Germany2 – Sweden2 0:4 (end) | Russia – Japan2 2:1 (end)
final
Russia
2:1 (1:0, 0:0,1:1)
Japan2
Tuesday 11.02.2014, 16:00 • Shayba Arena, Sochi • Olympics - Women
     
    Japan have run out of time, and in a simply thrilling encounter Russia have just managed to see off Japan by two goals to one! The Russians dominated the first two periods but could only score the one goal from Tatyana Burina, and at the start of the third period Ayaka Toko tied things up. The Japanese really dominated after that but were hit by a killer blow as Alexandra Vafina scored a shorthanded goal to win it for the tournament hosts. Thanks for following today's coverage with us, and see you soon for more action from the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi! (18:16:42)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:53
    Prugova makes an excellent sharp glove save from Osawa! Japan are really pressing with just seconds to go!
     
    59:24
    We're into the final minute and Japan have called a time out. Fujimoto will now be pulled for the extra skater!
     
    58:36
    Skiba! Spins away from the Japanese defenders on the right flank but from a promising position can only fire wide!
     
    58:10
    Gavrilova picks up the loose puck, but is crowded out before she can't get a clean shot away
     
    57:12
    Fujimoto freezes the puck as it rolls towards her goal to prevent any danger
     
    56:41
    Russia go offside
     
    56:05
    The pace of the game is lightning quick, can Japan heroically make it a tied game again? 2-1 to Russia with just under four minutes to go
     
    55:37
    Smolentseva finds room to squeeze in a sharp wrist shot and Fujimoto turns it round into the boards
     
    53:33
    How didn't Japan score! The Russians cough up the puck on their crease, and despite three desperate attempts they can't force it home with Prugova already a beaten goalkeeper!
     
    52:22
    Russia are back to full strength after surviving a couple of hairy moments and grabbing a shorthanded goal for themselves
     
    51:36
    Goal for Team Russia! The Shayba Arena has exploded with noise! ALEXANDRA VAFINA skates through one on one and goes top shelf on Fujimoto, shorthanded goal and it's 2-1!
     
    51:16
    Japan are really putting the pressure on, there's only one team on the ice right now!
     
    50:59
    It's Osawa yet again! She hits the base of the left post, it rebounds off the back of Prugova and she lies on the puck to freeze it!
     
    50:31
    Osawa! The puck gets deflected to her at the near post and she can't hit the empty corner of the net!
     
    50:22
    It's yet another penalty against the Russians, Oleg Sosina for hooking has been penalised and it's another chance for Japan
     
    50:09
    The puck is spinning around the Russian crease and Prugova at the second attempt manages to freeze it!
     
    49:34
    And now it's a five on five game again
     
    49:12
    Pashkevich! On a shorthanded rush she finds herself one on one with Fujimoto, but she couldn't beat her at the right hand post, big chance for Russia to go ahead again!
     
    47:34
    Osawa once again skates away excellently and Prugova pokes it wide. And now Dyubanok for interference has put Russia on the penalty kill
     
    46:47
    Russia still just cannot get anything going in this period, Japan are feeling more and more comfortable
     
    46:22
    Prugova catches a powerful attempt from the point to make a solid save
     
    46:19
    And icing now from the Russians
     
    46:03
    Icing from Japan
     
    45:41
    Right on the right hand side of the slot Ukita flashes an attempt just wide of the near post!
     
    44:42
    Takeuchi right from the point has a big shot deflected up and out of play. The Japanese really are looking confident after finding that all important equaliser
     
    43:25
    Hard attack from the hosts and with her stick Fujimoto puts the puck wide!
     
    43:02
    Japan couldn't create any clear chances on the powerplay and the shellshocked Russians are back to full strength
     
    41:02
    Japan have started this period really powerfully and now they have a powerplay opportunity to keep the momentum going, Vafina for tripping has been called
     
    40:31
    Goal for Team Japan! It's their first goal at this year's Olympic Games! Prugova makes a terrible mistake with her glove on a AYAKA TOKO long range effort and it's 1-1! Assists- Hanae Kubo
     
    40:21
    Prugova flashes leather elegantly at her near post to sweep a flying Osawa effort into her glove
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods-

    Shots on target- 35-12
    Penalty minutes- 0-6
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 12-34
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:52
    Gavrilova is once again somehow denied by Fujimoto! Under pressure Gavrilova goes for the near post with her backhand, but Fujimoto is keeping her team in the game!
     
    39:30
    It's now the final 30 seconds of the second period with Russia still leading 1-0
     
    38:05
    Gavrilova has been hauled down as she was skating away and Mika Hori is off to the penalty box for Japan for hooking
     
    37:29
    Pashkevich goes clean through, has a strike partner with her but she goes alone and misses when trying to go top shelf!
     
    36:57
    Vafina! Cuts in expertly between the Japanese defence, gets into a great shooting position but she slides the puck wide!
     
    35:55
    After the puck bounces off the boards Sosina is sent free, she attempts to get to the backhand but again the goalkeeper stands tall!
     
    35:02
    Skiba falls almost on top of the goalkeeper but on yet another scramble on the crease the puck just won't go in the net! The Japanese are under serious pressure
     
    34:41
    Slapshot from the blue line which is deflected, and in front of the waiting Pashkevich Fujimoto doesn't give up a rebound
     
    33:47
    Smolentseva! Another great chance for the Russians and this time Smolentseva is just denied after a great dummy from Lebedeva on the crease!
     
    33:23
    On the slot Gavrilova takes the puck to her backhand but can only put the puck into the goalkeeper's pads
     
    33:01
    Goalmouth scramble and Fujimoto somehow saves from Skiba right on the goal line!
     
    32:48
    The puck bounces off the boards to Gavrilova who smacks the puck with all her might first time and it skims past the far post!
     
    31:43
    The referee blows on the play as the puck gets stuck up against the boards
     
    31:03
    Vafina instead of trying to find an attacking partner strikes from distance and the goalkeeper kicks it into the boards
     
    29:54
    Skiba is sent through on the right flank, twists away from her opposing defender but her low drive is covered sharply
     
    29:16
    Prugova excellently plucks the puck out of the air as it comes in towards her goal
     
    28:17
    Goncharenko's high pass into the slot is deflected only just wide of the left post
     
    26:54
    Snapshot from the powerful Gavrilova and Fujimoto has to hold well
     
    26:01
    Osawa, who is creating all the danger for the visitors, tries to go upstairs on the goalkeeper from the right hand boards but Prugova is alert
     
    25:15
    Shokina hits a pacy wrist shot from the left into the goalkeeper's chest
     
    24:36
    Hard drive from Vafina who's pass into the slot after a ricochet just misses the left hand post!
     
    23:44
    Fujimoto loses her bearings and the puck goes almost comically just over her crossbar!
     
    23:26
    From the point Goncharenko blasts the puck in on net, and after a deflection it flies wide
     
    22:45
    The Japanese go offside
     
    22:28
    Dergachyova makes a good move darting in from behind towards the net, but Fujimoto covers well
     
    21:56
    Smolentseva sends a low dangerous pass across the crease which goes through a crowd of bodies
     
    21:23
    Japan killed the penalty well and they're back at full strength
     
    20:01
    Russia start the second period on the powerplay after Yamane picked up a late penalty for Japan in the first 20 minutes
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play-

    Shots on target- 14-8
    Penalty minutes- 0-4
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 8-13
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:23
    Yamane for body checking has been sent to the box and 37 seconds before the end of the first period Russia have their second powerplay
     
    18:51
    Fujimoto kicks away a dangerous shot at her left hand post
     
    18:04
    The puck seems to have crossed the Russian goal line, but for whatever reason the referees have not given the goal! Prugova lost control of the puck, it squirmed under her and went in but the referees didn't choose to look at the video replays!
     
    16:35
    Japan are now back at full strength
     
    16:25
    And now Japan have a fantastic chance! Osawa puts herself through one on one but she's denied by a big Prugova save!
     
    15:45
    How didn't the puck cross the line! Burina receives a brilliant pass from Skiba on the crease, but her shot hits the post and rolls across the goal line before Fujimoto dives on it!
     
    14:35
    Tomoe Yamane for hooking has been penalised and Russia have the first powerplay of the game
     
    13:43
    Yelena Dergachyova breaks away on a two on one, plays a one two with Anna Shokina and just can't sweep the puck home!
     
    12:38
    Russia continue to press and Smolentseva just can't find room to get a shot away at the top of the crease
     
    11:39
    Goal for Team Russia! The Russian pressure has been growing and they have their reward! TATYANA BURINA picks up the loose puck, wrists it through the goalkeeper and it's 1-0!
     
    11:24
    Icing from the Russians
     
    10:35
    Pashkevich! Brilliant charge to the net, she gets crowded out and the puck eventually ends up going inches wide of the far post!
     
    10:14
    Dergachyova picks up a loose Japanese pass, shoots it low and into the goalkeeper's glove
     
    10:06
    Russia chuck the puck deep into the zone to force Fujimoto to cover up for a faceoff
     
    08:03
    Pashkevich hits a weak wrister into Fujimoto from the middle of the zone and she easily turns it round
     
    07:33
    Osawa is left open right on the slot but her shot is too central to beat Prugova
     
    07:14
    Icing is committed by Russia
     
    06:49
    Again Prugova struggles to deal with a strong attempt from distance, and she has to rely on her defenders to help her out
     
    06:14
    Galina Skiba receives a behind the net pass, one times it towards Fujimoto's near post and it's an excellent save by the goalkeeper
     
    05:17
    Big slapshot from Dyubanok just inside the attacking zone, and it smacks Fujimoto right in the chest
     
    04:44
    Japan go offside
     
    03:58
    Prugova only just manages to deal with a long range effort than almost caught her out! This is a confident start by Japan
     
    03:16
    Gavrilova! Big rebound given up by the Japanese goalkeeper and the Russian forward misses the open left corner of the net!
     
    02:31
    Osawa! Right on the left hand post she just can't beat Prugova who saves with her pads!
     
    01:39
    Russia put good pressure on Japan deep in their zone, but the visitors manage to clear the danger
     
    00:53
    Tomko Sakagami has the first attempt of the game from the right flank, and the Russian goaltender turns it wide with ease
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are out on to the ice and we're ready to go!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Russia: Prugova (Leskina)- Tkachyova, Dyubanok, Gavrilova, Burina, Skiba- Goncharenko, Kapustina, Smolentseva, Sosina, Lebedeva- Khomich, Shibanova, Vafina, Smolina, Dergachyova- Shukina, Shokina, Pashkevich

    Japan: N Fujimoto (Konishi)- Koike, Hori, Yoneyama, Osawa, M Fujimoto- Toko, Suzuki, Hirano, Sakagami, Kubo- Aoki, Takeuchi, Adachi, Ukita, Shishiuchi- Kondo, Yamane, Nakamura

    Referees: Hertrich, Caughey, Hanrahan.
     
    Sweden at the top of Group B at the moment have played a game more after their 4-0 thrashing of Germany earlier today. The Russians can reclaim top spot of the group with a win tonight, and after they beat Germany 4-1 and Japan lost their opener to Sweden 1-0 they are favourites to do so.
     
    These are the Group B standings at the moment-

    1. SWE W2 L0 GS 5 GA 0 PTS 6
    2. RUS W1 L0 GS 4 GA 1 PTS 6
    3. JPN W0 L1 GS 0 GA 1 PTS 0
    4. GER W0 L2 GS 1 GA 8 PTS 0
     
    Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Sochi for the second of today's Group B matches in the women's ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The hosts Russia faceoff against one of the tournament outsiders Japan, and this should be an entertaining match.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 16:00.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 12. Burina, 52. Vafina – 41. Toko (Kubo)

    Russia: Prugova (Leskina)- Tkachyova, Dyubanok, Gavrilova, Burina, Skiba- Goncharenko, Kapustina, Smolentseva, Sosina, Lebedeva- Khomich, Shibanova, Vafina, Smolina, Dergachyova- Shukina, Shokina, Pashkevich
    Japan2: N Fujimoto (Konishi)- Koike, Hori, Yoneyama, Osawa, M Fujimoto- Toko, Suzuki, Hirano, Sakagami, Kubo- Aoki, Takeuchi, Adachi, Ukita, Shishiuchi- Kondo, Yamane, Nakamura
    Referees: Hertrich, Caughey, Hanrahan