Finland Tops Belarus in Their First Men's Hockey Game of 2010 Vancouver Olympics

In their first game of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Finland faced Belarus. Finland scored the first goal of the game about three and a half minutes into the first period. The goal was scored during their first power play opportunity of the game. The first goal of the game included an assist by Teemu Selanne. The assist gave him his 36th Olympic point, which tied the Olympic men' hockey record.

The Finns second goal of the game was also a power play goal. The goal came with a little over two minutes left in the first period while on their second power play of the game. Finland not only kept Belarus from scoring in the first period, but they limited them to only two shots on goal while the Finns had seventeen shots on goal.

The second period started with Belarus scoring their first goal of the game only twenty-one seconds into the period. With a little over three minutes left in the period the second goal of the period was scored by Finland to increase their lead to three over one. The second period ended with one goal scored by each team in the period. Finland had less shots than the first period with eleven shots in the second period, while Belarus has the same amount as the first.

The third period began similar to the third. In this period, though, it was the Finns that scored about twenty seconds into the period. About thirteen minutes into the period Finland scored their fifth goal of the game. There was a review of the play, but it remained officially a goal.

The game ended with Finland winning five to one. Belarus failed to make any goals in the third period, but they did get two times as many shots (8) than the amount of shots they got in the first and second period combined. However, they also allowed Finland to get seventeen shots.

Finland had six different power play opportunities, but only were able to get goals on the two power plays in the first period. They only let Belarus have two power play chances and held Belarus from scoring during either of the power plays, as the only Belarus goal was an evenhanded goal.