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26.02.2006 - Ice hockey-Lidstrom blast gives Sweden gold

russian version

Ice hockey-Lidstrom blast gives Sweden gold

TURIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Niklas Lidstrom's blistering slapshot early in the third period gave Sweden a 3-2 win over Finland and the gold medal at the men's ice hockey tournament on Sunday in the final event of the Turin Games.

In a tournament that saw the world's biggest hockey nations eliminated in the early going, the Swedes and Finns let their Nordic rivalry take centre stage in a fast-paced game.

The Finns were looking to erase the memory of blowing a 5-1 lead over Sweden at the 2003 World Championships when they lost 6-5 at home.

Unbeaten in seven games, the Finns came into the final brimming with confidence. That was boosted when they took the lead when Kimmo Timonen's long shot found its way through a maze of players at 14:45 of the first period.

But the veteran Swedish team, lead by Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg -- both of whom won Olympic gold in 1994 -- fought back, led by their cadre of Detroit Red Wings players.

Henrik Zetterberg, a forward for Detroit, tied the game at 4:42 of the second period with a power play marker, and then the Swedes took the lead on Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall's wrist shot at 13:24.

Ville Peltonen's goal at 15 minutes of the second brought the Finns back level, setting up a final-period showdown.

Mats Sundin won the opening faceoff and Peter Forsberg broke over the blue line with the puck.

His drop pass back to Sundin, followed by another drop pass to Lidstrom gave the Red Wings defenseman a wide open chance and he buried his slapshot high to the stick side of goalie Antero Niittymaki for the deciding goal.

It is Sweden's second ice hockey gold medal at the Olympics. Finland were gunning for their first gold, but instead took their second silver to go along with two bronze medals in the sport.
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26.02.2006

Ice hockey-Lidstrom blast gives Sweden gold
TURIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Niklas Lidstrom's blistering slapshot early in the third period gave Sweden a 3-2 win over Finland and the gold medal at the men's ice hockey tournament on Sunday in the final event of the Turin Games. In a tournament that saw the world's biggest hockey nations eliminated in the early going, the Swedes and Finns let their Nordic rivalry take centre stage in a fast-paced game.
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26.02.2006

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23.02.2006

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21.02.2006

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