Russia rallies, Sweden blanks Japan in women's hockey
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - Russia used a late surge to win its women's hockey opener on Sunday and Sweden posted a shutout to earn a victory in Group B play.
After coming up empty on early chances and finding itself down a goal, Russia dominated the third period to rally past Germany 4-1. Olga Sosina scored twice in the four-goal final frame, while Yulia Leskina shook off a tough early goal to record 14 saves.
Germany went ahead 1-0 in the second frame despite having been outshot 17-5 before Franziska Busch whipped a shot from the top of the right circle that hit off Leskina's glove and went in.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}However, Russia evened the match on Iya Gavrilova's wrap-around tally just over five minutes into the third period and Sosina's first goal of the contest put her club ahead for good.
Sosina's power-play tally came on a shot from the left circle that was going wide, but hit off the chest of Germany's Andrea Lanzl and in.
Captain Yekaterina Smolentseva whipped home a goal 38 seconds later and Sosina fired home a rebound with 7:45 to play to cap the scoring.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Russia outshot Germany 17-1 in the third period and Viona Harrer made 33 saves in defeat.
While the Russians found their offense late, fellow Group B member Sweden held off Japan by a 1-0 margin earlier in the day.
The lone goal of the game came in the first period, with Jenni Asserholt converting on a power play 12:38 in just 10 seconds after Japan's Ayaka Toko took a tripping penalty.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Valentina Wallner took it from there, stopping all 19 shots fired her way.
Erika Grahm and Emma Eliasson assisted on Asserholt's tally, which came on a tipped shot from the right point.
Nana Fujimoto made 22 saves in the setback for Japan.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.S. and Canada, which both picked up victories Saturday, will take on Switzerland and Finland, respectively, on Monday.