Canada beats Finland 2-0 to finish Women’s Worlds group stage unbeaten
Canada completed a perfect 4-0 preliminary round at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship with a 2-0 win over Finland. Caitlin Kraemer and Sarah Fillier scored, while Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped all 25 shots she faced.
Canada women’s hockey completed a perfect preliminary round at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Finland at Kvik Hockey Arena in Herning, Denmark.
Caitlin Kraemer and Sarah Fillier scored for Canada, while goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens made 25 saves to secure the shutout and help the Canadians finish atop Group B with a 4-0 record.
Unlike Canada’s previous victories over Japan and Denmark, the matchup against Finland presented a considerably tighter contest. The Finnish side generated quality scoring opportunities, challenged Canada’s defensive structure and kept the outcome uncertain until the third period.
The result secured Canada’s fourth consecutive victory of the tournament and completed an undefeated preliminary-round campaign.
Caitlin Kraemer gives Canada an early advantage
Finland entered the game determined to challenge Canada despite spending much of the opening period defending against sustained pressure.
The Canadians controlled possession for extended stretches, but Finland remained dangerous when opportunities emerged to move the puck into the offensive zone.
Canada broke through just 3:22 into the first period when Kraemer created a scoring opportunity almost entirely on her own.
After collecting the puck in the Canadian zone, Kraemer accelerated through the neutral zone and moved past two Finnish players attempting to recover defensively.
She carried the puck into attacking territory and released a wrist shot that slipped through Finnish goaltender Ahola’s pads, giving Canada a 1-0 lead.
The early goal provided an advantage, but it did not lead to the same offensive production Canada had enjoyed in its previous games.
Midway through the opening period, Canada held an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Finland responded with several stronger shifts, outshooting the Canadians 6-5 during the second half of the period.
Canada continued creating chances from dangerous areas, although several attempts from the slot missed the net.
At the opposite end, Desbiens remained composed whenever Finland managed to generate an opportunity.
Ann-Renée Desbiens delivers 25-save shutout
The second period developed into a defensive battle, with both teams limiting space and forcing their opponents to work for scoring opportunities.
Finland emphasized shorter shifts to maintain its pace against Canada, with head coach Lehterä regularly directing players to make line changes.
Neither team scored during the middle frame, although both goaltenders were tested.
Daryl Watts received the period’s only penalty for tripping, giving Finland an opportunity to equalize on the power play.
Desbiens responded with important saves to preserve Canada’s narrow advantage.
The Canadian goaltender was making only her second start of the tournament after the coaching staff had used all three available goaltenders during the opening three games.
Finland continued applying pressure early in the third period.
Petra Nieminen generated a partial breakaway opportunity on her opening shift before creating another dangerous chance during a Finnish power play.
Desbiens stopped both opportunities, preventing Finland from drawing level.
The Finnish attack kept Canada under pressure throughout the opening five minutes of the final period, forcing the Canadians into several icing calls as they attempted to clear their defensive zone.
Despite the sustained pressure, Finland could not find a way past Desbiens.
Her 25-save performance ultimately became one of the defining elements of Canada’s victory, particularly during the stretches when Finland threatened to change the outcome.
Sarah Fillier seals Canada’s fourth consecutive victory
After weathering Finland’s early third-period pressure, Canada gradually regained control.
Kraemer nearly scored her second goal with another individual rush, carrying the puck through the ice before sending her shot off the post.
The opportunity signalled a shift in momentum, and Canada capitalized shortly afterward.
At 6:44 of the third period, Fillier initiated an attacking sequence by sending the puck toward Jessie Eldridge near the offensive blue line.
Eldridge returned the pass to Fillier, who was accelerating down the right wing.
Fillier looked up and fired a wrist shot past Ahola on the stick side, extending Canada’s lead to 2-0.
The goal gave Canada additional breathing room after Finland had spent much of the period searching for an equalizer.
Finland continued pushing offensively and eventually deployed six skaters in an attempt to reduce the deficit.
However, Canada protected its advantage through the closing stages, with Desbiens completing the shutout.
Canada finishes atop Group B with perfect record
The victory completed Canada’s preliminary-round schedule with four wins from four games, securing first place in Group B.
The Canadians had previously recorded convincing shutout victories over Japan and Denmark, but Finland presented a different challenge through its defensive organization and ability to create dangerous scoring chances.
Canada needed contributions at both ends of the ice to secure the result, with Kraemer providing the early breakthrough, Fillier adding the insurance goal and Desbiens maintaining the clean sheet.
The 2-0 win demonstrated Canada’s ability to protect a narrow lead against stronger resistance after its high-scoring performances earlier in the tournament.
With the preliminary round complete, Canada will move into the next stage of the Women’s World Championship carrying an unbeaten record and another shutout performance.