FIN 2:4 RUS | Finland - Russia (World Championship)

World Championship

France2 – Italy veterans	1:2 (end)	\|	Germany2 – Latvia	3:2 (end)	\|	Norway – Denmark	4:3 (end)
Belarus – Kazakhstan	4:1 (end)	\|	Sweden2 – Czech Republic	4:3 (2:1 after SO)	\|	Finland – Russia	2:4 (end)

final

Finland

2:4 (1:2, 1:2, 0:0)

Russia

Sunday 11.05.2014, 20:00 • Minsk Arena, Minsk • World Championship

		There's the final buzzer, and in a hotly contested game from start to finish Russia have beaten Finland 4-2! That victory will taste very sweet for the Russians and they looked excellent again today. Quickfire goals from Viktor Tikhonov and Alexander Ovechkin put them in control, before Juuso Hietanen got the Finns back into it. In the second period though only a late Jere Karalahti goal could reply to efforts from Nikolay Kulyomin and Sergey Kalinin. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting action from the 2014 IIHF World Championships! (22:40:42)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:30	We're now into the final 30 seconds with the Russians heading to a very important victory
	59:10	Olli Jokinen for hooking has been called into the penalty box and that should be that in this one surely
	58:49	Sergey Kalinin misses the empty net from just a few meters out! That could have finished it!
	58:10	Kontiola! Petri Kontiola lurking at the left of the crease takes a hold of the puck, the netminder is already out of the equation but somehow he can't hit the net!
	58:03	And now it's Finland's turn to take a timeout, if they're going to save this one they have to strike with every chance that'll come their way
	58:03	Sergey Plotnikov just can't stretch far enough to take in the puck before it's icing!
	57:22	And the Finns have already pulled Mikko Koskinen in favour of the extra skater!
	57:22	Russia have taken a well needed timeout, they want to make sure that they see this game out without too many nerves!
	56:54	Lehtera! Jori Lehtera almost finds himself one on one, still opts to take the shot on early and Bobrovskiy reacts with his right pad!
	55:54	Sallinen! Jere Sallinen cleverly tips a high effort from the point and that was very close to going in! Sergey Bobrovskiy was panicking!
	55:05	Olli Jokinen just past the left faceoff circle puts in a wrist shot looking to catch the netminder out at his near post, but Bobrovskiy is there
	54:38	Miikka Salomaki unmarked at the right of the slot wrists low looking for the far corner but laying Russian defenders block it in time!
	54:23	Sergey Bobrovskiy holds on to a dump into the crease from deep and opts to freeze rather than take any chances
	54:11	Alexander Ovechkin at the left hand boards looks to escape his markers but in the end he's crowded out
	52:41	And for the second time in a short space of time Russia ice the puck. The game is starting to become littered with stoppages
	52:09	And it's now icing from Russia
	51:42	The Russians move offside with just over eight minutes remaining in the third period
	51:06	A very heavy slapshot whistles not far wide at all of Mikko Koskinen's left hand post!
	50:41	After that scare Russia are again shutting down Finnish attacks at source and keeping possession better
	48:18	And Ovechkin goes from zero to hero in the space of a few seconds! A heavy slapshot travels through the body of Sergey Bobrovskiy, but just before it crosses the line Ovechkin sticks it clear!
	47:54	Ovechkin! What a chance to almost finish it! It's a two on one all of a sudden, Alexander Ovechkin on the right twists and backhands but misses the target! He should have scored there!
	46:38	Shirokov! From almost point blank range Sergey Shirokov pokes the puck into Mikko Koskinen's chest at the left hand post!
	46:09	Leonid Komarov's almost goalbound looking wrister from the right of the crease is blocked just in time!
	44:57	The Russians are coming under ever increased pressure but to their relief they're back to full strength
	44:49	Karalahti! Jere Karalahti who has already got his name on the scoreboard today takes aim from the point, but Bobrovskiy excellently fields it and gathers!
	44:38	Jarkko Imonnen skating with pace on the right puts in a testing wrist shot that Sergey Bobrovskiy does well to push around the near post!
	43:44	The ever dangerous Petri Kontiola just can't get his stick on the puck as it pops out from the slot! That was a very promising opportunity!
	42:57	And all of a sudden it's Finland's turn to go on the powerplay, Anton Belov for slashing has now been penalised
	42:18	The Russians couldn't get anything going on that powerplay and their opponents are back to full strength
	41:32	Jere Sallinen shorthanded forces his way into the Russian zone, under pressure falls but still gets a shot away that Sergey Bobrovskiy sticks wide
	40:18	Just as Alexander Ovechkin was looking to skate away clean through Jyri Marttinen trips him, and for that the Finn is off to the penalty box
	40:01	The third and crucial period is underway! That late Finnish goal in the second should have given them hope of a comeback
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Statistics after the first two periods- Shots on target- 18-24 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 20-16 Penalty minutes- 18-12
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:59	Jarkko Immonen with a hot snapshot just before the horn went off forces the netminder into an agile blocker save!
	39:45	An action packed second period is now coming to an end with the Russians annoyed at having conceded a pretty needless goal
	39:08	Goal for Team Finland! They may be weary but they won't be beaten easily! JERE KARALAHTI winds up at the right faceoff circle and his beautiful piledriver is just too powerful for Sergey Bobrovskiy, powerplay goal and it's 4-2! Assists- Olli Jokinen and Ville Lajunen
	39:03	That didn't last for long though. Sergey Plotnikov for slashing has been called and again Russia are going on the penalty kill
	38:52	Russia are back to full strength as Danis Zaripov skates back out
	38:13	Jere Karalahti twice from the point forces Bobrovskiy into action! And the Russian on the second slapper holds solidly
	36:52	Danis Zaripov for tripping has been punished and Finland have two minutes on the powerplay to get their game together
	36:38	Lehtera! Jori Lehtera from the high slot looks to go upstairs on Sergey Bobrovskiy stick side and he comes extremely close to catching the netminder out!
	37:30	Finland drift offside. Although it's only their second match of the tournament they look distinctly weary
	35:41	The largely Russian crowd are in fine voice, their team is looking on superb form! It's going to be hard for their opponents to get back into this one
	34:40	Goal for Team Russia! They're simply on fire tonight! Danis Zaripov with a clever pass feeds SERGEY KALININ on the doorstep who one times the puck high into the right hand corner, it's 4-1! Assists- Danis Zaripov and Viktor Tikhonov
	34:26	Jori Lehtera drives on past the blue line, wrists hard in on net but it's right down the throat of Sergey Bobrovskiy
	33:57	It's icing from Russia with little over six minutes to go in the second period
	33:39	Again Mikko Koskinen is taken out in his net, this time by Sergey Shirokov! The Russians certainly are playing hard today!
	33:04	Alexander Ovechkin twists powerfully around the net, swings the puck across the face of goal and Koskinen shows flashy skill to pluck it out of the air!
	32:35	Icing is committed by Russia. They look pretty comfortable at present, Finland haven't got any real urgency in their game
	32:13	Kulyomin! With his back to goal Nikolay Kulyomin still gets a backhander away that Koskinen sweeps up into his glove!
	31:04	Viktor Tikhonov tries to force Koskinen into giving up a juicy rebound with a high wrist shot from a tight angle on the right, but the Finnish netminder gives him no joy
	30:47	Sergey Bobrovskiy's net gets dislodged after Olli Palola twisted inside his opponent and tried to get something going on the slot
	30:05	Burmistrov! Alexander Burmistrov makes a great powerful skate to the net down the right flank, looks to catch out the goalkeeper at his far post but Mikko Koskinen is alert to the danger!
	29:14	Russia commit icing. They're looking really solid defensively so far, Finland are finding it hard to create clear cut opportunities
	27:40	Kalinin! From exactly where Ovechkin just shot Sergey Kalinin off balance snaps into Koskinen's body!
	26:55	The puck trickles its way through to the lurking Alexander Ovechkin on the slot and his one timer is shut down by Mikko Koskinen!
	26:26	Bobrovskiy! Now he's forced into action! After a poor Russian turnover Miikka Salomaki has his snipe from the doorstep denied, the rebound falls right onto the stick of Jori Lehtera but Bobrovskiy makes a magnificent save stick side!
	25:23	Finland are now back to full strength. Sergey Bobrovskiy has largely been a spectator in this period so far!
	24:09	Ovechkin! Closing in at the left of the crease Alexander Ovechkin has his first effort repelled, he grabs his rebound though and just can't stuff it into the net! A scramble was starting to ensue there!
	23:23	The Finns are seriously dejected and Jere Sallinen for holding his opponent while attacking has been sent to the penalty box
	22:42	Goal for Team Russia! Just as the game gets underway again the Russians strike! At neutral ice the puck rolls to NIKOLAY KULYOMIN who charges through one on one and backhands over the goalkeeper's glove, shorthanded goal and it's 3-1!
	21:38	And to the applause of the Minsk Arena crowd the ambulance team have indeed been able to stretcher off Jormakka, and we should be getting underway again soon. Unbelievably Vadim Shipachyov has shockingly not been penalised at all for that! That is a very strange decision from the referees
	21:38	Still Jormakka is laying completely motionless on the ice, this stoppage could last for some minutes
	21:38	Pekka Jormakka is taken out by a sickening looking elbow to the head from Vadim Shipachyov! And the Finn is being stretchered off the ice, this injury looks extremely serious
	21:19	Viktor Tikhonov speeds into the Finnish shorthanded, goes for it early but his pacy wrist shot gets deflected up and out of play!
	20:55	Ville Lajunen drills in from the left faceoff circle and Sergey Bobrovskiy gloves it solidly!
	20:42	Sergey Shirokov for hooking has been called and Finland have an early second period powerplay
	20:09	Sure enough Russia make a sharp rush to the net and Mikko Koskinen under pressure from Vadim Shipachyov goes flying along with the net! It does look however as though the Finnish goaltender is fine to carry on
	20:01	The second period has begun! Russia will look to start this stanza just like they did the first
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Statistics after the first period of play- Shots on target- 7-13 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 11-6 Penalty minutes- 16-6
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:46	Immonen! Beating his defender for pace on the right Jarkko Immonen fires hard into the near post and Sergey Bobrovskiy does well to turn it wide! And both teams are back to full strength as we enter the final seconds of the first period
	19:03	Medvedev! Twisting to the left flank Evgeniy Medvedev slides in a low wrist shot looking for the far post, but Koskinen freezes reasonably comfortably
	17:46	Petri Kontiola and Evgeniy Kuznetsov both for roughing have been sent to the penalty box and for now it's four on four. Kontiola's penalty is a 2+10 though, so we won't see him again for ten minutes
	17:17	Alexander Burmistrov with pace bursts into the zone, sees space open up in front of him and his testing shot is covered by the netminder
	15:53	Maxim Chudinov from the right hand boards looks to create something on the crease, and in the end his high wrister falls only just wide of the far post!
	14:56	Ovechkin! The bobbling puck falls to Alexander Ovechkin at the left hand post but the flying Mikko Koskinen puts him off enough!
	14:16	Russia hold the puck in their own zone and take a breather, it's been a real fast and furious start
	12:53	Finland commit icing
	12:04	From close range a falling Jere Sallinen can't get a clean attempt away on the turn! They do look very sharp in the attack today
	11:32	This time though Russia looked solid in defence and it's a five on five hockey game again
	09:32	Now it's Finland's turn to seriously put the pressure on! Sergey Plotnikov has been sent to the penalty box for hooking and immediately after scoring the Finns are back on the powerplay
	09:13	Goal for Team Finland! The Finns are back in it! Excellent combination play is eventually finished off by JUUSO HIETANEN who from distance sends the puck past the unsighted netminder, powerplay goal and it's 2-1! Assists- Petri Kontiola and Jori Lehtera
	08:30	Karalahti! From the point Jere Karalahti slaps the puck as hard as he can, Bobrovskiy can't catch first time but he gathers at the second attempt!
	07:49	Finland finally create some pressure in their opponents' zone and they've forced a penalty from the Russians, Viktor Tikhonov for holding has been penalised
	06:35	Ohtamaa! Atte Ohtamaa winds up exactly on the right faceoff circle and Sergey Bobrovskiy makes an excellent save near post!
	05:54	The Finns are now back at full strength, they just cannot get anything going as yet
	05:33	Nikolay Kulyomin on the slot just can't force the puck home as a goalmouth scramble ensues! Everytime Russia attack it looks as though they will score
	04:38	Goal for Team Russia! They aren't going to pass up on such an opportunity! ALEXANDER OVECHKIN with a thumping slapshot from the left faceoff circle finds the net, powerplay goal and it's 2-0! Assists- Danis Zaripov and Dmitriy Orlov
	03:54	Things are going from bad to worse for Finland! Tommi Kivisto for high sticking has been penalised and it's a five on three powerplay for the Russians!
	03:42	The Finns are under heavy pressure and they're going on the penalty kill, Olli Paola for holding has been called
	02:35	Ovechkin! Alexander Ovechkin stripping his opponent of the puck by the left faceoff circle fires hard into Koskinen's chest!
	02:10	Sergey Bobrovskiy gets his first touch of the puck as he pads around a weak wrister from the left flank
	01:51	Russia commit icing. They have come out all guns blazing today!
	01:39	The Finnish bench is really unhappy about that goal though, they feel that their goalkeeper had already frozen the puck. As the replays have shown however, Mikko Koskinen didn't have it under control at all
	01:39	Goal for Team Russia! Wow the Russians have started fast! Mikko Koskinen can't hold on to an Anton Belov slapper, the puck bounces around the goal line and VIKTOR TIKHONOV bundles it home! It's 1-0! Assists- Anton Belov and Sergey Kalinin
	00:46	Shipachyov! Vadim Shipachyov has the first shot of the evening as he dinks inside his opponent on the right, wrists into the near post and the netminder is there!
	00:01	Here we go! It's going to be an intense affair
	00:01	Game started.
		The teams are now out on to the ice and we're almost ready to get started!
		Starting lineups: Finland: Koskinen (Saros)- Mantyla, Hietanen, Lehtera, Komarov, Kontiola- Ohtamaa, Karalahti, Pakarinen, Jokinen, Palola- Kivisto, Marttinen, Jormakka, Immonen, Huhtala- Lajunen, Salline, Wirtanen, Savinainen, Salomaki Russia: Bobrovskiy (Khudobin)- Orlov, Denisov, Ovechkin, Plotnikov, Shipachyov- Kutuzov, Medvedev, Kulyomin, Shirokov, Anisimov- Belov, Yakovlev, Kalinin, Zaripov, Tikhonov- Chudinov, Zubarev, Burmistrov, Dadonov, Kuznetsov Referees: Nord, Vinnerborg, Sindler, Hull, Lederer.
		To the surprise of just about everyone the Finns lost their opener here in Minsk to Latvia 3-2. Russia on the other hand started much better, thumping the Swiss 5-0.
		Both of these sides have already played one match in Group B, and here's how the group looks before tonight's clash. 1. USA W2 L0 GS 9 GA 3 PTS 6 2. GER W2 L0 GS 5 GA 3 PTS 5 3. RUS W1 L0 GS 5 GA 0 PTS 3 4. LAT W1 L1 GS 5 GA 5 PTS 3 5. BLR W1 L0 GS 5 GA 7 PTS 3 6. KAZ W0 L2 GS 2 GA 6 PTS 1 7. FIN W0 L1 GS 2 GA 3 PTS 0 8. SUI W0 L2 GS 2 GA 8 PTS 0
		Russia and Finland are two sides who know each other just about perfectly, and every year these teams always seem to meet. Finland is Russia's real bogey opponent, and the Russians have a score to settle after the Finns beat them in the Olympic quarterfinal in Sochi back in February.
		Good evening and welcome to this 2014 IIHF World Championship Group B match between Finland and Russia. This is a matchup of two real hockey heavyweights, and it's going to be a thriller.
		Welcome. Game starts at 20:00.

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 10. Hietanen (Kontiola, Lehtera), 40. Karalahti (Jokinen, Lajunen) – 2. Tikhonov (Belov, Kalinin), 5. Ovechkin (Zaripov, Orlov), 23. Kulyomin, 35. Kalinin (Zaripov, Tikhonov)

Finland: Koskinen (Saros)- Mantyla, Hietanen, Lehtera, Komarov, Kontiola- Ohtamaa, Karalahti, Pakarinen, Jokinen, Palola- Kivisto, Marttinen, Jormakka, Immonen, Huhtala- Lajunen, Salline, Wirtanen, Savinainen, Salomaki

Russia: Bobrovskiy (Khudobin)- Orlov, Denisov, Ovechkin, Plotnikov, Shipachyov- Kutuzov, Medvedev, Kulyomin, Shirokov, Anisimov- Belov, Yakovlev, Kalinin, Zaripov, Tikhonov- Chudinov, Zubarev, Burmistrov, Dadonov, Kuznetsov

Referees: Nord, Vinnerborg, Sindler, Hull, Lederer

Attendance: 13934

1st period
	01:39
	03:42
	03:54
	04:38
	07:49
	09:13
	09:32
	17:46
1st intermission
2nd period
	20:42
	22:42
	23:23
	34:40
	36:52
	39:03
	39:08
2nd intermission
3rd period
	40:18
	42:57
	59:10
Final