Swedes down injury-hit Finland to reach hockey final
Sochi (Russia) (AFP) - Undefeated Sweden advanced to the Olympic Games men's hockey gold medal match by defeating injury-hit Finland in a re-match of the Turin 2006 final on Friday.
Sweden rallied from a 1-0 deficit at the Bolshoi Ice Dome arena with Erik Karlsson's second period powerplay goal proving decisive.
Karlsson, with his tournament-leading eighth point, scored with 3:34 left in the second on a shot from the point. Finnish goaltender Kari Lehtonen got a piece of Karlsson's shot but could not keep it out.
Sweden, who have now won all five of their games in Sochi, will meet either defending champions Canada or 2010 runners-up United States in Sunday's final.
"It's unbelievable," said Swedish netminder Henrik Lundqvist. "We really had to work hard this time. They're a very disciplined team."
Finland have been hit hard by injuries and top goaltender Tuukka Rask was taken off the roster for Friday's game.
Rask was replaced by Lehtonen, who finished with 23 saves. Finland were already missing their four top centres, including Saku Koivu and Aleksander Barkov.
Finnish defenceman Sami Lepisto said his team had not played to their potential.
"It's just very disappointing because I don't think we played our best hockey in the tournament," he said.
Olli Jokinen opened the scoring for Finland 6:17 into the second period on a sharp angle shot that somehow squeezed through goalie Lundqvist's leg pads and trickled over the goal line.
Defenceman Sami Vatanen, who was impressive for Finland, started the play by shooting the puck into the corner where Jokinen picked it up.
Loui Eriksson tied it up for Sweden five minutes later after being left alone at the side of the net.
Finnish defenceman Olli Maatta turned the puck over behind the net and Nicklas Backstrom got it out front to Jonathan Ericsson who quickly moved it to Loui Eriksson who had an open net to shoot at.
Friday's semi-final was the final Winter Games contest for all-time Olympic scoring leader Teemu Selanne of Finland, who finished with 41 career points after adding four more at the Sochi Games.
"It was disappointing, obviously," Selanne said. "It was something we were not looking for, but it was more disappointing that we couldn't play our best game this tournament today. That's what I'm more disappointed about, the result."
