2018 Olympic Games. Final. Olympic Athletes from Russia - Germany - 4:3 OT

In the 2018 Olympic Games final, the Olympic Athletes from Russia team took on Germany. Head coach Oleg Znarok didn't make any changes to the line-up, opting to keep Vasily Koshechkin in net.

It was a difficult start to proceedings, as the Germans kept our players on the outside for the vast majority of the first period. However, with 0.5 seconds remaining in the frame, the deadlock was broken. A loose puck fell to SKA defenseman Vyacheslav Voynov between the circles, who smashed a huge slap shot into the left corner.

Against the run of play, Germany got back on terms in the second stanza. Felix Schutz tried a backhand attempt from a tight angle on the right flank, catching Vasily Koshechkin cold near post. Indeed the Germans went on to have the better of the period, creating a number of promising chances in our zone.

Nikita Gusev gave our players a second lead, scoring with a stunning effort blocker side with only seven minutes remaining. That was only the start of the drama though, as the teams traded goals in the final moments. Dominik Kahun and Jonas Muller handed Germany a dramatic 3:2 lead, but Nikita Gusev netted shorthanded in the last minute to take the match into overtime.

Fortunately for our team, a German penalty in the extra period opened the door for a winner. Kirill Kaprizov duly slammed an unstoppable one timer in top shelf, sealing the players' 2018 Olympic Games title!

Match protocol:

Olympic Athletes from Russia - Germany - 4:3 OT (1:0, 0:1, 2:2, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Voynov (Gusev, Kaprizov), 19.59

1:1 Schutz (Macek, Hager), 29.32

2:1 Gusev (Kaprizov, Datsyuk), 53.21

2:2 Kahun (Mauer, Ehliz), 53.31

2:3 J. Muller (Ehliz, Hordler), 56.44

3:3 Gusev (Kaprizov, Zub), 59.04

4:3 Kaprizov (Gusev, Voynov), 69.40

Goalkeepers: Koshechkin - Aus Den Birken

Shots on target: 30 - 25

Penalty minutes: 4 - 6

25.02.2018.