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Donskoi does it

Finland wins in shootout

Published 12.05.2015 23:51 GMT+2 | Author John Sanful
Donskoi does it
OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 12: Russia's Sergei Bobrovski #72 after Team Finland scores a shootout goal to win 3-2 during preliminary round action at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/HHOF-IIHF Images)
Pekka Rinne showed a capacity audience why he's been the best goalie at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, stopping every shot faced in the shootout.

After battling to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime, tonight's final Preliminary Round game in Ostrava ended with a shootout. As he's done throughout the tournament, Rinne came up big for his team. Two stops of Artemi Panarin and Ilya Kovalchuk in the shootout were crucial and Joonas Donskoi's goal earned the win.

"It is always a great feeling when you beat Russia," said Sami Lepisto. "It is a special thing."

After this last game at CEZ Arena, the playoff picture finally became clear and Thursday’s games are set.

With the win, Finland finishes second in the group and plays the Czech Republic. They will travel to Prague for the quarter-final match up in what is designated as a home game but will be anything but that. Russia will remain here in Ostrava and play Sweden.

"We've always known what it's like to play Finland and we prepared for it, including their physical game." Yevgeni Malkin said. "We'll have a look at the replays and look at the mistakes we made. RIght now it's hard to talk about what went wrong."

The game started much as one would expect with Russia seeking to establish early dominance. Wearing their classic red jerseys, Russia bore down on the Finnish defence. Coming into this game, Russia had won all four games when they scored the first goal.

Plenty of action was put to Rinne, keeping him busy throughout the first period and the game. Led by Sergei Mozyakin’s four shots, Russia’s offence was clicking as per usual.

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Russia sent twelve shots on goal – double what Finland would muster – and one got past Rinne. At 18:04, Mozyakin helped Russia grab a 1-0 lead.

Finland had a great chance when Tuomo Ruutu got a jump on a Russian defenseman to create an odd man rush with Teemu Hartikainen. Hartikainen was unable to tee up a shot.

Finnish head coach Kari Jalonen would have his bench shortened when Leo Komarov was lost to a five minute kneeing major and a game misconduct. This resulted from a check Komarov attempted on Yevgeni Medvedev.

"I didn't really see the incident," Aleksander Barkov said. "I think it gave us a lift. After we killed the penalty we started to play our game and started cerating chances."

Russia continued to pepper Rinne with shots and displayed their trademark up-tempo, high skilled hockey. Finland would get its second power play of the game at 15:15 with Artyom Anisimov in the sin bin for interference. This time Finland would make it count.

Finland drew level when Barkov notched a power play goal by slamming home a rebound. For Barkov it was his third of the tournament and Finland’s sixth with the man advantage in seven games. Janne Pesonen and Jussi Jokinen assisted on the play.

Third period slowed down to the pace that the Finns like as they were able to get good offensive looks with the Barkov-Jokinen-Donskoi line once again in on the action.

As he has throughout the Preliminary Round, Panarin was in the right place at the right time. A Maxim Chudinov shot was tipped in front by Yevgeni Dadonov. Panarin backhanded the loose puck in the crease to put Russia ahead. It was his fifth goal of the World Championship.

The lead, however, would be short lived.

Finland quickly countered with their best line on the evening, and arguably in the tournament, coming through once again. Donskoi’s backhand shot over Sergei Bobrovski tied the game 2-2 at 17:41.

After an active overtime, the game went to a shootout, Rinne held his ground against Russia's exceptionally skilled forwards, not committing and forcing their move. He would not surrender a goal in the shootout. On Finland's last shot in the fifth round Donskoi gave his team what they needed.

It was redemption for Donskoi who flubbed his first attempt in the shootout.

"It was nice to get a chance to shoot," said a happy Donskoi after teh game. "Sometimes I like to stickhandle a lot that’s why I lost the first one but lucky I got second chance and the game winner."

 

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