shots in the power play, we shaded in front of the goal and the puck jumped in front of the goal. , “commented captain Alena Mills on the futile conquest of Finland’s goal for the IIHF.com website.

Already in the sixth minute, the Czechs played a power play and created several great chances during it, but the opponents withstood a good deal of luck. Then the Finns did not use their numerical advantage either. Elisa Holopainenová had the opportunity after it, but the Czech goalkeeper Klára Peslarová was also ready.

At the beginning of the second part, Michaela Pejzlová got to the finish line, but Keisalaová managed to eliminate a great chance again. Other possibilities followed in the power play and in the subsequent game of five to five. Aneta Tejralová, Kateřina Mrázová and Denisa Křížová were close to the leading goal, but shortly after the end of the next penalty, Finek struck on the other side.

Vanhanen jumped off the penalty bench, got into the solo, although the puck fell off her stick while trying to bluff, but Peslarová was unhappily complicated by the situation of returning Tereza Vanišová and the disc ended behind the goal line. It was Vanišová who was close to leveling at the end of the match during the weakening, and Dominika Lásková did not succeed in the power play and the finals could start celebrating the fight for medals.

“I hit with a rash and we tried to play it away. But it hit Tereza and it fell into the goal over the concrete,” regretted Peslarová, who kept a clean sheet in the last two duels and collected only 20 of 20 shots against Finland.

It was Vanišová who was close to leveling at the end of the match during the weakening, then Dominika Lásková did not succeed in the power play and the Finns could celebrate their progress in the fight for medals.

“In the second period we stopped playing our game a bit because we really wanted to. It’s heartbreaking. We needed to be a little calmer and stick to our game. But she’s not the only player who won’t leave her heart on the ice and release her soul. I’m lucky that I can be the coach of such a team. It’s a fantastic group, probably the best I’ve ever coached, “Pacina said.

The main goal for the rest of the tournament will be to win the fifth place for the Czech team and participation in a stronger group A for the next championship. “It’s crucial to play in Group A, because then we would have an easier quarterfinals. When we’re in the ‘B’, we always run into either Canada, the USA or Finland. Tomorrow’s match with Japan is very important and we hope to play on Tuesday as well.” Pacina added.