Undefeated Czechs knock USA out of Olympic men’s hockey
Finland women claim bronze with win over Russians
GANGNEUNG: Undefeated Czech Republic knocked the United States out of the Olympic men’s hockey tournament yesterday with a tension-packed 3-2 shootout victory, advancing to a semi-final showdown against the Olympic Athletes from Russia.
American dreams of a first gold medal since 1980 were shattered as Petr Koukal scored the only goal in a penalty shootout while Czech goaltender Pavel Francouz blanked five US sharpshooters. “It was our dream before the tournament to go this far, but I really hope it’s not the end,” Francouz said. “We can go farther if we keep playing really good as a team.
“We haven’t had any easy games in the tournament. That has made us stronger.” The sudden ending left the Americans stunned after battling through the game and a 10-minute scoreless over-time. “It’s a huge disappointment because we were right there,” US captain Brian Gionta said.
In search of their first gold medal in 20 years, the Czechs advanced into a Friday matchup against the Russians, who routed Norway 6-1. The Russians, who hasn’t taken Olympic hockey gold since 1992, dominated a Norwegian squad that lost 11 consecutive Olympic games before Tuesday.
Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Gusev and Vyacheslav Voinov scored in the first period, when Norway was outshot 19-2, and the all-star squad from Russia’s two top clubs cruised from there. Czechs and Russians haven’t met so deep in the Olympic playoffs with a title at stake since the Czechs beat Russia 1-0 in the 1998 final. “We know we have a tough game in front of us,” Czech captain Martin Erat said. “We have to play our own style and focus on ourselves.” In the shootout, Koukal faked and when US goaltender Ryan Zapolski moved, flipped the puck past him on the decisive shot.
“I’m so happy it was a goal,” Koukal said. “It’s a big moment for me. I know the Czech people are so happy.”
Tension-packed 3-2 shootout victory
BATTLED TO THE END
While the NHL’s top stars are absent for the first time since 1994 over money and injury issues, no drama was lacking on a day when four teams ensure playing for a medal and four are sent home empty handed.
“It’s tough to go out that way,” Zapolski said. “We competed as hard as we could. We battled to the end.” Former NHLer Jim Slater, whose shorthanded breakaway equalised for the Americans, was dismayed.
“Disappointed. Frustrated. I feel pretty empty right now,” Slater said. “To lose at the Olympics that way is pretty tough. We thought we were good enough to challenge for a gold medal.”
Meanwhile, Finland beat the Olympic Athletes from Russia 3-2 on Wednesday to claim the bronze medal in women’s Olympic ice hockey. The Finns built a twogoal lead twice and held off the Russians in the third period after they had narrowed the margin to one.
Petra Nieminen scored in the first period for the Finns, netting her third goal of the Games, and Susanna Tapani doubled the lead early in the second period. Russia’s Olga Sosina narrowed the margin to 2-1, but Linda Valimaki restored Finland’s two-goal cushion later in the period.
Lyudmila Belyakova tallied on a Russian powerplay to make it 3-2 in the third and end the scoring. Finland have now won three Olympic medals in women’s ice hockey, all of them bronze. They last earned a medal in Vancouver in 2010 and their first came in Nagano in 1998 when women’s hockey made its Olympic debut.
The gold medal game is set for today, a showdown between Canada and the United States who are the only two countries to have won Olympic gold in the sport.