15 February 2002
Belarus vs Russia 4:6
Russia have overcome a second period lapse in concentration to beat Belarus 6-4 in a wide open Olympic ice hockey contest loaded with offense.
The vaunted Russian attack took little time to get in gear with Boston Bruins all-star Sergei Samsonov finding the back of the net with a backhand just one minute and 45 seconds into the game.
Oleg Antonenko levelled the score seven minutes later but then Russia reeled off three straight goals by Chicago Blackhawk Alexei Zhamnov, Atlanta Thrasher Ilya Kovalchuk and New York Islander Alexei Yashin.
Belarus showed that there is no such thing as an easy game in the final round, though, clawing its way back into the game with two goals that Tampa Bay Lightning all-star goalie Nikolai Khabibulin should have stopped.
Russia, winner of the silver medal in Nagano four years ago, came out flying in the third period with goals by Boris Mironov and Sergei Fedorov in the first four minutes to regain its three goal lead. Anaheim Might Ducks defenseman Ruslan Salei got one back in the last two minutes of the game but that was as close as qualifier Belarus would get.
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