Ovechkin Russia's hero

ByEurosport

Published 22/02/2006 at 20:12 GMT

Alexander Ovechkin fired his nation into the semi-finals Wednesday as Russia stunned Canada 2-0 to eliminate the reigning Olympic champions. Ovechkin scored the game-winner less than two minutes into the third period, and Alexei Kovalev sealed the win on

ICE HOCKEY 2006 Torino 2006 Russia Alexander Ovechkin mobbed by teammates

Image credit: Reuters

Neither Canada nor Russia could capitalise on power play chances throughout the first two periods, as both Martin Brodeur and Evgeni Nabokov were stifling in goal.

But the 20-year-old Washington Capitals rookie sensation proved the key to the match, flicking a wrist-shot from just in front of the net right past Brodeur for the first goal of the game.

ICE HOCKEY 2006 Torino 2006 Alexander Ovechkin Russia jumping for joy

Image credit: Reuters

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Viktor Kozlov was credited with the assist, as he fed Ovechkin with a brilliant turn-around pass from behind the net to set up the score.

The young star had four shots on goal on the night.

Ovechkin is tied as the second best goal-scorer in the tournament with five goals in six games. Only Finland's Teemu Selanne has more goals, with six.

Russia's defence smothered the Canadian offence, which failed to capitalise on nine Russian penalites.

"We weren't as good a team as we needed to be," said Canada coach Pat Quinn. "As hard as our guys tried tonight, it wasn't good enough to advance.

"The bottom line is you have to come together as a team and we weren't as good a team as we needed to be."

ICE HOCKEY 2006 Torino 2006 Russia beat Canada Russia's Darius Kasparaitis (R) upends Canada's Simon Gagne

Image credit: Reuters

Coming into the games Canada put together an NHL all-star line-up worth $100 million, but time after time their offence failed to come up with goals.

The loss was the team's third shutout in the last four games, as Canada has only scored in one of their last 12 periods of hockey.

"We generated shots but we didn't put the puck in the net in three of four games," said Canada's veteran defenceman Rob Blake. "The bottom line is we needed to find a way to put the puck in the net and we didn't do that.

"It's disappointing. Our expectations when we come here is to win gold and when we don't it is disappointing."

THE CAPPER

Russia were almost as poor as Canada on power plays, as they missed chances on first seven Canadian penalties of the night.

After a fight resulted in a dual booking for Russia's Evgeni Malkin and Canada's Vincent Lecavalier with two minutes left, Canada still had a chance to equalise.

But on the ninth Canadian penalty of the night, Russia finally took advantage.

Chris Pronger was booked with a holding call with just 33 seconds left in the third period.

That opened the door for Kovalev, the Russian captain, to snap the second goal of the match right past Broduer and cinch the victory with 23 seconds left in the game.

Brodeur played beautifully in goal for Canada, as he stopped 31 of 33 Russians stop.