Hungary’s quarter-final hopes are still alive after earning one point in a thrilling game against Sweden, their first ever meeting at the Women’s World Championship. Hanna Olsson scored the game-winning shootout goal for the second game in a row to give Sweden the 3-2 win that led the Damkronorna team into the quarter-finals.

Sweden opted not to dress goalie Emma Soderberg, giving 19-year-old Ida Boman the start. Ellen Jonsson served as back-up. Sweden was also without Lina Ljungblom, who was suspended one game after taking a major penalty for checking from behind against Germany.

The star of the first period for Sweden was young defender Mira Jungaker. The 17-year-old gave Sweden a 1-0 lead four minutes into the game, sweeping at the puck while tangled with a Hungarian player to slip it past Anito Nemeth.

"It’s been a really fast year, a lot has happened," said Jungaker, who also made her U18 national team debut earlier this year. "I’m just really thankful to be here and that my coaches have given me the opportunity to play. I’ve had more ice time than I expected coming here."

Hungary responded by crashing Sweden’s net, but the Swedes regained their momentum following a timeout called by head coach Ulf Lundberg. 

Thea Johansson and and Jenny Antonsson took simultaneous penalties just over 11 minutes in, giving Hungary a two minute 5-on-3. Hungary cycled the puck in Sweden’s end, but was unable to score on Boman, who lost her stick and made several impressive saves.

Hungary did not let their next power play opportunity go to waste. Receiving a pass from captain Fanni Gasparics, University of Minnesota commit Emma Kreisz skated the puck out in front of Boman from the corner of Sweden’s zone and scored to tie the game. 

Sweden reciprocated in the second period, scoring during a delay of game penalty assessed to Hungary. Linnea Johansson tipped the puck past Nemeth off a shot from Maja Nylen Persson on the blueline. Jungaker also collected an assist, her second point of the game.

Olivia Carlsson was assessed a major penalty for boarding halfway through the game, but the Swedes kept the puck out of their net through the five minutes of shorthanded play. With shots at 26-23 for Hungary heading into the third, Sweden turned up the heat, pinning Hungary into their end to protect their lead. 

"Our head coach Pat [Cortina] says, not too high and not too low," Gasparics said of managing the highs and lows of Hungary's preliminary round. "He always told us that we are going to have ups and downs. It’s going to be wavy, and we were ready for it. After the first game he said, 'okay girls, I’m proud of you, you can be happy, but not too high,' and after the Czech game, 'not too low', and after the Danish game it was even harder because we had a chance to win that game and already be to the quarterfinals."

Hungary never let up, using a quick shift in momentum to tie the game at 2-2. Franciska Kiss-Simon scored her third goal of the tournament, poking a loose puck past Boman.

This was the second game in a row for Sweden requiring extra time. Play was back and forth throughout the five minute overtime, with close chances for Nylen Persson and Gasparics. Hungary spent the last two minutes of overtime on the power play before heading into the shootout.

Three players hit the post in the shootout – Olsson and Nylen Persson for Sweden and Alexandra Huszak for Hungary. Neither team scored through seven shootout rounds, with Olsson eventually scoring the game winning goal in the eighth round.

"Our focus is going to be being consistent in our game," Swedish head coach Ulf Lundberg said about Sweden's final preliminary game on Tuesday versus Czechia. "Today our first period was not that good, we’re not satisfied with it. Then we came back in the second period and did more of what we like. We have to be on our toes from the beginning. I’m looking forward to that game." 

"I’m really proud of how we got together after yesterday's tough game [against Denmark], because we wanted to win that game. I think we were better, and maybe we deserve more, but that’s it, that’s life, that’s sport," said Gasparics. "But I’m really proud how we came together, how we could manage that, and how we came out today against Sweden. We got that point and everything's open."

Hungary has finished preliminary round play with four points, and moves ahead of Denmark to sit in third behind Czechia (nine points) and Sweden (seven points).