Amanda Kessel clears the puck but misses the empty net from within the neutral zone!

The Americans win another face off and avoid that Räty can leave her net.

Räty was on her way to the bench for an additional forward but the goalie had to return when there was a call by the referee in the neutral zone.

If the Fins want to still have a chance in this match they have to score very, very soon!

A shot by Gigi Marvin from the blue line goes wide to the left significantly.

Alex Carpenter can't use the room in front of the Finnish net and has to break up her attack.

It's visible on the ice now that the Fins don't really believe themselves in a comeback anymore with only 8 minutes left to play and a three-goal deficit. The US team is back in controll of the match.

Minttu Tuominen's shot from within the slot is blocked by an American defender.

Jenni Hiirikoski's long distance shot from far within the neutral zone almost surprises Jesse Vetter but in the end she makes the expected pad save.

Already the next opportunity for the Fins! Linda Välimäki received a long pass at the American blue line, skated towards the net and but under pressure her back hand shot from the right circle is no problem at all for Vetter.

Michelle Karvinen tries it from the left circle but her shot towards the right top corner is deflected wide by Vetter!

Brianna Decker conquers the puck insisde the neutral zone after her team mates failed to keep it inside the Finnish third but then her shot from within the slot went straight into the glove hand of Räty.

The Fins with a one-timer from the blue line, goes wide. The Americans leave their European opponents more room and wait for counters. Understandable with a 3-0 lead!

A lot of open space for Linda Välimäki on the left wing but she isn't able to handle puck well and loses it to an opponent inside the neutral zone.

Minttu Tuominen gets the first shot on goal of the period but from within the slot she is stopped by the glove hand of Jessie Vetter.

Kendall Coyne with the very last opportunity of the period after escaping on the left wing but Räty stops the puck!

Kacey Bellamy misses the net to the left with a shot from the left wing at height of the blue line.

Amanda Kessel is through alone at the left circle but her shot from short distance is blocked by the hard-working Räty!

Gigi Marvin doesn't find a team mate in a good position for a pass and tries it herself from within the slot but her shot goes straight into the gloves of Räty.

Jocelyne Lamoureux with a lot of space on the left circle, stopped by Räty.

Finnish attacks are becoming rather rare in the last minutes. A shot by defender Saija Tarkki from the blue line is deflected by an opponent.

The Fins just killed successfully another penalty!

Linda Välimäki with the counter for Finland but her shot from the right circle is deflected wide with a glove save by American goalie Vetter!

The American power play formation with a lot of puck possession at the Finnish blue line but they don't take a shot from there but instead look for a better scoring position – without success.

Brianna Decker receives a pass inside the Finnish third, skates behind the net and his checked hard into the boards but no call by the referee.

The official stats are 22-4 shots on goal for USA vs Finland to this point but what looks very clear on the paper, is far from being as clear on the ice! The Fins are fighting well and are always dangerous with counter attacks!

Again Brianna Decker in the centre of attraction when she appears just in front of the Finnish net but a call by German referee Hertich ends the situation!

Brianna Decker tries it with a shot from the blue line, blocked by the Finnish defense.

Good stick handling by Kelli Stack who wins the puck inside the Finnish third but she tries too much and tries to force her way through the whole Finnish defense before she is stopped by the last defender.

Mira Jalosuo with aggressive forechecking, wins the puck at the American blue line but one of her team mates doesn't make it out of the American third in time – offside!

We are enjoying a very fast second period by now with a lot of chances on both sides!

Icing by the Fins.

A double chance for Kelli Stack but both times Räty wins the duel.

On the other side of the ice the Americans almost scored after a fast combination between three players inside the Finnish third but Räty made the save against a shot from short distance!

The Fins win the opening face off in the middle period but Karvinen's fast shot from the blue line is harmless.

Hilary Knight receives a pass inside the neutral zone, skates towards the right circle and fires the puck towards the right bottom corner but Räty makes an easy save.

The Fins defend very aggressively already at the American blue line and cause a lot of trouble for the American defense which is only able to clear the situation after half a minute.

Two minutes are left to play in this first period. The game stays completely open but Team USA are investing a lot more again.

The Fins are back at full strength. If something is working for the Northern Europeans, then it's their penalty killing!

Amanda Kessel, sister of NHL star forward Phil Kessel, has the best chance during this second power play for Finland but her scoring attempt after coming from the left circle is stopped by Räty.

Another good attack by the Fins, this time over the right wing, but Linda Välimäki isn't able to controll the cross-pass from the right circle...

A blue line shot by Kacey Bellamy is blocked by the stick of a defender but the situation stays dangerous as the Fins fail to get the puck.

Coyne under pressure by two Finnish defenders but still gets a shot on goal from the right circle which then lacks power though and is easily blocked with a pad save by Räty.

After a harmless shot from the left wing the puck bounced back from the boards and Vetter kept it save by covering the puck up.

Jenni Hiirikoski tries it with a shot from the blue line that is deflected wide by an American defender.

After a long pass Monique Lamoureux is through on the right wing wing but a defender can stop her in the very last moment!

A dangerous pass by Brianna Decker from the right circle but the Finnish defense is able to clear the situation with a bit of trouble.

Rosa Lindstedt receives a long pass at the American blue line and tries it with a fast shot towards the left top corner after returning from the penalty box but Jessie Vetter blocks the puck with her shoulder!

The Fins are back at full strength. Kelli Stack had the only opportunity for Team USA during this first power play situation but she was stopped from short distance after receiving a pass from behind the net!

The Olympic women's hockey tournament 2014 is on the way!

The teams are entering the ice!

Starting lineups:

USA: Vetter (Schaus) – Marvin, Bellamy, Bozek, Schleper, Picard, Puccio, Stecklein – Stack, Knight, Carpenter – Decker, Coyne, Kessel – M. Lamoureux, Duggan "C", J. Lamoureux – Chuo, Fry. Coach: Katey Stone.

Finland: Räty (Räisänen) – Hiirikoski "C", Jalosu, Terho, Tarkki, Lindstedt, Kilponen, Villila – Tuominen, Karvinen, Tapani – Hovi, Välimäki, Tikkinen – Välilä, Rantamäki, Nuutinen – Rajahuhta, Tanskanen. Coach: Mika Pieniniemi.

Referees: Hertrich (GER) – Björkman (SWE), Gagnon (CAN).

Team USA and Team Finland will meet in Shaiba Ice Arena (capacity: 7,000) for the opening match of the Olympic Women's ice hockey tournament – which will also be the IIHF World Championship.

Both countries are known for their quality of their women's hockey programs. While the Americans were able to win the gold medal during the very first version of women's hockey at Winter Olympics in 1998 in Nagano – followed by silver, bronze and again silver medals – and during 4 World Championships, the Fins collected no less than 10 bronze medals at World Championships and two bronze medals at Olympics.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver both teams were in the same group and the American women beat the Fins by a clear result of 6-0. While Finland went on to win the bronze medal game against neighbouring Sweden (3-2 OT), the Americans lost the gold medal final against Canada (0-2). During the 2013 IIHF World Championship Finland and USA again were in the same group and this time the result was closer but still the Americans won (4-2) before both teams met again in the semifinals were Team USA beat Finland again (3-0). The American women went on to win the gold medal game against Canada (3-2) while Finland lost the bronze medal game against Russia (0-2).

If Finland can get a big surprise in this crucial match in group A, we'll see very soon! The other two teams of the group – Canada and Switzerland – will play at 14.00 CET which we will also cover of course!

Welcome. Game starts at 03:00 ET / 09:00 CET / 12:00 MSK which is also the local time in Sochi.