Finnish Lions leave it too late in Moscow

Finns progress despite 4-5 defeat to Russian hosts - Sweden or Switzerland next in line

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Finland's national hockey team picked up their game a little too late in Tuesday night's final preliminary round encounter with the tournament hosts, Russia. By the end of the second period, the Finns had given their opponents a 4-1 advantage, and despite their winning the third period, the gap was too great to make up. Russia won the game eventually by 5 to 4 (2-1, 2-0, 1-3).
      The Russians thus take six points forwards into the qualifying round, from their victories over Finland and the third team to qualify, Denmark. The Danes beat Ukraine 4-3 to ensure their progress. Finland will carry three points forward, from their earlier win over Denmark. Ukraine will join the other fourth-placed teams in the relegation round.
     
Tuesday's match saw the Russians race away to a great start, and they took full advantage of the powerplays, scoring three goals while the Finns were short-handed.
      Tuomo Ruutu cancelled out the hosts' early goal, but then things went downhill until early in the third period, when Jukka Hentunen scored to make it 2-4, and Jere Lehtinen narrowed the deficit still further.
      A fifth Russian strike seemed to have settled matters with eight minutes left, but Petteri Nummelin gave the Lions a lifeline less than two minutes later.
      Still, it was not enough, and in the closing minutes the Russians, roared on by a capacity crowd, kept the puck down the Finnish end of the ice effectively enough to prevent Finnish coach Erkka Westerlund from pulling his goaltender Fredrik Norrena to try for an equaliser 6 on 5.
     
The Finns now have a day off before they meet their next opponent, which will be the loser of today's Group A match between Sweden and Switzerland.
      In Group B the Czechs narrowly defeated Team USA 4-3 in the battle for top spot, and the other qualifier to progress from Group B was Belarus, by 5-2 over Austria.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  World Championships only really start on Tuesday: Finnish Lions face Russian test (30.4.2007)

Links:
  IIHF World Championships

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