It'll be the Czech Republic and Russia playing for the gold medal. Somehow I doubt that's what the NHL had in mind when the league decided to shut down the season.

The Russians advanced by beating Finland in the semifinals, 7-4. Pavel Bure made like John Shaft. He was one bad mother. Bure scored five goals against the Finns. Yes, you read that right... five goals!

Bure opened the game with a natural hat trick, including two breakaway goals, before the Finns rallied to tie the game in the second on goals by Raimo Helminen, Kimmo Rintanen, and Teemu Selanne. Alexei Zhamnov put the Russians back in front, 4-3, late in the second period, but Saku Koivu once again deadlocked it early in the third. Andrei Kovalenko would get the game- winner following a faceoff win by Sergei Fedorov, and then Bure would add two more goals to seal the deal, with one going into an empty net.

Russia and the Czech Republic will play for the gold Saturday night at 11:35 PM (EST). Hasek is going to be tough to beat. But the Russians definitely have the arsenal to get the job done. It should be a beauty.

Canada and Finland will play for the bronze medal Friday night. Yippee skippee.

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