On the strength of a three-goal second period, Finland defeated Switzerland 3-1 in Tuesday's late game at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Hampered by illness, the Finns had been blanked in their two previous outings.

Finland's first win in Milan means coach Tero Lehtera's team will finish at least fourth in Group A. The Swiss finish fifth with one overtime win (4-3 over Czechia) and three losses under their belt. Unless Finland upsets defending Olympic champion Canada in its final group game on Thursday, the Finns and Swiss will get a rematch in the quarter-finals. Finland could still wind up second or third in Group A.

"It's been a couple of hard first games and first days in the [Olympic] village too, with the virus and everything," said Finland's Ronja Savolainen. "But, it's nice to get the goals today. That's something that we've been pushing to get. And you can feel within the team that our shoulders are a little lower now after getting those goals. Our game was better, and you can see from the shots that we were dominating the game. But there's still a couple things we should be better at."

Sanni Vanhanen potted a goal and an assist, and Viivi Vainikka and Julia Liikala also scored for Finland, which outshot the Swiss 31-15.

Looking ahead to facing Canada, Vanhanen said: "They're a really physical team, really fast. So we need to be able to match their speed and physicality."

Alina Muller had the lone goal for Switzerland. With 14 carer Olympic goals, she becomes the all-time leading goal-scorer in Swiss Olympic history, surpassing Stefanie Marty (13).

In net, Finland's Sanni Ahola returned for the first time since the opening 5-0 loss to the Americans. Swiss coach Colin Muller went back to goalie Saskia Maurer after Andrea Braendli made her 2026 debut in Switzerland's 5-0 loss to the Americans. 

Both Finland and Switzerland were dealing with injuries to stars. Finland’s Susanna Tapani did not dress after not playing in the late stages of the 2-0 loss ot Czechia and not taking part in practices. Swiss captain Lara Stalder was in the lineup, but did not participate in this game after the warm-up.

Of Stalder's absence, Switzerland's Lisa Ruedi said: "She's a great captain, and I think we just played for her. She's going to come back stronger."

The Finns – who won bronze both at the 2022 Olympics and the 2025 Women's Worlds – needed some positive momentum. They finally got it.

Both netminders looked sharp in the scoreless first period. Ahola made a nice glove save on Muller, while Maurer came across to rob Petra Nieminen with a glove grab of her own.

Chances kept coming early in the second period. If it wasn't Ahola foiling Ivana on a breakaway, it was Vainikka ringing one off the post at the other end.

Vainikka finally drew first blood at 3:33, converting a short pass from Vanhanen through Maurer's five-hole. The goal ended Finland's scoring drought at 143:33 – the nation’s longest ever from the start of an Olympic women’s hockey tournament.

Liikala gave Finland a 2-0 lead at 9:50, taking Jenniina Nylund's centering pass and surprising Maurer with a high wrister for her first career Olympic goal. The 24-year-old forward plays for HC Ambriotta in Switzerland. A member of the Finnish national team since 2021, Liikala last scored in IIHF competition at the 2023 Women's Worlds.

With three minutes left in the second period, Muller gave Switzerland some life with a shorthanded goal. The Boston Fleet star jumped past Finland's Jenni Hiirikoski at the point and hastened down right wing, cutting in to beat Ahola over the glove.

But Swiss joy was short-lived. Just 35 seconds later, with the same Finnish power play ongoing, Vanhanen tucked home a loose puck in front to restore the two-goal lead. As with Liikala, it was the first Olympic goal for a two-time Olympian.

Savolainen expressed excitement about playing Canada next: "I think hopefully we're going to play our best game and show that we're here to battle for the gold. I know how good this team can be, and I still think we have a couple steps forward to go. I'm looking forward to the game, and hopefully we can get Canada shaking."

Ruedi took a positive view despite Switzerland's loss: "As a team, we have a great bond, and I  think we've showed off some great hockey. That's how we're going to keep going forward."

Overall, Finland has had the upper hand versus Switzerland at the Olympics. The Finns won three of the previous four meetings, including a 4-0 bronze medal victory at the 2022 Olympics. Switzerland’s lone win also took place in Beijing, 3-2 in the preliminary round.