Pitkanen and Ruutu Earn Bronze Medals With Team Finland
by Bob Wage on Feb 28, 2010 11:12 AM EST
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Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen and forward Tuomo Ruutu helped Team Finland to a 4-3 win last night over Slovakia as the Finns won bronze medals, the third time the country has earned medals since the NHL started to participate in the Olympic games in 1998.
Pitkanen got the game winning assist as he hit Olli Jokinen with one of his patented passes down the middle of the ice while on the rush during a powerplay. Jokinen broke through two defensemen and put the puck past Slav goalie Jaroslav Halak.
The Finns were losing 3-1 at the end of the second period, but were able to find the net three times in the third with the help of two goals by Jokinen. They have been the only team in the Olympics so far who were able to come back from a two goal deficit.
The win means that all four of the Hurricanes participating in the Olympics will come home with a medal. Eric Staal and Tim Gleason will help to determine who brings back silver, and who will bring back gold, later today.
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I posted a ton of pictures and a couple of interviews/tweets at the end of the game thread, so mosey over and check ’em out!
Finland.. mysterious, exotic, remote, tiny, wacky Finland
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Feb 28, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Yay the Fins! Look at Pitkanen barely smiling in the photo, looking like Frankenstein (Pitkanstein?)
From the NHL.com recap, some more quotes from Tuomo:
"He’s just a goal scorer and a clutch player," said Finn teammate Tuomo Ruutu about [Olli] Jokinen. "He just had an amazing night — again."
Finland has now medaled in five of the last six Olympics, missing only 2002. The country earned silver in 2006 and 1988, while this year’s bronze goes in the trophy case with the third-place medals from 1994 and 1998. Finnish veterans Jere Lehtinen, Koivu and Ville Peltonen all earned their fourth Olympic medals, tying a record held by three other players.
"It’s an honor to play with them," said Ruutu, who will watch Carolina teammates Eric Staal (Canada) and Tim Gleason (USA) battle for gold tomorrow. "I really mean that. Lehtinen and Koivu and Teemu Selanne, just look at all of them sacrificing their bodies in the third period."
Without prompting, Rutuu [sic], Selanne and Detroit Red Wing Valtteri Filppula all volunteered that "the two best teams in the world" play for the gold medal Sunday.
Finland.. mysterious, exotic, remote, tiny, wacky Finland
Sisu
I can't help but note how happy they are.
“Winning” Bronze seems to be far better than losing for Silver.
If the guys and gals who brought you the financial meltdown deserve big bonuses, where do I sign up?
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