UND's Michelle Karvinen, Susanna Tapani score goals as Olympic quarterfinal matchups are set

BEIJING — For several years, Finland has been the biggest threat to women's hockey superpowers Canada and the U.S.

The Finns even knocked out Canada in the 2019 Women's World Championship and came within a disallowed goal of doing the same to the Americans.

After a rough start to the 2022 Winter Olympics, Finland is back on track just in time for the knockout round.

Former UND players Michelle Karvinen and Susanna Tapani each scored goals as the Finns beat Russia 5-0 in the final pool play game. It was Finland's first victory of the tournament.

With the win, Finland jumped to third place in Group A and will play Japan in the quarterfinals at 2:40 a.m. Sunday.

Tapani has three goals in the tournament, tying for sixth overall and first outside of American and Canadian players.

Karvinen, meanwhile, became the second Finn ever to score goals in four different Olympic Games when she buried one against Russia on Tuesday.

The final quarterfinal spot came down to the final seconds of the Denmark-Sweden game in Group B.

Sweden needed a win to advance. Denmark needed a regulation win. And China needed a Denmark overtime win.

Sweden held a 2-1 lead in the final minute when Denmark hit the crossbar. The Swedes scored into an empty net after that to claim the last quarterfinal spot.

Former UND defenseman Johanna Fallman, who is averaging 14:16 time on ice per game, will move on.

Annegret Hilse / Reuters

Denmark, coached by former UND associate coach Peter Elander and captained by former UND center Josefine Jakobsen, will go home after making its first-ever Olympic appearance.

Jakobsen led Denmark in goals (two), points (four), shots on goal (15) and time on ice (98:35).

China, which is coached by former UND head coach Brian Idalski and student assistant Max Markowitz and has former UND forward Rebekah Kolstad on the roster, also ends its run.

Kolstad had one assist in four games.

Both Denmark and China had surprising performances at the Olympics.

Denmark, which is ranked No. 11 in the world but grabbed the last Olympic spot over No. 10 Hungary and No. 8 Germany, earned a win over Czechia in its first Olympics.

China, ranked No. 20 but received an automatic spot because it is the host, won two games.

Annegret Hilse / Reuters

10:10 p.m. Thursday — U.S. vs. Czechia
7:10 a.m. Friday — Canada (Campbell) vs. Sweden (Fallman)
10:10 p.m. Friday — Russia vs. Switzerland
2:40 a.m. Saturday — Finland (Karvinen, Tapani) vs. Japan

10:10 p.m. Sunday
7:10 a.m. Monday

Bronze — 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16
Gold — 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16