2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship: Top standouts from Day 3

Nov 8, 2026, 17:04 EST

The action is heating up in Denmark.

The third day of the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship saw teams clinch spots in the quarterfinals, while other nations are found grasping at straws as they look to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.

Which players stood out on Sunday? Let’s look back at what happened on a busy end to the first weekend of the tournament:

United States 5, Germany 0

The defending Olympic champions continued their strong start in the tournament with another convincing effort. Against the Germans, who were facing the U.S. in group play for the first time since 2008, the Americans faced an early assault, as they peppered goaltender Sandra Abstreiter with 18 shots in the first period. Once Casey O’Brien scored her second of the tournament in the latter half of the first period, the dam seemed to burst. Team USA’s attack overwhelmed Germany’s back end, and the way they maintained possession made it difficult for Trager der Adler to do anything.

Defender Emma Peschel scored her first goal at the WWC in the final minute of the first period, before Alex Carpenter potted her first of the tournament in the second. Youngsters Abbey Murphy and Joy Dunne each found the back of the net in the third to put the game away.

The U.S. outshot Germany 38-13. Gwyneth Philips had a relatively easy time in the American goal, while Abstreiter was credited with 33 stops in the losing effort. Team USA surprisingly went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Germans went 0-for-3.

United States

#4 Caroline Harvey, D (Vancouver Goldeneyes): In the midst of the victory was another dominant effort from the first-overall pick in this year’s PWHL Draft. Harvey added a pair of assists on Sunday, giving her 44 career points at the Women’s Worlds. She passed Hockey Hall of Famer Angelo Ruggiero for the most points by a defender in the tournament’s history, though Harvey accomplished the feat in 14 fewer games. The former Wisconsin Badger currently leads the tournament with five points.

#32 Casey O’Brien, F (New York Sirens): What’s funny is that O’Brien is technically on the U.S.’ fourth line, centering former Wisconsin teammates Lacey Eden and Kirsten Simms. Yet, that trio has been the most productive through the team’s opening two wins. O’Brien was important in getting the U.S. off and running in the first, scoring the first goal of the game, before picking up an assist on Peschel’s marker. A player left off the Olympic roster, O’Brien is proving why she should be a mainstay on the national team for years to come.

Germany

#28 Nina Jobst-Smith, D (Vancouver Goldeneyes): How about Harvey’s soon-to-be teammate (and potential D partner)? I know it was tough sledding for the Germans against the exquisite American side, but the Vancouver-born blueliner was tasked with facing the U.S.’ top players, and did her best to hold her own. She was only on the ice for two goals, led the team with 24:45 of ice time, and still generated three shots on goal.

New York RangersTeam Cap Summary

Cap Summary

2026-27

2027-28

Projected Cap Hit

$104,407,756

$79,467,857

Projected Cap Space

-$407,756

$34,032,143

Current Cap Space

$4,698,228

$34,032,143

Active Players

22/23

12/23

Draft Picks

Round

'27

'28

View cap summary for:

Finland 1, Sweden 4

This is a statement victory for Sweden. For years, Finland had been considered by many to be the third-best team in the world. However, quietly in the old group format, Damkronoma had been slowly building into a tough team to play against. Sure, that loss to Canada was a tough pill to swallow, but how the Swedes came out flying on Sunday shows that they are not only a team on the rise; they are a group ready to contend for some hardware.

Sweden heavily outplayed Finland in the first period and took advantage of some early chances, with Ida Karlsson and Hilda Svensson scoring minutes apart. Though the Finns tried to build momentum in the second, Sara Hjlamarsson’s goal early in the third seemed to give the Swedes enough room to cruise the rest of the way. A goal from Finland’s Petra Nieminen did little to erase the deficit, as Sweden skated away with a 4-1 victory.

It was Sweden’s first win over Finland at the WWC in 19 years, snapping a seven-game losing streak against their Scandinavian rivals. Sweden outshot the Finns 32-29, with Ebba Svensson Traff earning the win with a 31-save performance. Sanni Ahola made 25 saves in the losing effort. Damkornoma went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Finland couldn’t capitalize on their two chances.

Sweden

#8 Hilda Svensson, F: A couple of Ohio State Buckeyes showed up on Sunday. Ever since she debuted at the 2023 WWC, Svensson has been on everyone’s radar. Against the Finns, she helped set the tone in the opening period. She first set up Karlsson to put Sweden ahead before finding the back of the net herself. Whenever she’s on the ice, she creates opportunities, something the blue and yellow need in this tournament.

#7 Mira Jungaker, F: I know I touted her for her efforts against Canada, but it was hard to ignore Jungaker’s play once again. I know Maja Nylen Persson is regarded as Sweden’s best defender, but the Buckeye is looking more and more promising with each passing year. On Sunday, she registered two assists, leading the Swedes in ice time (26:29) as well. Shutting down Finland’s top weapons for most of the game is no small task, either.

Finland

#16 Petra Nieminen, F (Montreal Victoire): I know Finland didn’t play bad, but they certainly didn’t play great. Nieminen was certainly a noticeable player, scoring the team’s lone goal, while putting four shots on net in total. There’s no question she’s Finland’s top scoring threat, but if Suomi wants to be a threat, they need more than just her stepping up in these big-time matchups.

Czechia 1, Switzerland 2 (OT)

Not sure how to look at this. It’s either, “Oh, Czechia coughed it up again,” or “Hey, Switzerland pulled off another stunner!”

Regardless, the game ended as the bronze medal match at the Olympics, with Alina Muller providing the heroics. Make no mistake, Czechia controlled the play for the latter half of the game, including outshooting the Swiss 21-1 in the middle stanza. A key moment came in the first period, when Czech forward Klara Hymlarova was given a five-minute major for boarding Naemi Herzig, and a game misconduct. Even though Switzerland took a penalty of their own, Ivana Wey scored while 4-on-4 to put Switzerland ahead.

During the flurry of action in the Swiss zone in period two, Linda Vocetkova potted her first of the tournament, but neither team found the back of the net for the remainder of regulation. Thanks to the great play of Eisgenossinnen netminder Saskia Maura, as well as Czechia’s Klara Peslarova, we had overtime in Denmark for the second day in a row. Less than two minutes into the extra frame, Muller scored her first of the tournament, giving Switzerland a big 2-1 win.

It was a great response from Switzerland, who now have a path to second place if they play their cards right.

Czechia ended up outshooting Switzerland 34-13. The Czechs failed to score on their four power plays, with Switzerland also going 0-for-4 with the player advantage.

Switzerland

#29 Saskia Maurer, G (Las Vegas): Brandli got the day off, and Maurer proved why she’s more than capable to be in the PWHL. She played exceptionally when Brandli was out due to Norovirus in Milan in February and was great against the Czechs. Her 33-save performance ensures that the Swiss have an exceptional tandem, with Maurer showing that she can play at the highest level against the best teams.

#25 Alina Muller, F (Hamilton): I think we should start calling her Alina “Nervenstärke” Muller…that’s “strong-nerved” in German. That’s what Muller has been for Switzerland throughout her career. Whether it be in games where the Swiss should win, or games where they need a clutch goal, Muller is there. She helped set up Wey for her goal in the opening frame before potting another big OT winner. Every time No. 25 is out there, magic can happen.

Czechia

#98 Kristyna Kaltounkova, F (New York Sirens): I’m disappointed in the result for Czechia, but you can’t say they didn’t try. As you’d expect, Kaltounkova was driving the play for the Lionesses, leading the team with six shots on goal and logging 22:02 of ice time, the most among her team’s forwards. If Kalty continues to be a force on her end, the goals will come for Czechia.

Canada 9, Japan 0

I don’t think anyone expected anything different from the final outcome in Herning, but it did take Canada a minute to really open things up. They got on the board just past the six-minute mark of the first, thanks to an outstanding individual effort from Chloe Primerano. Erin Ambrose found the back of the net later in the first to put the Canadians up two heading into the break.

The final 40 minutes saw Canada grind Japan, who played just the night before, into almost nothing. Daryl Watts potted her first of the tournament early in period two, with Rosalie Tremblay scoring her first Women’s Worlds goal later in the period. Then, Canada racked up five goals in the third, highlighted by Sarah Wozniewicz and Caitlin Kraemer finding the back of the net at the WWC for the first time.

Canada ended up outshooting Japan 59-14 in the contest, 48-10 in the final two periods of play. Eve Gascon, making her WWC debut, stopped all 14 shots she faced in the victory. Canada went 2-for-8 on the power play, while Japan was 0-for-3.

Canada

#23 Erin Ambrose, D (Las Vegas): While no one was surprised that Jocelyne Larocque was left off the Canadian roster, I wasn’t sure what kind of role Ambrose would be given. However, with a slightly less talented blue line compared to previous years, Ambrose is still seeing top-pair minutes, and she showed that wasn’t a waste on Sunday. The veteran added an assist on Kraemer’s goal late in the third, giving her a two-point performance. Even though she played less than 13 minutes, Ambrose proved she can still produce for her team.

#95 Daryl Watts, F (Detroit): Watts was doing Watts things against Japan. Along with scoring herself, she made a great play to set up Tremblay later in the second period. I know the line of Watts, Tremblay and Jessie Eldridge doesn’t catch the eye of the average fan, but the experience and skill of Watts and Eldridge is certainly complemented by the speed and exuberance the young Tremblay provides. That can be a very important trio for Canada when we get to the knockout stage.

Japan

#31 Riko Kawaguchi, G: In a game like this, you simply have to feel for Kawaguchi. The wheels fell off for Japan in the late stages of the game, and she was bombarded with grade-A scoring chances. It didn’t take from her effort, which could’ve seen her have a better goals-against average at the end of the day if the team in front of her wasn’t gassed. I know Miyuu Masuhara is an experienced backstop, but you wonder if the roles would’ve been reversed, and Kawaguchi had played against Denmark on Saturday…

Standings

Group A

1. USA (2-0-0-0), 6 points
2. Czechia (1-0-1-0), 4 points
3. Germany (1-0-0-1), 3 points
4. Switzerland (0-1-0-1), 2 points
5. Austria (0-0-0-2), 0 points

Group B

1. Canada (2-0-0-0), 6 points
2. Sweden (1-0-0-1), 3 points
3. Finland (1-0-0-1), 3 points
4. Denmark (0-1-0-1), 2 points
5. Japan (0-0-1-0), 1 point

Coming up…

A couple of David vs. Goliath matchups on Monday, as the U.S. takes on Austria (9 a.m. ET), while host Denmark has the pleasure of facing Canada (1 p.m. ET).

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