This much is true: scoring goals is really hard. It became obvious in the game between Finland and Japan. Three of the six goals came on powerplay, one was an empty-netter. 

Yenna Kolmonen scored the game-winner with three minutes remaining, Umeka Odaira scored one and picked up an assist for Japan. 

"Our first period was good, second not as good, but we managed to get back in the third," said Team Finland coach Mira Kuisma. 

"We're disappointed. We put up a good fight, but didn't get the result we wanted," Odaira said. "We just needed to score more goals."

Team Japan coach Yujiro Kasahara was also disappointed, but he was also proud of his team. 

"We need to defend a little better, but also take some risks when we have the opportunity. we have a young team here, so games like these are good for our players," he said. 
 
The Finns and the Japanese are said to have several similarities. There’s the love of the sauna, the trust in the collective, and that silence is golden. No wonder then they play a similar style of hockey – solid defense comes first – albeit that the prototypical player looks different. 
 
The Japanese team is the smallest one in the tournament, but what they lose in size, they make up in heart and speed. 
 
Finland controlled most of the first period, but Japan didn’t let it worry them. And with 2.10 remaining in the period, Japan stunned both the Finnish team and the home crowd when Umeka Odaira flew down the right wing, shook off a Finnish defender and then sent a backhand pass toward the net. Unfortunately for Finland, the pass deflected in off the skate of a Finnish defender. 
 
Finland came back on powerplay. Team captain Abigail Byskata sent a gorgeous saucer pass through the Japanese box and Julia Kuhta’s one-timer beat Kuromaru on the short side. 
 
Energized by their goal, Japan stared the second period strong and created several excellent scoring chances in the first five minutes but Kuja-Halkola was solid in the Finnish net when the team needed her most. 
 
Halfway through the game, Japan got a powerplay opportunity and even Kuja-Halkola couldn’t stop them. The Japanese moved the puck around the Finnish zone and got it to Odaira on the left faceoff dot. She found Reina Kakuta who sent the puck across the crease to Nana Akimoto who it into the net, for 2-1, at 10.22. 
 
 But again, Finland capitalized on their powerplay. This time it was Eva Lamberg who fired a point shot that hit a Japanese defender and surprised Kuromaru at 5.23.

"It felt great to see the puck go in, especially since it tied the game. Japan skates well, and they can skate the whole game. It's also a smart team," Lamberg said. 

In the second intermission. coach Kuisma told her team to do whatever it takes for them to relax. And, just like in the game against Sweden, the Finnish players sang together and danced to find their flow. 

Japan clawed their way back into the game, and Kuja-Halkola was tested once from close range, and once on a breakaway, and she came out on top both times. And then Lamberg was alone against Kuromaru, and the goalie won the battle there, too. 

Then, with 3.18 remaining, Yenna Kolmonen went coast-to-coast, cut across the crease and beat Kuromaru on the blocker side, to the great delight of the home crowd. 

"The puck just bounced, and it was suddenly there and when I saw there was an opening to go between their defenders, I went for it," Kolmonen said. 

"It wasn't exactly the way we'd like to play in that situation and I was thinking that I'd give her some feedback about it, but … then she scored the goal so I let it slide," Kuisma said jokingly. 

Vilma Nurmisto sealed the final score with an empty-netter with 1.04 on the clock.