Foss seals Denmark's shootout win over Japan at Kvik Arena

Frederikke Foss scored the shootout winner as Denmark beat Japan 3-2 at the Kvik Arena in Herning, the International Ice Hockey Federation said. Denmark won the shootout 2-1, with Foss converting as the final shooter.¹

Teresa Christensen forced the shootout, going coast to coast from the Danish blueline and beating goaltender Masuhara through the five-hole with 2:56 remaining in regulation. The IIHF said Denmark had a two-player advantage for 70 seconds early in the third period but hit the post twice before Christensen scored.¹

Umeka Odaira scored both Japanese goals, the first at 5:22 of the opening period and the second with 6:07 left in the first. The IIHF described the goals as near-identical: Odaira carried the puck from Japan's blueline to the Danish net, finishing the first top shelf and the second through Nordstrom's five-hole.¹

Nikita Bergmann cut the deficit in half 47 seconds into the second period, finishing a rebound after Silke Glud opened a lane to the slot. Emma-Sofie Nordstrom made 29 saves for Denmark in regulation time and was beaten only once in the shootout.¹

It’s unreal, it’s a historic moment, just unbelievable. We didn’t play our game in the first, and then worked our way back into the game. In overtime, we knew we could win.¹Denmark goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordstrom

Glud, 30, who played her first national team games in 2013, said there was no time to think on the Bergmann goal. "I just wanted to get off a good shot on goal," she said.¹

Odaira said Japan lost its flow in the third period. "We got into penalty trouble and lost our flow in the third, but I still believed in our team’s ability to win it in overtime," she said.¹

Nordstrom said she was nervous before the shootout and reminded herself of an earlier shootout against China. "I was definitely nervous before the shootout, but I reminded myself of a shootout against China which we won, so I thought things would turn out fine now, too," she said.¹

The IIHF said the crowd at the Kvik Arena chanted "Den-mark, Den-mark" long after the shootout ended. Denmark captain Nicoline Jensen credited the fans. "They really lifted us today, and I want to thank the fans from the bottom of my heart," she said.¹