Unbeaten Lions win gold beating Russia at Beijing Olympics

Finland became unbeaten champion in the men´s ice hockey at 2022 Winter Olympics after beating Russia (ROC-Russian Olympic Committee) by 2 goals to 1 in the final at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing on Sunday.

Two goals in early second period and early third period ensured the first ever gold in Olympics for Finland, although Russia took lead in the first period.

The hero of 2019 world cup, Marko Anttila accepted pass from Atte Ohtamaa at just 31 seconds of third period and fired a shot after circling to the middle that Hannes Bjorninen tipped past Russian goalkeeper.

Earlier, at the fourth minute of second period Ville Pokka scored the first goal for Finland and leveled the score 1-1.

Mikhail Grigorenko scored the lone goal for Russia at the eighth minute of first period.

It was Finland´s sixth consecutive victory in the tournament and the Lions won the gold as an unbeaten team.

Before the final, Finland, the second in the world rankings, has never won a Olympic gold medal since it entered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) family during the Olympics in St. Moritz in 1928, and it got a silver medal at Turin 2006 after losing to Sweden in the men's final.

"Ice hockey is a big thing in Finland, and we have come close a couple of times and it is finally nice to get the first one. I thought we played a great tournament and this is the reward," Valterri Filppula, the captain of Finland told news agency Xinhua.

"I'm so proud of this team, we didn't lose a single game in this tournament, and we're so tough to beat. What a great group of guys." Finland's forward Harri Pesonen said.

"There are so many good players, even though the North American guys weren't here. But you can see so many talents all over Europe, so there are tough games, a lot of physical games in this tournament," he added.

With this gold, Finland won total seven medals-two golds, two silvers and three bronzes- in Beijing Olympics 2022 so far.

On February 16, Finland bagged bronze in the women's ice hockey at Beijing Olympics 2022 on after they beat Switzerland by 4 goals to nil.

Earlier, Finnish skiers Iivo Niskanen and Joni Mäki also placed second in the men's cross-country skiing team sprint on February 16 and secured the second silver medal for the country at the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022.

On February 11, Finnish skier Iivo Niskanen bagged the gold medal of cross-country men's 15km classic at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

On February 10, Finnish skiers Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski won silver and bronze medals respectively in the women's 10km classic of cross-country skiing at Beijing 2022.

On February 6, Iivo Niskanen brought first medal for Finland in the Beijing Winter Olympics after he won in the 15km + 15km Skiathlon.