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26.02.2006 - Ice hockey: Czechs shutout Russia to win bronze

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Ice hockey: Czechs shutout Russia to win bronze

TURIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Tomas Vokoun made 28 saves and Martin Erat had a goal and an assist as the Czech Republic shutout Russia 3-0 in the Olympic men's ice hockey bronze medal game on Saturday.

Sweden will face off against Finland in an all-Nordic gold medal final on Sunday that will bring down the curtain on the 2006 Winter Games.

"Playing for the bronze medal is very hard," said Vokoun, who was benched in favour of Milan Hnilicka in the Czechs' 7-3 semifinal loss to Sweden. "We were still disappointed for what happened yesterday against Sweden.

"I'm disappointed I did not start in the semifinal but I guess the coach thought I could not help the team.

"But I'm glad we came back to win the bronze. For me having an Olympic medal is great in case I never play again."

After scoring 25 goals in five preliminary-round contests, Russia's explosive offence fell silent, scoring just twice in the next three games.

Russia's sputtering attack received another blow early in the second period when Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who had four goals in a win over Latvia, was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for a vicious hit on Pavel Kubina.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman did not return to the game.

JAGR LEAVES

The Czechs also played most of the contest without captain Jaromir Jagr, the NHL's leading goal scorer, also leaving midway through the second period with strained thigh muscle.

"I think we just ran out of energy," said Russian captain Alexei Kovalev. "If you take so many penalties it is going to hurt you.

"When you play six games in eight nights it's tough."

The Czechs had the only goal of the opening period, Erat scoring on delayed penalty, blasting a shot past Evgeni Nabokov from the left face off circle.

With Kovalchuk serving his five-minute major, the Czechs added to their lead early in the second when Marek Zidlicky rifled a low shot by a screened Nabokov.

Pavel Datsyuk looked to put Russia back into contest when he batted a loose puck into the net with just over three minutes to play.

But after video review, the goal was disallowed and Datsyuk given a misconduct for making contact with a game official.

Martin Straka then sealed the bronze medal scoring into an empty net.

It was the 10th ice hockey Olympic medal for the Czechs, tying them with the United States and leaving them just two behind Russia.
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