United States tops Finland to improve to 3-0 at women's hockey worlds

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two goals in leading the defending champion United States to a 5-3 win over Finland on Saturday at the women's world hockey championship in Utica, N.Y.

Abbey Murphy, Hilary Knight and Taylor Heise each had a goal and an assist to provide the rest of the offence for the U.S.

Aerin Frankel made nine saves as the Americans improved to 3-0 and sit atop Group A with nine points. Canada (2-0-0), who the Americans will next play on Monday, is second with six points.

Elisa Holopainen, with two goals, and Sofianna Sundelin scored for Finland, which remained winless through three games at the tournament. Anni Keisala stopped 40 shots.

With the game tied 2-2 entering the second period, Heise and Coyne Schofield scored at 7:42 and 11:40 to give the U.S. a cushion. But Sundelin made it a one-score game with a breakaway goal, beating Frankel with a deke going to her backhand.

Coyne Schofield scored her second of the game 15 seconds into the third period to seal the win.

Germany defeats Japan

Sandra Abstreiter made 30 saves in a near-perfect performance in Germany's 4-1 win over Japan earlier on Saturday.

Jule Schiefer, Bernadette Karpf, Luisa Welcke and Nicola Eisenschmid scored for Germany, which improved to 2-0 at the tournament.

Akane Shiga had the lone goal for Japan, which fell to 1-1. Riko Kawaguchi stopped 25 shots.

With 1:46 remaining in the third period, Welcke made it a 3-0 game. Shiga then trimmed the deficit, scoring off a rebound from a Ayaka Hitosato point shot 23 seconds later and Eisenschmid sealed it for the Germans 29 seconds after that.

The trio of goals that came in just 52 seconds served as a new record for the fastest three goals scored between two teams in a game.

The defending champion United States and Finland were set to play later Saturday.