Eliasson's goal came off a nice backhand deke that eluded Czech goalie Radka Lhotska. Lhotska and Sweden's Sara Grahn had stopped all five previous shots in the shootout.

The Swedes appeared to be in control for most of the game. They opened the scoring at 11:12 of the first period when Lisa Johansson beat Lhotska with a shot. The Swedes dominated the period but the Czechs managed to escape down only a goal.

The Czechs had their chances in the second. Sweden took four successive penalties but did a masterful job of killing them off, but in the third they again took two early penalties to give the Czechs a glimmer of hope.

Although the Czechs couldn't click on the power play, they managed to tie the game at 10:42 off a scramble in front when captain Aolena Polenska scored. That set the stage for overtime, and the Czechs again had a magnificent opportunity to win.

They had a lengthy two-man advantage in the OT but still couldn't create many scoring chances, and in the shootout Eliasson's goal proved the difference.

Sweden now has a firm grasp on the final spot for the 2015 Women's Worlds, which it is slated to host, but the Czechs drew confidence from the game all the same and can't be counted out.

Game two will be played Monday at the Nepean Sportsplex.