It was both a heartbreaking and heartening start to the tournament for the Czechs, who have only appeared once at an elite IIHF Women’s World Championship before. Interestingly, in their debut in Ottawa 2013, they upset Sweden 3-2. It’s still their only win in Women’s Worlds history.

The Damkronorna, who outshot the Czechs 31-18, narrowly avoided making the same mistake twice. They will now set their sights on Japan on Tuesday. The Czechs will battle the Swiss earlier that day.

This game was nearly half over when Petra Herzigova beat Swedish goalie Sara Grahn to open the scoring for the Czechs. Sweden’s Sabrina Lambertz Kuller tied it up with a shorthanded tally with 2:24 remaining in the middle frame.

The teams exchanged goals in the first half of the third period. Hanna Olsson gave Sweden its first lead of the night on the power play at 1:22, but Aneta Ledlova notched the equalizer at 7:58.

Carlsson’s late winner was her first goal in 10 career Women’s Worlds games. Pulling Czech netminder Klara Peslarova with eight seconds left for an extra attacker was a brave but futile gesture.

Sweden is looking for its first medal at a top-level IIHF women’s event since 2007 (bronze).