2026 Olympic Women’s Hockey: Top standouts from Feb. 5
The first day of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics saw some exciting matchups and some notable performances. We had a great atmosphere in Italy’s first Olympic contest in 20 years, while the favorite in Group B came to fruition.
There were originally supposed to be four games on the docket. However, a Norovirus outbreak throughout Finland’s roster led the IOC to postpone Finn’s game with Canada until Feb. 12.
Here are the big moments and top standouts from Day 1 of the tournament.
Sweden 4, Germany 1
Special teams were the name of the game on Thursday, as the Germans struck first in the opening frame. Defender Nina Jobst-Smith scored on the team’s first shot of the game, on the power play.
However, the lead was short-lived. A player advantage for the Swedes led to Lina Ljungblom knocking in her team’s first goal of the tournament. Damkronoma kept the pressure on well into the second period, with a couple of costly penalties hurting Germany, as Ljungblom and Mira Jungaker found the back of the net on power plays, giving Sweden a comfortable advantage heading into the third.
While Germany tried to get back into the game, a beautiful setup from Ohio State forward Hilda Svensson led to Thea Johansson’s first of the Olympics, capping off a solid win for the Swedes.
The victory marked the first for Sweden’s Ebba Svensson Träff. The Linköping HC netminder was the surprise starter over Emma Söderberg, but was solid against the Germans, making 15 saves in her Olympic debut.
Sweden outshout Germany 37-16. The Swedes went 3-for-4 on the power play, while Germany went 1-for-1.
Both teams are off until Saturday, when Sweden takes on Italy and Germany faces Japan.
Sweden
Lina Ljungblom, F
Heading into the tournament, it was crucial that Ljungblom be one of the team’s offensive leaders if they wanted to go far in the tournament. The Montreal Victoire forward certainly showed that on Thursday. She used her strength and awareness to enter the dirty areas, resulting in both of her power-play goals. She also finished second on Sweden with three shots on goal in the game.
Lisa Johansson, F
I was really impressed with Johansson’s game against Germany. She has been one of SDE HF’s top scorers in the SDHL, and while she certainly has a goal-scoring touch, the 33-year-old was able to create scoring opportunities. She picked up helpers on Ljungblom and Jungaker’s goals in the second period, and led Sweden with five shots on goal.
Maja Nylén Persson, D
Nylén Persson is going to have to be on her A-game from start to finish if Damkronoma wants to scare teams in the later days. While she didn’t get on the scoresheet, nor did she have a positive plus/minus, the New York Sirens rearguard was noticeable in the defensive zone, breaking up numerous rushes by Germany. Nylén Persson led all Swedes with 23 minutes of ice time.
Germany
Nina Jobst-Smith, D
I said going into Milan that Nina Jobst-Smith was going to have to be a big-time player if Germany wants to finish first in Group B. While her efforts didn’t lead to the game her team needed to win to make that a reality, the North Vancouver native unquestionably was Träger der Adler’s best player. Jobst-Smith led the Germans in ice time (25:34) and shots on goal (5) in the losing effort.
Italy 4, France 1
It was a similar tale to the first game of the day between Germany and Sweden. While Italy came out swinging, it would be the French who would strike first, as Gabrielle de Serres scored for the visitors.
Yet, the lead wouldn’t last long. Exactly 60 seconds later, Kayla Tutino finished off a great feed from captain Nadia Mattivi to tie the game. Italy never looked back. The team that centralized together in Montreal looked like a group that had been training as one. They were able to play keep-away from France most of the game, never allowing their opponent many chances to score.
Azzurre took the lead with a few minutes to go in the second, as Rebecca Roccella tapped in a rebound. The Italians sealed the win with goals from Matilde Fantin and Kristin Della Rovere in the third.
Italy ended up outshooting the French, 46-15. Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play.
France has a quick turnaround, taking on a rested Japanese team on Friday. The Italians face a tough test, as the hosts face the Swedes on Saturday.
Italy
Kristin Della Rovere, F
Della Rovere specifically made the choice to leave North America and the PWHL to pursue a spot on the Italian National Team. Early returns in Milan are certainly positive. Her drive to the net that led to Roccella’s game-winning goal showed how her speed and skill can be a difference-maker in the tournament. Her snipe on French goaltender Alice Philbert in the third was a thing of beauty as well.
Nadia Mattivi, D
Mattivi’s role on this Italian team cannot be overstated. Along with wearing the ‘C,’ she is one of the best players whenever she steps on the ice. The former Boston University star made a great play to set up Tutino in the first period. She ended up finishing the game as a +1 in 13:43 of ice time. When Italy faces the better teams in the group, expect the veteran to log a lot of minutes.
Rebecca Roccella, F
The line of Roccella, Della Rovere and Anna Caumo was all over the place on Thursday. Roccella’s huge goal was the difference in the game, but it was part of an effort for the 24-year-old. While she isn’t known as a big-time scorer with HC Davos in the SWHL A, Roccella’s awareness and speed make her a notable presence on the ice.
France
Alice Philbert, G
The end result might not have been what France wanted, but let’s be honest, things could’ve been a lot more one-sided had it not been for Philbert. The former Concordia University star made some huge saves, including many on her EV Bozen Eagles teammates. She was credited with 42 saves in the losing effort. If France wants any chance of getting a point in the tournament, they’ll need Philbert to stand on her head every game.
United States 5, Czechia 1
While some thought the Czechs might have the group to pull off an upset against one of the North American powers, the Americans made sure nothing newsworthy was going to happen on Thursday. The reigning world champions peppered Klara Peslarova from the opening puck drop, and got on the board first with a power-play goal from Alex Carpenter.
The U.S. kept its foot on the gas in the middle stanza, with Joy Dunne and Hayley Scamuura scoring just over a minute apart to widen the gap. There was an instance where it looked like Czechia was going to fight back, as Barbora Jurickova scored on a breakaway after serving a penalty to make it 3-1. However, that was as close as the game got.
Captain Hilary Knight scored a dandy for her first of the tournament late in the second to take momentum back, and Scamurra managed to put the game on the ice with her second of the game in the third.
With the goal, Knight has 13 career goals at the Olympics, placing her one behind Natalie Darwitz and Katie King for the most by an American at the Winter Games.
It was a disappointing result for Czechia, a team that came to Italy with high confidence. The team’s key step now is to avoid letting the loss affect them, as they still have a chance to finish third in the group.
Team USA outshot Czechia 42-14. U.S. goaltender Aerin Frankel made 13 saves in her Olympic debut, while Peslarova made 37 saves in the losing effort. The Americans went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Czechia went 0-for-1.
Czechia is right back at it on Friday, taking on Switzerland. The Americans are off until Saturday when they (hopefully) take on Finland.
United States
Hayley Scamurra, F
13th forward? Who cares. In a tournament like this, you need all hands on deck. The Montreal Victoire forward showed that against Czechia. Scamurra was the benefactor of some great setups, but her ability to put herself in a position to score, for a depth player, was exceptional. To make the most of her measly 6:45 of ice time shows the type of player the Buffalo native is, a hard-working asset who can play in any situation.
Tessa Janecke, F
One of the players who assisted on Scamurra’s goals was Tessa Janecke. The hero from last year’s Women’s Worlds was on fire in the second period. Along with assisting on Scamurra and Dunne’s tallies, the Penn State star came close to scoring a couple of times herself. While she’s listed as the fourth-line center, Janecke showed that she’s just as capable of creating offense as the top six.
Joy Dunne, F
I might as well talk about another member of that fourth line that just caused havoc for the Czechs. The Ohio State product was doing everything she could to score, along with a nice tip-in for her first as an Olympian. In just 11:06 of ice time, she ended up leading the Americans with five shots on goal. In games that will come down to the nitty-gritty, head coach John Wroblewski can certainly trust his bottom six to come through if need be.
Czechia
Tereza Plosova, F
There wasn’t much to cheer for on the Czech side, but seeing some of the things Plosova could do against one of the best teams in the world shows she has the makings of a future star in the pro ranks. The 19-year-old nearly tied the game on a makeshift breakaway early in the game and created some opportunities later on. Plosova will have a great chance to flourish against the likes of Finland and Switzerland in the coming days.