Fantastic Finns Rout Russians, 5-0 : Hockey: Big Red-Faced Machine handed its worst Olympic defeat by confident Finland.

A new world order is dawning in hockey, signaling the end of the Big Red Machine and the rise of the glacial blue and arctic white of Finland.

The Finns, who long lacked the assurance to match their world-class skills, scored the most significant victory in their hockey history Monday with a 5-0 rout of top-seeded Russia. It was the first Olympic shutout, and worst defeat absorbed by a Soviet team or its descendants.

In other Group B games Monday, Germany improved to 2-0 with a 2-1 victory over Norway, and the Czech Republic defeated Austria, 7-3.

The Soviet Union won seven of nine gold medals from their Olympic debut in 1956 through 1988; the Unified Team, born after the Soviet dissolution, continued the tradition in 1992. Together, the Soviet teams and the Unified Team were 60-6-2 and had lost only once by more than a goal, an 8-5 defeat by Canada in 1960.

Russia won its tournament opener Saturday against Norway but was overwhelmed Monday. The seventh-seeded Finns have never won an Olympic or world championship, but they have impressively defeated two higher-seeded opponents here. Finland opened Olympic play Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic, the tournament’s third-seeded team.

“We’re really happy about it (because) I don’t think you have so many chances to shut the Russians out,” said Finnish right wing Mikko Makela, a former King. Makela set up the fourth goal with a perfect pass from behind the net to Janne Ojanen, who slipped a backhander between the legs of goaltender Andrei Zuev.

“We did a good thing tonight and we have a chance to do well, but we only have played two games and we still have seven more,” Makela said. “We never had confidence before, but now we have some NHL experience (on) our team and that has helped us. We try to tell the young players they are something, because they are. Now, we play a mental game more than we ever did before.”

Every facet of their game was superb Monday. They neutralized seven Russian power plays, built a 28-11 edge in shots on goal and produced several goals that would make the highlight film of any hockey league.

“The Finnish team was stronger and faster today,” said Igor Dmitriev, Russia’s assistant coach. “We were not ready for this level of play. . . . The game of our goalie (who was replaced by Sergei Abramov after two periods) was not so bad. The game of the old (experienced) guys was not so good and not good for this level of play.”

It was a lofty level, three fast and exciting periods in which the Finns used the broad ice surface--100 feet wide, 15 feet wider than most NHL rinks--to outskate the Russians.

If the 8,751 in Hakon Hall were entertained by Finland’s first goal, a backhander by Jere Lehtinen while in a crowd in front of the net, they were dazzled by the second goal. It was a brilliant sequence that started when Janne Laukkanen intercepted a pass by defenseman Sergei Sorokine along the right-wing boards in Russia’s defensive zone. Laukkanen found Ville Peltonen in the left faceoff circle, and Peltonen made a quick pass to Saku Koivu, the Montreal Canadiens’ top draft pick last June, for a dead-on shot from the slot.

The Finns’ 1-7 Olympic record against Soviet teams was forgotten Monday. Mika Alatalo gave Finland a 3-0 lead with his 12-foot rebound at 11:32 of the second period. Ojanen, a former New Jersey Devil, added a flourish with his second tournament goal, at 19:03, and defenseman Marko Kiprusov turned the game into a rout 10 seconds later.

“We are very, very satisfied with the team now,” Finnish assistant coach Hannu Aravarta said. “It’s almost touching how the players are fighting for pucks. They are giving 110%.”

Finland owes much of its success to first-year Coach Curt Lindstrom, a Swede who formerly coached the Swedish national team. Lindstrom has instilled confidence in Finn players through constant positive reinforcement.

“I’m working very much since training camp in August with individual discussions to make them stronger mentally,” Lindstrom said. “My main key word is not only self-confidence but confidence (in general). I try to give them confidence and an understanding they must take responsibility.

“They work with heart now. Skills, we have. I try to tell them they are good enough to beat any team.”

Without question, they were good enough Monday.