Kelly Pannek scored to rally the United States past the host Czech Republic 2-1 and into the final at the women’s hockey world championship on Saturday in Ceske Budejovice.
In Sunday’s final, the U.S. will play defending champion Canada or last year’s bronze medalist Finland, who meet in the other semifinal later Saturday.
With the victory, the Americans improved to 6-0 against the Czechs all-time at the worlds and 3-0 in semifinals.
Laila Edwards also scored for the U.S. and captain Hilary Knight recorded an assist to increase her record at the worlds to 52. U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel made 10 saves.
Pannek has earned at least a point in every U.S. game and leads the team with four goals.
Pannek skated around the net and her backhand shot was saved by Czech goalie Klara Peslarova, but she netted the winner on a rebound 8:26 into the final period.
In the second period where the Americans pushed hard for an equalizer, outshooting the Czechs 17-2 and 45-11 overall, Edwards got it 8:56 in, wristing a shot into the roof of the net from the left circle on a power play.
Tereze Plosova scored for the Czechs, who will play the bronze medal game for the fourth straight tournament.
The Czechs stunned the hot favourite, taking a lead with 4:32 left in the opening period to the delight of the sell-out crowd of almost 6,000. Klara Hymlarova seized the puck behind the goal and fed Plosova, who shot over the shoulder of Frankel.
WATCH | Canada thrashes Japan in women’s hockey worlds quarterfinal:
Canada defeats Japan 9-1 in the quarterfinals of the women’s world hockey championship. Jennifer Gardiner scores twice and leads the tournament with five goals, while Sarah Fillier also notches a pair.
