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Russia downs Finland to win gold at Worlds

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin scored in an eight-minute span during the second period to erase a deficit and help send Russia to a gold-medal clinching 5-2 victory over Finland at the 2014 World Hockey Championship.

Olli Palola notched a power-play goal with just under seven minutes played in the middle frame to give the Finns a 2-1 edge, but Ovechkin responded at even strength only 43 seconds later to tie and Malkin pumped home the go-ahead score on the advantage with 4:22 remaining.

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Danis Zaripov and Viktor Tikhonov provided man-advantage markers in the third period, while Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 26 saves for the Russians, who were unbeaten in all 10 of their games in the tournament.

Russia claimed its fourth gold at the Worlds in the last seven years.

Iiro Pakarinen registered the other score and Pekka Rinne allowed five goals on 39 shots for the Finns, who had taken the bronze in Sochi.

Earlier on Sunday, Anders Nilsson was flawless in net, making 29 saves as Sweden defeated the Czech Republic, 3-0, to capture the bronze medal.

Joakim Lindstrom and Simon Hjalmarsson each scored in the first period for the Swedes, who won the tournament last year.

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After Lindstrom opened the scoring at 4:28, Sweden killed off consecutive Czech power plays before Hjalmarsson supplied the second goal at 15:44.

The Czech Republic had a 12-8 shot advantage during a penalty-filled second period.

Mikael Backlund added an insurance goal for Sweden at 8:22 of the third period.

Alexander Salak stopped 21 shots for the Czechs, who were also blanked by Finland in the semifinals.

[SportsNetwork.com]

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