Finland beat Italy 11-0 in their final men’s Olympic ice hockey group match in Milan, registering 62 shots on goal and breaking the Olympic single-game record.
The previous mark of 60 shots belonged to Sweden. Finland surpassed it in the closing minutes when Joel Kiviranta scored the team’s 11th goal.
The result leaves Finland on six points and with a goal difference of +11, placing them in strong position to advance directly to the quarter-finals as the best group runner-up.
Finland needed a three-point win to remain in contention for a direct place in Wednesday’s quarter-finals. Goal difference could prove decisive between group runners-up, and the margin against Italy reshaped the standings in Group B.
Slovakia topped the group, while Sweden dropped to third after results elsewhere. Without a late Slovak goal against Sweden earlier in the day, Finland’s scoring margin would not have carried the same weight.
Head coach Antti Pennanen praised his players after the match. “The players did a fine job again today. They prepared themselves and were efficient,” Pennanen told Yle.
He added that Italy, coached by former Finland head coach Jukka Jalonen, had competed well in the tournament.
“Italy have played well and credit to them for how they have fought in this event. Today they hit a wall,” Pennanen said.
Finland led 6-0 after two periods, outshooting Italy 38-8 at that stage. The third period brought five more goals and the record for shots.
In total, Finland directed 62 shots on goal compared with Italy’s 15.
The 11-0 victory ranks among Finland’s largest in Olympic history, though not the biggest. At the 1960 Winter Games in Squaw Valley, Finland defeated Australia 19-2.
Finland will learn their quarter-final opponent after the completion of the remaining group matches.
HT