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Sweden back in it with win

Johansson scores 2-1 winner in third

Published 02.04.2017 03:49 GMT-4 | Author Andrew Podnieks
Sweden back in it with win
PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN - April 1: Sweden's Lisa Johansson #15 scores on Switzerland's Florence Schelling #41 to make it 2-1 while her teammate Christine Meier #19 looks on during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/HHOF-IIHF Images)
Lisa Johansson scored on a 5-on-3 early in the third to give penalty-free Sweden a crucial 2-1 win over Switzerland in Group B play.

"I was on the goal line and got a pass from our defenceman at the blue line and took the puck hard to the net," Johansson explained. "I shot it high on the short side and it went in."

Johansson squeaked the puck past Swiss goalie Florence Schelling who was making her record 23rd straight start, having played every minute of every game for the Swiss going back to the 2013 Women's Worlds.

Hannah Olsson, the 18-year-old who played at the U18 in January, had a goal and assist for the winners.

Nicole Bullo got the only Swiss goal in a game in which the Swedes held a 24-15 advantage in shots.

The win puts Sweden in second place of Group B with three points, three behind surprising Germany and one ahead of the Swiss. The Czechs are in last place with a single point.

"We had a lot of chances, but we couldn't score more than one goal," said Bullo. "We pressured them at the end, but it didn't work, so now we have to look ahead to our next game. We want to make the quarter-finals, but that's not in our hands any more. We have to win on Monday and then see what happens with Sweden and the Czechs. "

The Swedes opened the scoring on an unassisted goal by Olsson, and that marker held up for the nest 28 minutes of play. Bullo tied the game at 13:25 of the second on a scramble.

"It was a rebound," she said. "There were a lot of players in the crease, but I found the loose puck and was able to put it in."

"It was a tight game," Johansson said. "We played well on defence, though, and didn't give them much room in our end. They're good on the counter attack. They're fast, but we played well and kept them away from our goal."

The Swiss incurred all 18 penalty minutes in the game, including 12 minutes in the first to Phoebe Staenz, a minor and misconduct. The Swedes scored on the last of their four power plays when it mattered most, and that proved the difference.

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