U.S. edges Czechs to reach final at women's hockey worlds

The Associated Press

· Posted: Apr 19, 2025 12:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

Kelly Pannek scored to rally the United States past the big Czech Republic 2-1 and into the last astatine the women's hockey satellite title connected Saturday in Ceske Budejovice.

In Sunday's final, the U.S. volition play defending champion Canada oregon past year's bronze medalist Finland, who conscionable successful the different semifinal aboriginal Saturday.

With the victory, the Americans improved to 6-0 against the Czechs all-time astatine the worlds and 3-0 successful semifinals.

Laila Edwards besides scored for the U.S. and skipper Hilary Knight recorded an assistance to summation her grounds astatine the worlds to 52. U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel made 10 saves.

Pannek has earned astatine slightest a constituent successful each U.S. crippled and leads the squad with 4 goals.

Pannek skated astir the nett and her backhand changeable was saved by Czech goalie Klara Peslarova, but she netted the victor connected a rebound 8:26 into the last period.

In the 2nd play wherever the Americans pushed hard for an equalizer, outshooting the Czechs 17-2 and 45-11 overall, Edwards got it 8:56 in, wristing a changeable into the extortion of the nett from the near ellipse connected a powerfulness play.

Tereze Plosova scored for the Czechs, who volition play the bronze medal crippled for the 4th consecutive tournament.

The Czechs stunned the blistery favorite, taking a pb with 4:32 near successful the opening play to the delight of the sell-out assemblage of astir 6,000. Klara Hymlarova seized the puck down the extremity and fed Plosova, who changeable implicit the enarthrosis of Frankel.

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