Czech team beat France 3-0

In the first game of the tournament, the Czech team was better throughout the game. Even though they had problems scoring in first half, they scored once at the end of the second period and they added two goals in third period and deservedly won 3-0.

The Czech team started the game better, and had its first big chance in the fourth minute when Denisa Křížová shot from the middle of French defensive zone but wasn´t successful. In the first half of the period the Czech team was more active and had some good opportunities to score. In the middle of the period, the French team was under great pressure during a Czech power play but that didn´t lead to goal either. In the 16th minute the French team also had a power play chance but they didn´t get any big scoring chances so the first period ended 0-0.

The Czechs had more good chances in the second period, but during a power play Lara Escudero of France got a shorthanded breakaway and was slashed from behind, earning a penalty shot. She missed however, so it was still scoreless.

The French team attacked Czech goaltender Klara Peslarova on a power play in the middle of the period but she stopped all the shots. In the 35th minute, the French had a great scoring chance when Peslarova was screened the shot missed the net. A few seconds later, there were big opportunities for Tereza Vanišová and Kateřina Mrázová but Caroline Baldin made some great saves. Czech pressure again lead to a power play in which the Czech team had many big chances but Baldin was great and she was lucky.

On the next power play the game finally saw a goal. From the blue line, Aneta Tejralová shot and Baldin was screened and couldn´t see the puck.

The Czech team started the third period the way they ended the second one. Vendula Přibylová, who played a great game, made it through the neutral and offensive zones and scored.

"In the first half of the game we were a little bit nervous and in the second half we proved that we are better team. The French team was dangerous with some fast breaks one-on-one defence," said Přibylová.

The game turned into a workout without the puck for the French team and the Czechs were dominant. The pressure peaked with the third goal in the 48th minute when Dominika Lasková shot from the blue line and beautifully scored under the crossbar. The Czechs then protected the lead well but they didn´t scored again.