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The Czech Republic claimed its first win in Group A by beating Finland 2-0 at the Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament on Sunday, while Sweden secured a place in the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over France in Group B at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.

Finland and the Czech Republic have had a rough start to the 2026 Olympics. The Czechs lost their opening match 5-1 to the USA, followed by a 4-3 shootout loss to Switzerland.

Finland’s first game was postponed after four players tested positive for norovirus. They lost 5-0 to the USA on Saturday.

The Finns conceded twice in the opening half on Sunday. Tereza Pištěková and Natálie Mlýnková were accurate for the Czechs, who, unlike the Swiss, managed to keep the advantage of two goals.

The Czechs took the lead in the third minute, stealing the puck in the neutral zone before Pištěková tipped her shot over the goalkeeper.

Finland could have been in further trouble less than a minute later when Susanna Tapani was penalized for hooping, but they managed to kill the penalty

The Czechs then ran out of players twice in a row, and the Finns peppered Klára Peslarova with shots, but the goalkeeper was firm.

After failing to make two power plays count, Finland scored again near the end of the opening period. Mlýnková put the puck into the roof of the net and doubled the lead of the Czech Republic.

Peslarová made a great save to prevent Michelle Karvinen from a Finnish breakthrough early in the second period. The Finns pulled their goalkeeper in the last two minutes of the game, but were unable to find the back of the net.

The USA is currently on top of Group A with six points after two games, while the Czechs are two points behind in second place. Champion Canada has three points after one game, followed by Switzerland with two points. The Finns haven’t won a point yet.

All five sides will progress to the last eight, where their placement will depend on their final placing in the preliminary round.

Sweden passed France

The Swedes have a maximum of nine points from three games to top Group B, following a 4-0 win over France on Sunday.

Germany, Japan and Italy have three each after two games. France is last without a point after three defeats.

The top three will advance to the last eight.

France scored three goals in the opening period against Sweden, with Thea Johansson, Sara Hjalmarsson and Hanna Thuvik scoring. The Swedes added a fourth through Lisa Johansson early in the second period.

Thea Johansson opened the scoring in the fourth minute, driving the puck past Hilda Svensson into the crease for her fourth goal of these Olympics. He is currently the best scorer of the tournament.

France were left without a man when Margot ⁠Huot-Marchand was sent off for a trip. Hjalmarsson converted the rebound to double Sweden’s lead. Thuvik added another with a backhander past the crossbar.

Huot-Marchand received another penalty for an illegal kick, and Sweden failed to make the power play count. But in the first minute of the second quarter, Lisa Johansson put the puck between the legs of the French goalkeeper for the fourth goal.

French striker Lore Baudrit was penalized for rudeness, which Sweden’s Nicole Hall mocked. But Hall later spent time in the box for the same offense along with France’s Chloé Aurard-Bushee after they clashed behind the Swedish goal.

French fans in full voice

France more than held their own until the end of the second period, fending off waves of Swedish attacks, firing seven shots in the process. Every attack outside the blue line of the Swedes was countered by a large French contingent in the stands.

Sweden’s Mira Jungåker received a minor penalty for interference, pushing Clara Rozier onto the ice, and French fans booed as the replay was shown on the big screen.

But France failed to capitalize on a late power play and the Swedes were celebrating in the arena at the final whistle. After the game, the players went to greet their fans, hitting the ice with their sticks.

Sweden play their final qualifying game against Japan on Tuesday, while France face Germany on Monday.

Sweden is looking for its first medal since 2006

Sweden has played up to its lofty expectations thus far, outscoring its opponents by a combined 14-1 margin. But the team has finished no better than seventh at the last two Olympics after finishing fourth at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The drop was dramatic for the only nation other than Canada and the USA to win an Olympic silver medal. The Swedes did it at the 2006 Turin Games, upsetting the Americans in the semifinals. Sweden also won bronze in 2002.

“The time for us is now,” said coach Ulf Lundberg before the opening of the tournament. He based this on what he called the “we don’t care” attitude adopted by his players.

“You’ve got these young guys coming in and they’re not afraid of anything. I like it,” Lundberg said. “We want to be more like Canadians and Americans who feel we’re the best, because then you have grace and charm.”

Sweden’s roster includes eight players 22 and under, with seven currently competing at American colleges. Among them is Svensson, who ranks seventh in the country with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 26 games.

“Everyone in this team wants to take that medal. And I think everyone will work hard for that,” Svensson said after setting up two goals in the win over France.