US routs Finland 7-1 in opener at women’s hockey worlds

CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic (AP) — Hayley Scamurra and Kelly Pannek scored two goals each as the United States routed Finland 7-1 in their opening game at the women’s hockey world championship on Wednesday.

Captain Hilary Knight, making her 15th world championship appearance, and Taylor Heise both had a goal and an assist, and Lee Stecklein also scored for the U.S.

Goaltender Aerin Frankel saved 19 shots in a Group A match between last year’s runner-up U.S. and the bronze medalist.

Petra Nieminen scored the lone goal for Finland on a power play.

“It was a big win,” Knight said. “Finland’s a great team, and we had all lines, all D-pairings going, which is really nice, and some great individual performances.”

Scamurra put the Americans 1-0 up 2:44 into the game on a rebound and doubled the advantage moments later. Pannek increased the lead to 3-0 from the slot in the first period as the Americans stormed the ice early and she finished off the rout with her second goal in the final period.

Defenseman Stecklein, who took the past year off to focus on her PWHL career, marked her return with a goal from a backhand shot in the second period.

In another Group A game, the Czech Republic blanked Switzerland 3-0.

Klára Hymlárová, Kristýna Kaltounková and Tereza Pištěková all scored for the hosts and goaltender Klára Peslarová made 26 saves for the shutout.

Earlier, Sweden defeated Germany 5-2 in their opening game in Group B.

Hanna Thuvik scored the first goal of the tournament 10:34 into the opening period for Sweden. Mira Hallin doubled the lead midway through the second.

Luisa Welcke reduced the German deficit to 2-1 in the second period before Anna Kjellbin and Thea Johansson both scored in the third for Sweden.

Emily Nix netted in the third for Germany on a power play, with Hanna Olsson finishing off the five-goal Swedish tally by scoring into an empty net.

The U.S. and defending champion Canada are the tournament favorites, continuing a long-standing cross-border rivalry. Canada has won 13 world titles followed by the U.S. with 10 spanning the previous 23 championships.

Finland is the only other team apart from Canada and the U.S. to reach the final, doing so in 2019.

Canada opens its title defense against Finland on Thursday.

The 12-day, 10-nation tournament in the southern Czech city of Ceske Budejovice represents the final major international tune-up before the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.

The teams are divided into two groups for a preliminary round. All five teams from Group A and the top three from Group B qualify for the playoffs.

The bottom two from Group B, which also features Japan, Norway and Hungary, are relegated.

AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Finland's Elisa Holopainen, rear, chases United States' Caroline Harvey during a Group A match at the women's ice hockey world championships, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)

United States' Hilary Knight celebrates a goal during a Group A match against Finland at the women's ice hockey world championships, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)

Swedish players celebrate victory after the IIHF Women's World Championship, Group B, match between Sweden and Germany, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Pavlicek Lubos/CTK via AP)

From left, Celina Haider of Germany, Tabea Botthof of Germany, as Hanna Thuvik of Sweden scores against goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter of Germany and Sara Hjalmarsson of Sweden during the IIHF Women's World Championship, Group B, match between Sweden and Germany, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Pavlicek Lubos/CTK via AP)

From left, Megan Keller of the U.S, Julia Schalin of Finland, Laila Edwards of the U.S., goalkeeper Aerin Frankel of the U.S. and Sanni Rantal of Finland in action during the ice hockey IIHF Women's World Championship Group A match between Finland and U.S., in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)

US players celebrate a goal during the ice hockey IIHF Women's World Championship Group A match between Finland and US, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)

From left, Siiri Yrjöl of Finland and Kelly Pannek of the U.S. in action during the ice hockey IIHF Women's World Championship Group A match between Finland and US, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)

Luisa Welcke, left, of Germany and Thea Johansson of Sweden compete during the IIHF Women's World Championship Group B match Sweden vs Germany, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, on April 9, 2025.(Pavlicek Lubos/CTK via AP)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)