Czechia Falls to Finland 4–1 as Offensive Woes Continue in Euro Tour Rematch
Czechia’s women’s hockey team suffered a 4–1 defeat to Finland earlier today in Ängelholm, Sweden, extending a frustrating trend against their Nordic rivals. The game saw Czechia struggle to generate offense in a rematch of the last two World Championship bronze-medal games. Despite a determined effort and a strong performance by goaltender Klára Peslarová, the Lionesses once again came up short versus Finland, marking their third straight loss to the Finns on the big stage. The result leaves Czechia winless in the Swedish tournament so far and searching for answers, even as they vow to regroup with a crucial matchup against Switzerland looming next.
Early Response, Missed Opportunities
The contest started at a blistering pace. Finland struck first just 67 seconds after the opening faceoff when Emma Nuutinen slipped free in the slot and scored from close range, catching the Czech defense on its heels. Facing an instant deficit, Czechia did well not to unravel. Only a few minutes later, they answered back, similar to the game vs. Sweden. Kristýna Kaltounková finished off a quick passing combination to beat Finnish goalie Sanni Ahola and tie the game 1-1 at 5:51 of the first period. The early exchange of goals settled the team’s nerves, and through the rest of the opening frame both sides traded chances that could have broken the deadlock, but Peslarová stood tall for Czechia while Ahola was sharp at the other end, keeping it tied after one period.
In the second period, Czechia initially seized the momentum. They began on the penalty kill due to a bench minor, killed it off successfully, and then enjoyed a power play of their own, pressing Finland back with a sustained attack. However, the Czechs failed to convert their man-advantage despite some promising puck movement. That missed opportunity proved costly. As the period wore on, Finland pushed back hard. Forward Viivi Vainikka nearly put the Finns ahead with a one-timer, denied only by Peslarová’s excellent pad save. But shortly after, a Czech too-many-players infraction handed Finland another power play, and this time the Finns capitalized. Veteran sniper Michelle Karvinen buried a rebound on the doorstep late in the second (at 36:09) to restore Finland’s lead at 2-1. It was a gut-punch goal for Czechia, coming off a scramble in front, Karvinen’s power-play tally shifted the balance. For the remainder of the period, Finland continued to press, forcing Peslarová into several tough saves as the Czechs fought to stay within one goal. The middle frame ended with Czechia trailing 2-1 and in need of a spark.
Offense Stalls and Late Gamble Backfires
The third period told a disappointing tale for Czech fans: Czechia’s offense effectively ground to a halt. Finland’s disciplined team defense and puck possession smothered any Czech comeback push. In fact, Czechia failed to register a single shot on goal in the entire third period, as Finland outshot them 9-0 in the final 20 minutes (30-13 in shots overall). Turnovers and indecision plagued the Czech breakout, and when they did gain the offensive zone, the Finnish defenders quickly disrupted plays before any threat could materialize. Still, the score remained 2-1 deep into the final minute, thanks largely to Peslarová’s 26 saves on 28 shots through regulation. With time running out, head coach Carla MacLeod pulled Peslarová for an extra attacker in a last-ditch effort to find an equalizer. Unfortunately, the gamble was for not. Finland snatched control of a loose puck and Ida Kuoppala guided it into the empty net with 47 seconds left, stretching the lead to 3-1. Undeterred, Czechia used its timeout and pulled the goalie again for the final half-minute, but the Finns immediately made them pay once more, Nuutinen scored her second of the game into the vacant cage with 12 seconds remaining, sealing a 4-1 Finnish victory. The score line was inflated by the two empty-netters, but there was no denying Finland had been the better team at both ends, especially in the decisive third period.
Czech Standouts and Areas of Concern
Despite the loss, a few Czech players delivered notable performances. Klára Peslarová was a standout in goal, repeatedly bailing out her team and giving Czechia a fighting chance deep into the game. She posted a .929 save percentage (26 saves on 28 shots) before the late empty-net goals, continuing her reliable play as the team’s backbone. Up front, Kristýna Kaltounková provided a spark by scoring the lone Czech goal, a quick-release finish from the slot, and was one of the few forwards consistently generating offensive pressure. Kaltounková’s tally was Czechia’s only goal for the second straight game (after a 1-4 loss to Sweden two days earlier), highlighting a troubling lack of scoring support around her. Team captain Aneta Tejralová, who assisted on the goal, also showed leadership on the blue line in moments, and the energetic forechecking of Tereza Vanišová and Denisa Křížová was evident at times. But overall, the positives were too sparse to overcome the team’s issues.
Foremost among those issues….. is scoring trouble. Through two games in this tournament, the Czechs have managed just two goals. A problem that the Czechs have now faced routinely as of late in finishing chances and creating high-quality shots. The power play remained a concern as well, Czechia went 0-for-2 with the man advantage against Finland and couldn’t cash in on a critical second-period opportunity, whereas Finland’s one power-play goal ended up the game-winner. Special teams execution clearly tilted in Finland’s favor at a key juncture. Beyond the raw numbers, Czechia’s offensive cohesion wasn’t where it needed to be: passing sequences often misfired, and the players sometimes appeared to be overthinking their plays instead of making simple, instinctive choices. “We’re missing game sharpness and calm on our sticks,” assistant coach Dušan Andrašovský observed post-game, searching for answers to the lack of scoring. He noted that the team needs “better quality in our passes [and] movement, and more spark in our game”, admitting that “it just wasn’t fully there, even though the effort was”. Indeed, at times the Czech attack looked one step behind Finland’s pace, a sign of the game tempo issue that has crept into their play. Andrašovský highlighted that the players “lacked legs” in this match, a telling comment given the third-period fade explaining that when the skating isn’t there, “the head doesn’t work and the ideas aren’t ideal”. Fatigue or hesitancy led to mental mistakes as well, exemplified by two avoidable bench minors (for too many players and an illegal substitution) that disrupted Czechia’s rhythm and handed momentum to Finland. These areas of concern: goal scoring, special teams, puck management, and pace, all combined to hamstring the Czech performance in this game.
Post-Game Reflections: Rivalry Struggles and Resilience
After the defeat, the Czech camp struck a tone of sober reflection yet resolve. Assistant coach Andrašovský stressed the need for belief and heart in the team’s play, urging the players to trust their process. “We have to believe that what we’re doing is the right path. We need to play with more heart,” he said, adding that representing the national team demands a higher level of compete than they showed at times. It was a candid acknowledgment that the team’s passion and confidence must match their talent. Noemi Neubauerová, a veteran now patrolling the defense, echoed a similar sentiment. Conceding such an early goal “never feels good, especially against Finland,” Neubauerová said, and she admitted it “affected us a bit negatively” before they regrouped. She credited the Finns for playing a simpler, more efficient game. “They passed better and easier, we tried to force it a bit” and noted that Czechia can learn from that. Despite the disappointment, Neubauerová struck a determined and optimistic note looking forward: “Whenever we play the Finns, it’s a quality game. We have to take the positives from the last two games and build on them” as the team moves on to the next challenge. Her words reflect a group that, while frustrated, is not hanging its heads but rather focusing on growth.
There is no denying that Finland has become a thorn in Czechia’s side, it’s becoming glaringly obvious this is the monkey on the teams back that must be shaken. This latest loss extends a pattern of heartbreak against the Finns, Finland has now prevailed in the last three meetings between the two nations, including back-to-back bronze-medal showdowns at the IIHF Women’s World Championships. In 2024, Finland edged Czechia 3-2 in a shootout to claim bronze, and this past April the Finns stunned the Czechs on home ice with a 4-3 overtime comeback to steal another bronze medal. Those high-stakes defeats have fueled a fierce rivalry that many consider the premier matchup in European women’s hockey. Yet for Czechia’s players and fans, each encounter with Finland has recently ended in bitter disappointment. The challenge now is as much psychological as tactical: breaking through against a team that has had their number. The Czechs are well aware of this hurdle, it adds context to every Finland game and raises the stakes even in a mid-season tournament like this Euro Hockey Tour. As coach MacLeod’s squad processes another loss, they’ll aim to use it as motivation rather than let it become a mental roadblock. “We need greater belief in our journey,” Andrašovský reminded his team. The only way to flip the script in this rivalry is by learning from these setbacks and coming back stronger the next time the two sides meet.
Looking Ahead: Switzerland
Despite two consecutive defeats in Ängelholm (to Sweden and Finland), Team Czechia is striving to maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook. The tournament isn’t over, and an immediate opportunity to rebound awaits in their final game of the Swedish leg against Switzerland. The Czech players will be back on the ice less than 24 hours after the Finland loss, eager to end the week on a high note. “We’ll take what’s positive from these two games and build on it,” Neubauerová said of facing the Swiss, emphasizing the lessons learned. History gives Czech fans reason for hope though, the Lionesses have had success against Switzerland in recent meetings (including a dominant win in the World Championship quarterfinals earlier this year). The Swiss roster at this event is reportedly without some of its top veterans, as they experiment ahead of the Olympics. This presents an opening for Czechia to capitalize if they can execute to their potential.
The key will be jump-starting the offense and playing with the faster, simpler style that has brought them success in the past. Coach MacLeod will likely stress a back-to-basics approach, quick puck movement, getting shots on net, and reigniting the aggressive forecheck that has been a trademark of Czech women’s hockey. Special teams adjustments will also be crucial. Finding a way to ignite the power play could both boost confidence and tilt a close game. On the defensive side, Peslarová’s strong form is a steady foundation to lean on, but she’ll need more goal support (barring she starts in the final game). The players remain unified in their belief that they can turn things around. This mix of realism and hope was evident in the locker room: they know improvements are needed, yet the atmosphere is far from defeatist. As one coach put it, the team must “play with more heart” and trust the process, and there’s a sense that the message has been embraced .
Facing Switzerland, Czechia has a chance to right the ship and remind everyone of the talent and resilience that earned them two consecutive World Championship bronze medals in 2022 and 2023. A solid performance and a win would not only salvage their trip to Sweden but also restore some momentum and belief. Fans can expect a fired-up Czech squad determined to press the reset button. While the recent losses have been a reality check, they have also provided valuable lessons. In an upbeat but earnest tone, assistant coach Andrašovský summed it up best: this team needs to rediscover its identity, to trust its path and play with passion, and the next game is the perfect time to start showing it. With cautious optimism, Czechia will hit the ice against Switzerland looking to turn lessons into action, confident that a better outcome is within reach if they play their game. The journey has had bumps, but the Lionesses are intent on proving that they can roar back when it counts most.
