Russia beats Sweden to play final against Finland at Olympics |
BEIJING (AP) – Methodical yet powerful, the Russians return to the gold medal game to defend their Olympic title.
Arseni Gritsyuk made the winner to end a penalty shootout in eight rounds and put the Russians in the men’s hockey final by beating Sweden 2-1 on Friday night. The team known as the Russian Olympic Committee will meet Finland on Sunday and look for back to back gold.
The Russians hung hard to force OT after Sweden equalized against captain Anton Lander’s return goal early in the third period. Anton Slepyshev, who spent three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, passed NHL defender Christian Folin on the left wing and slid the puck past Lars Johansson for the first Russian goal 15 seconds into the second.
Nikita Gusev and Yegor Yakolev also scored in the penalty shootout for the Russians. Sweden got shots by Lucas Wallmark and Joakim Nordström but not the last save from Johansson that was needed.
After beating Germany in extra time in the final in Pyeongchang, the Russians will face a more formidable opponent this time in Finland, who defeated Slovakia 2-0 in the second semifinal.
Finland received a goal from the tournament’s MVP candidate Sakari Manninen and 28 saves from Harri Sateri to move within a victory of the nation’s first Olympic hockey gold. The closest Finland has come has been the finals in 2006 and 1988.
“It’s huge for everyone individually, as a team and as a hockey country,” said Sateri. “It’s a big thing.”
Slovakia will play against Sweden for bronze and go for their first hockey medal of any kind since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
“It would be a huge achievement, but it will be a tough match,” said 17-year-old forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who is a draw for the tournament management with five goals. “If we do our best, I’m not worried we can not win the match.”
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AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed.
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