Pittsburgh Penguin rookie Alexei Morozov scored at 16:43 of the third period to break a 3-3 tie and lift Team Russia to a 4-3 victory over Team Finland. The Russians are now 2-0-0 in the tournament, while Finland fell to 0-2-0. The other Russian goal- scorers included Pavel Bure, Sergei Nemchinov, and Alexei Yashin. The Finland goals were provided by Saku Koivu and Jere Lehtinen, who had a pair. Teemu Selanne had three assists in the losing effort.

The game-winning goal came as a result of a busted play. The situation seemed innocent enough when Morozov casually meandered his way to the Finnish blue line. The Finns had four guys back in perfect position, but things began to fall apart when Esa Tikkanen tried to stand up Morozov and missed. The young Russian winger, who will turn 21 on February 16, side-stepped Tikkanen and glided over the Finnish stripe. Once the line was gained, Valeri Zelepukin took off down the slot for the net and split defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Janne Laukkanen. When the two defenders tried to turn to pick Zelepukin up, they collided and took themselves out of the play.

Yet Morozov didn't see Zelepukin right away. If he had, the Edmonton winger would have been one-on-one versus Finnish netminder Jarmo Myllys. By the time Morozov looked up and spotted Zelepukin all alone breaking to the net, it was too late to give him a lead pass so Alexei just chopped a low snap shot towards the net. Zelepukin barely got a blade on the puck, sending it just wide of the left wing post. While Myllys was trying to recover at the left side of the net, the puck struck the backboards and caromed out at the right post. Zelepukin skated through the crease and was quick to collar the loose biscuit. He tried to slam a backhand shot home from a bad angle before Myllys could scramble into position, but the puck slid through the crease and clanged off the left post. Myllys was just getting back to the right post when he saw the puck hit off the left one. Aw, that's zany. So Myllys quickly spun around to once again cover the left pipe, but by then it was too late and Morozov had already swept the game-winner home.

The goal capped a gutty performance for the Russians. They trailed by two goals on two separate occasions. A win seemed like a remote possibility when Finland jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to a pair of power-play goals. Russia spent most of the opening 20 minutes killing penalties, as they handed the Finns five different man-advantages. That's trouble.

Koivu had the first Finnish goal while German Titov was off for cross-checking. The power play was triggered by Selanne moving the puck low to Lehtinen at the bottom of the left circle. Lehtinen tried to stuff a shot through Russian netminder Andrei Trefilov, who made the save but lost sight of the rebound when it flipped up into the air. Koivu, who was waiting at the right post, calmly swatted the puck out of midair and into a yawning cage for the 1-0 lead just 6:11 into the game.

It wasn't long after that Igor Kravchuk got sent to the box for hitting LCS favorite Juha Ylonen from behind and into the boards. The same trio of Finns hooked up for the goal. Selanne was skating right to left behind the cage and dished the puck back to Koivu in the right wing corner. Saku immediately relayed the puck to Lehtinen in the slot and it was all over except the chanting. Because, you know, Finns are prone to chanting. A mere 7:04 into the game and Finland was up 2-0.

This is when things started to get chippy. Russia needed a spark and Koivu may have accidentally provided it by shooting the puck on net after an offside. The Russians took exception. A few moments later Jari Kurri skated behind Trefilov after he covered the puck in the crease. The Russians felt he got a little too close and immediately came to their goaltender's aid. Trefilov eventually got to his feet and speared Kurri in the gut. Referee Bill McCreary didn't catch the spear, but did whistle Trefilov for roughing.

This could have been the game. Finland had already made quick work of two power plays. Another goal here and the Russians might have been buried. But the red guys weren't goin' out like that. Trefilov led the charge on the kill, turning aside a few good chances including a blast off the stick of Janne Niinimaa. The Russians actually killed a penalty. Yee-haw!

Just seconds after the murder, Pavel Bure exploded through center ice and freaked a Finn with an outside-in deke before getting tripped by Ylonen. Bure then got his revenge on the power play, hammering a slap shot short-side past Myllys from the top of the left circle to make the score 2-1.

The Russians had a golden opportunity to get the tying goal when Alexei Yashin was awarded a penalty shot late in the period. Yashin earned the shot by blowing past the Finnish defense and getting tripped by Jyrki Lumme. But that wasn't the whole story. The play continued immediately following the trip, with Sergei Fedorov misfiring on an open net and then finding Darius Kasparaitis coming late on the play. Kaspar fired a wrist shot into Myllys' pads and then barreled over the netminder, drilling with a right hand to the head that sent his mask flying. A huge scrum ensued. Lumme and Andrei Kovalenko came damn close to dropping the gloves, but that's a no-no in the Olympics. So instead they just wrestled around on the ice like a pair of lovesick weasels. When the whole mess was sorted out, Yashin was granted his penalty shot, but Kasparaitis got two minutes for elbowing and Lumme and Kovalenko each drew 10-minute misconducts.

Yashin didn't exactly break out the funk on his free chance. He was standing straight up as he coasted down the slot and tried to go forehand. Myllys stayed with him the whole way and Yashin ended up sending his shot wide of the right post. A move to the forehand isn't worth squat unless you sell it with a backhand look. Yashin made things pretty easy for Myllys.

The Russians picked up in the second period where they left off in the first, with Dimitri Yushkevich getting whistled for high- sticking. Finland's best chance on the man-advantage came when Selanne cut into the slot off right wing and tested Trefilov with a backhand. Russia had the best chance of the two minutes, tho', when Pavel Bure broke behind the Finnish defense short-handed. Bure tried to push a forehand shot under Myllys as the Finnish netminder flopped on his side, but the puck struck his pad and skipped wide.

Finland then increased its lead to 3-1 at 8:24 of the second thanks to a great effort from Selanne. The Finns had dumped the puck into the right wing corner and Alexei Zhitnik went back to get it for the Russians with no forecheckers in sight. Zhitnik was a little too casual as he tried to skate the puck behind the cage and Selanne made him pay. The Finnish Flash, who was way out near the blue line when Zhitnik first got the puck, dashed down the slot and overtook the Russian defender behind the net, stealing his attempted pass and throwing it out to a wide open Lehtinen in the slot. Jere wasted little time in piping a bullet over Trefilov's right shoulder for his second goal of the game. There was much rejoicing.

Russia was quick to respond. Just 1:07 later, Sergei Gonchar saw Nemchinov busting for the Finnish stripe and hit him with a spectacular lead pass through a crowd of defenders. Nemchinov cruised in and beat Myllys with a swell forehand-five-hole move to get the Russians back within one at 3-2.

While Russia took more than its share of bad penalties in the first period, Finland returned the favor when Niinimaa and Ville Peltonen took two minors at 14:18 of the second. Niinimaa was called for cross-checking Kovalenko in the head. It was a blatant penalty, but Peltonen felt he had to argue the call and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct. It just doesn't pay to argue calls. Peltonen learned the hard way.

Russia had a full two minutes to work with the five-on-three advantage. They couldn't afford to waste the opportunity. Yashin delivered. Zhitnik started the play by blasting a low slap shot from the high slot on Myllys. The save was made, but the rebound bounced around until Yashin, who was camped near the left post, popped it home to tie the score, 3-3, and set the stage for Morozov's third-period heroics.

This was quite the entertaining game. It had a little bit of everything. There was plenty of wide-open, fast-paced action, with Pavel Bure, Valeri Kamensky, and Teemu Selanne leading the way. There was also some rough stuff courtesy of Kasparaitis. Throw in a penalty shot and a couple breakaways, and a good time was had by all.

Russia will next play the Czech Republic, with the top seed in Group B going to the winner. Finland will be searching for its first win of the tournament when it closes out the round robin against Kazakhstan.

Impressive Performances

FINLAND

Teemu Selanne (0-3-3): The Flash was the man. He was the best player on the ice. Selanne is just so composed when he gets the puck, it's like he can do whatever he wants. The opposition is at his mercy.

Jere Lehtinen (2-1-3): Lehtinen just continues to inch closer to superstar status. Both of his goals came on great shots. His second one was so beautiful it brought a tear to the eye.

Saku Koivu (1-1-2): The little fella was a dynamo at times, darting all over the ice and creating plays with flair.

Teppo Numminen: Numminen had his usual quiet, steady game. He gets listed, tho', for something cool he did in the first period. Pavel Bure was trying to rocket wide down the right wing boards around Numminen. Bure was hummin'. But just when it seemed Pavel would be home free, Teppo delivered a picture perfect hip check and knocked him off the puck. It was wizard.

Jarmo Myllys (24 saves): Myllys wasn't really that great or anything, but he makes the honor roll for a save he made just seconds before Yashin tied the game in the second. The Russians were working the five-on-three when Myllys fell to the ice in stopping a Pavel Bure shot from the right circle. With Myllys still sitting on his wallet, the puck came to Boris Mironov in the slot and Dmitri's little brother uncorked a shot upstairs. It seemed like a sure goal until Myllys, who was still sitting down with his feet out in front of him, reached up with his catching glove and made a backhand swipe to knock the puck away. That's some wild, wild stuff...

RUSSIA

Pavel Bure (1-0-1): Bure was in fine form. He's exciting to watch. You just never know what he might try next.

Valeri Kamensky: Kamensky was something special. Few players look better in full flight than Val. On more than one occasion he lyrically weaved his way though the entire Finnish team, leaving a trail of bruised egos broken dreams in his wake.

Darius Kasparaitis: Kaspar was up to his old tricks. The hit on Myllys in the first may have resulted in a penalty, but it helped get his club into the game. He also delivered some big hits to guys not wearing goalie equipment. The best of which came when he stepped up and belted Sami Kapanen inside the Finnish blue line. Kapanen went horizontal.

Lines

Finland: Toumas Gronman was the extra defender. Aside from filling in when needed, he took a regular shift with Aki Berg when Lumme was off for his 10-minute misconduct.

OFFENSE (lw-c-rw)

Lehtinen - Koivu - Selanne
Tikkanen - Kurri - Rintanen
Lind - Ylonen - Tormanen
Peltonen - Helminen - Kapanen

DEFENSE

Numminen - Niinimaa
Berg - Lumme
Laukkanen - Timonen
Gronman

POWER PLAY

Lehtinen - Koivu - Selanne - Numminen - Niinimaa
Peltonen - Helminen - Kapanen - Kurri - Lumme

SHORT-HANDED

Tikkanen - Kurri - Numminen - Niinimaa
Lehtinen - Selanne - Berg - Lumme

Russia: The Russians are the first team I've seen in the tournament that rolled four pairs of defensemen. Each set pretty much saw equal time.

Also of note, Fedorov looked strong despite his lengthy holdout from the NHL. He even played the point on a few early power plays.

OFFENSE (lw-c-rw)

Kamensky - Zhamnov - P. Bure
Fedorov - Yashin - Kovalenko
Zelepukin - Titov - Morozov
V. Bure - Nemchinov - Krivokrasov

DEFENSE

B. Mironov - Kasparaitis
Gusarov - D. Mironov
Zhitnik - Yushkevich
Kravchuk - Gonchar

POWER PLAY

Kamensky - Zhamnov - P. Bure - Zhitnik - D. Mironov
Fedorov - Yashin - Kovalenko - B. Mironov - Gonchar

SHORT-HANDED

Zelepukin - Titov - Zhitnik - Yushkevich
Zhamnov - P. Bure - Gusarov - D. Mironov
Zelepukin - Fedorov - Kasparaitis - B. Mironov
V. Bure - Nemchinov - Kravchuk - Gonchar

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