SOCHI, Russia – Teemu Selanne scored two goals and Tuukka Rask had a 26-save shutout, helping Finland rout the United States 5-0 Saturday to win hockey bronze at the Sochi Games.
Selanne, a 43-year-old, six-time Olympian, and Jussi Jokinen scored 11 seconds apart early in the second period. The Finns scored three goals in the third period against a team that looked like it would rather be at home.
READ MORE: Canada vs Sweden: Gold-medal game in men’s Olympic hockey tournmanet
Finland has won four medals in the last five Olympics, more than any other nation in the NHL era.
Before the third-place match became a rout in the final period, it was a game of missed opportunities for the Americans.
Patrick Kane couldn’t convert on a penalty shot in each of the first two periods for the U.S.
Leading up to the bronze medal game
Both teams entered the bronze medal game in similar fashion after losing one-goal games to their rivals in Friday’s semifinals, with Finland losing 2-1 to Sweden and Canada beating the United States 1-0.
READ MORE: Canada beats USA 1-0 in semifinals; going for gold vs Sweden
In a rematch of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics gold medal game, the U.S. men’s hockey team failed to rally their powerful offence and were shut out against Canada. Team USA was averaging five goals a game heading into the matchup but faced stifling defensive play from Canada and stellar goaltender Carey Price who stopped all 31 shots.
Jamie Benn scored the lone goal of the game earlier in the second period deflecting a shot from defenceman Jay Bouwmeester.
WATCH: Team Canada credits goaltending and solid defence for win over US
Finland entered the game after a 2-1 loss to Sweden in the semifinal. The Finns took an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Olli Jokinen in the second period, but goals from Loui Eriksson and Erik Karlsson put the Swedes over the top.
READ MORE: Too little, too late; Finland beats Russia 3-1 in elimination hockey
For Selanne, a fan favourite in the NHL, the bronze gave him four Olympic medals, He is 15th on the NHL all-time scoring list.
“A bronze medal would be an unbelievable thing,” Selanne told the Associated Press after losing to the Swedes. “So, that is our goal now even though it is very disappointing.”
*With files from the Associated Press
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