13.02 Finnish Hockey Team Pounds Austria 8-4 in Sochi Olympics

SOCHI, February 13 (R-Sport) – Finland loudly announced its arrival at the Sochi Olympic hockey tournament Thursday with a 8-4 Group B thrashing of Austria that featured a hat-trick from New York Islanders wing Michael Grabner.

The bronze medalist in Vancouver, Finland found itself a goal down twice in the first period but goals from Mikael Granlund and Sami Lepisto restored parity.

Further goals from Olli Maatta and Jarkko Immonen put the Finns 4-2 up at the first break and Austria couldn't recover.

Jussi Jokinen and Petri Kontiola made it 6-2 in the second period before Immonen and Granlund scored their second goals of the game and Austria's Grabner sealed his hat-trick, the first of the Olympic tournament. Thomas Hundertpfund scored Austria’s other goal.

In a fearsome display of attacking power the two-time world champion Finland registered a huge 52 shots on its opponent’s goal.

In the other Group B game, Canada plays Norway later Thursday, while Group A will see Slovakia meet the United States and host Russia face Slovenia.