EHT: Finland wins Oddset Hockey Games

Russia looked good for winning the Oddset Hockey Games but some what surprisingly they lost to the Czech Republic. In a close game Zbynek Irgl gave the Czechs the lead at the halfway mark and as always the Czechs are very good playing with a lead.

Vaclav Nedorost made it 2-0 for the Czechs halfway through the third with good help by Lukas Krajicek and Michal Vondrka. Russia got one goal less than three minutes later by Evgeny Kuznetsov. But the Russians never came any closer and the Czechs took a strong 2-1 win.

That gave Finland the chance to win the tournament with a win against Sweden and Finland did so with a solid 5-2 victory.

Early in the second period Juha-Pekka Hytönen gave Finland the lead when his shot deflected off a Swedish skate and fooled Gustaf Wesslau in the Swedish net. Two minutes later Finland doubled the lead when Mikko Mäenpää beat Wesslau high after being fed the puck from Sakari Salminen behind the net. The goals gave Finland confidence while Sweden lost it and it was all about Finland.

It seemed like Finland was going for 3-0 when they got a power play but hard penalty on Oskar Osala made it a 4 on 4 and Johan Fransson could reduce the lead with a hard shot from the blueline. But Finland didn't lost their confidence and quickly added a third goal when Veli-Matti Savinainen was all alone in the slot after a nice attack. In the third Finland secured the Tournament victory with a power play goal by Juuso Hietanen.

Sweden got a consulation goal when Jonas Andersson scored when Engren some how dropped the puck after first making a great save. Sweden made a last effort but couldn't avoid the fiasco with zero points and only three goals scored in three games. Instad Finland made it 5-2 on the emtpy net to set the final score.

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