HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Nicole Hall and Ebba Hedquist both scored twice to inspire Sweden to a 10-0 rout of Denmark at the women’s ice hockey world championship on Tuesday.

Sweden moved to second in Group B in Herning with six points from two wins, trailing leader Canada by three.

Goaltender Emma Soderberg needed to make four saves, all in the final period, for the shutout.

Finland also has six points in third. It rallied after an early scare to cruise past Japan 8-2 for a second victory.

Last year’s bronze medalist Finland answered an early lead by Japan through Remi Koyama with three goals in the opening period.

Emmi Juusela tied the game, added another goal and a couple of assists for the Finns, Sanni Vanhanen had a goal and two assists, Julia Schalin scored a short-handed goal and Emma Nuutinen, Julia Liikala, Sanni Rantala and Siiri Yrjola netted one apiece.

Finland goaltender Emilia Kyrkko stopped 15 shots, while Rio Noro scored Japan's second.

Finland completes the preliminary phase against Canada on Wednesday and Sweden plays Japan, which is bottom on one point.

In Group A in Esbjerg, Germany edged the Czech Republic 2-1 after a shootout and Switzerland came from 2-1 down to top Austria, a newcomer in the top division, 4-2.

The United States leads the group with nine points, while the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland are tied on five. Austria is point-less and faces a relegation game.

The U.S. plays the last group game against the Czechs and Germany meets Switzerland.

The top four from each group advance to the playoffs.

Czech off-ice scandal

In between their games, the Czech team condemned derogatory remarks about women’s hockey from their country's Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.

Macinka said he considered hockey a men’s sport during a television debate on Sunday about the possible entry of a Russia team at the under-18 women's worlds in the Czech Republic in January.

He said he can’t imagine the Russian anthem being played in the Czech Republic despite a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and added "our great feminists” will be disappointed when the tournament is without “Russia’s mannish women.”

Forward Kristýna Kaltounková, the No. 1 pick in last year’s PWHL draft, said she didn’t agree with Russia playing in international competitions but “women have the same right to play hockey as men.”

“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or what you look like, sport is for everyone,” she added.

Macinka has apologized after athletes including Czech NHL players and politicians denounced his comments.

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See AP’s full women’s hockey coverage here