Winter Olympic 2014 hockey results: Third period rally pushes Russia past Germany

Whenever the host nation Russia participates in any event at the Olympics, there’s an added pressure to win.

While it took the Russian women’s hockey team 40 minutes to find its footing, it didn’t disappoint the home crowd in its opening game of the tournament.

After trailing 1-0 through two periods of play, Russia finally found the back of the net in the game’s final frame, exploding for four goals and downing Germany 4-1.

Germany was able to keep Russia off the scoreboard for the game’s first two periods, and held a lead despite being out-shot and out-chanced. A Franziska Busch wrist shot managed to beat Yulia Leskina to put an upset-minded Germany ahead in the second period.

In the third, though, Russia would finally break through. Ilya Gavrilova started the Russian scoring when she skated out from behind the crease and banged home a puck to tie the score at one.

Russia would keep the pressure on Germany, and draw a power play. Up a skater, Russia worked the puck around the zone before a Olga Sosina slapper that was going well wide deflected off Andrea Lanzel, giving goalie Vionna Harrer no chance, and Russia its first lead of the day at 2-1.

Only a few minutes later, Russia would score yet again, its third tally in a 4:23-minute span to push its lead to 3-1. With Germany making a line change, Russia broke in on a 2-on-1, and Yakaterina Smolentseva snuck a puck through the five-hole of Harrer to give the Russians a two-goal lead.

Sosina would tack on her second midway through the period from in front of the crease when she was able to bang home a loose puck, and Russia would coast the rest of the way, allowing only one shot to Germany in the final period.

Both teams will be back in action Tuesday, as Germany takes on Sweden -- who come off a 1-0 win over Japan -- and Russia takes on the Japanese.

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