2018-19 National Women's Team

FINNS COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN 4 NATIONS CUP BRONZE

ALI WILSON

SASKATOON, Sask. – Annina Rajahuhta stuffed in the game-winner with just over 11 minutes left, and Finland scored three unanswered goals in the third period to beat Sweden 4-2 on Saturday afternoon and win the bronze medal at the 2018 4 Nations Cup.

Less than four minutes after Sanni Hakala had tied the game, Rajahuhta crashed the net and followed up a Tanja Niskanen shot to put Finland ahead for good.

It’s the 14th time in 22 appearances at the annual tournament that the Finns have claimed bronze.

Sweden drew first blood halfway through the first period; Pernilla Winberg went five-hole on Finnish goaltender Noora Räty with a slap shot from the point for the lone goal of the opening 20 minutes.

Jenni Hiirikoski tied it 10 minutes into the second, going end-to-end off a scrambled face-off before beating Swedish netminder Maria Omberg, but Pernilla Winberg fought through traffic in tight to restore the lead for the Swedes just 59 seconds later.

Hakala got Finland even on the power play at the 5:01 mark, converting a Hiirikoski rebound to make it 2-2.

Just 29 seconds after Rajahuhta put the Finns ahead, Petra Nieminen got a piece of an Isa Rahunen shot to add an insurance marker.

The Swedes put Omberg on the bench with two minutes to go, but couldn’t find a way past Räty before time ticked away on their bronze-medal hopes.