WATCH: Russian and Finnish fans react following Finland’s upset win over Russia in quarterfinal in Sochi
A 3-1 loss to Finland has knocked the Russians out of medal contention in men’s hockey at Sochi.
Russia has failed to win a medal in three straight Olympics since 2002, and even home-ice advantage couldn’t end the embarrassing drought.
After the final buzzer, several Russian players stood on the ice with their hands on their knees. Evgeni Malkin, who failed to score a goal in the last four games, dropped to one knee before captain Pavel Datsyuk led the traditional post-game handshake line.
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The Russians then gathered at centre ice amid more jeers and whistles than cheers, mournfully raising their sticks to salute the fans before skating off the ice at an arena built to herald Russia’s return to hockey dominance.
Russian fans filled the Olympic park early in the afternoon with cheers, chants and Russian flags. The Bolshoy crowd began chanting “Ro-ssi-ya!” even before pre-game warm-ups, waving hundreds of flags and banners emblazoned with hometowns and slogans.
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Dozens of fans lingered in their seats long after the team left the ice, disconsolately folding their flags and staring at the ice.
The fans weren’t the only ones to show their disappointment:
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