Ice hockey-Germany beat Italy and Sweden stay perfect
MILAN, Feb 10 : Germany took second place in Group B after a 2-1 win over Italy and Sweden ended the group stage of the women's Olympic ice hockey tournament on maximum points with a 4-0 win over Japan at Milano Rho Arena on Tuesday.
The Swedes won all four games to finish first in Group B on 12 points, with the top three sides advancing to the last eight.
Germany end with eight points, two ahead of Italy, with both sides already assured of their place in the last eight before the puck drop. Japan ended with three points and France one, as both countries were eliminated.
After a scoreless opening period, the Italians took the lead 21 seconds after the interval. With many fans still returning to their seats, Justine Reyes scored following a face-off, tipping Anna Caumo's initial shot into the net.
Germany had a chance on a power play, but the Italians killed the penalty and Nadia Mattivi raced from the penalty box, collected the puck and passed to Matilde Fantin, whose shot rattled off the post.
The Germans tied it in the second period, Emily Nix forcing the puck home from inside the crease. With less than two minutes remaining, Laura Kluge netted the winner to silence the large Italian support.
SWEDEN DOMINATION
Sweden took the lead in the sixth minute through Hanna Thuvik's rebound goal off a save of a shot by Sara Hjalmarsson.
The goal came seconds after Swedish forward Hilda Svensson limped off the ice and down the tunnel after being sent crashing into the boards by Japan's Ayaka Hitosato.
Josefin Bouveng doubled Sweden's lead six minutes into the second period. She took a long pass into the neutral zone from Jenna Raunio and put the puck in off the post.
The Swedes netted late in the second period through Mira Hallin, and Hanna Olsson added a fourth goal on a power play early in the third, her second goal of the Games.
Sweden will play the third-placed team in Group A, Germany faces the runners-up and Italy will meet the group winner.
Finland and Switzerland meet at Milano Rho on Tuesday in Group A, with reigning champions Canada and the U.S. facing off at Santagiulia Arena in a clash of the two sides expected to contest for the gold medal.
All five teams from the group, which also includes the Czech Republic, advance to the knockout stage, where the seedings will be determined by their final placing in the standings.
