CNN/SI - Nagano Olympics - Olympic Women's Hockey Recap (Finland-China)

Message Boards

Nagano Maps

Olympic Records

Time Conversion

Athlete of the Day

Nagano Weather

Nagano Info

Was It Worth It?
Despite the loutish behavior of the U.S. hockey team and the favorites' early ouster, the answer is, Yes, this was a dream of a tournament

Golden Girls
A talented U.S. women's hockey team showed its mettle by defeating favored Canada

A Holy Tara
While Michelle Kwan was all business, Tara Lipinski was determined to make friends and have fun, and she left Nagano with a cool keepsake

Olympic Women's Hockey Recap (Finland-China)

Posted: Sat February 14, 1998 at 5:14 a.m EST

Finland 6, China 1 ------------------

Marika Lehtimaki and Riikka Nieminen scored two goals apiece as Finland routed China, 6-1, in a tuneup for Monday's bronze medal game at the Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Johanna Ikonen's third goal of the tournament gave Finland a 1-0 lead 68 seconds into the game and Lehtimaki tallied her first goal at the 9:56 mark for a 2-0 advantage.

Finland established its dominance from the outset, outshooting China (2-3) 10-1 in the opening 20 minutes. After Lehtimaki scored for 2-0 lead, China pulled goaltender Lina Huo, replacing her with Hong Guo.

Finland (3-2) continued to pressure in the second period. Lehtimaki set up Sari Fisk's first goal 4:37 into the period for a three-goal cushion and, after Hingmei Liu scored on one of China's two shots in the period, Nieminen scored a shorthanded goal to give the Finns a 4-1 lead.

Lehtimaki and Nieminen closed out the scoring for Finland in the final period. Lehtimaki scored 4:20 in and Nieminen added her sixth goal with 2:51 remaining.

Finland, which has outscored its opponents 27-10 in five games, outshot China, 33-9.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.Read our privacy guidelines.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.