Monday 26 May 2014 00:44, UK
Russia erased the memories of their Olympic woe by beating Finland 5-2 in Minsk to win the ice hockey world championship.
Russia failed to live up to the huge expectations when they bowed out in the quarter-finals at their home Games in Sochi earlier this year but found the perfect response to win their fourth world crown in the last seven years.
Russia opened the scoring through winger Sergei Shirokov, but Finland equalised via Iiro Pakarinen before Olli Palola gave the Fins the lead in the second period.
But Russia were to dominate from thereon as NHL stars Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin both scored to turn things around before Danis Zaripov and Viktor Tikhonov wrapped up the win in the third period.
"We owed our fans this win after a poor performance in Sochi. The gold medal is what we came here for, no other result would do,” Zaripov said.
"We acted as a single unit throughout the tournament and it a victory for everyone."
Earlier on Sunday, 2013 champions Sweden beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to take the bronze medal, with Czech star Jaromir Jagr announcing his international retirement after the contest.
"That was my last game for the Czech Republic. I'll be back to play in the NHL next year, but I won't play for my country again," Jagr said.
