Hasek Too Tough for Finland

Dominik Hasek, the man every goal-scorer in the NHL hates to face, is the single biggest reason the Czech Republic has a chance to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

“Dominik Hasek is the best goaltender in the NHL right now,” Czech left wing Martin Rucinsky said. “We play just average defense and he’s going to stop the puck.

“I’m glad he’s on my team. It sure is a lot better playing with him than against him,” said Rucinsky, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens and knows just how difficult it is to score against the Buffalo Sabres’ goalie.

Hasek stopped 17 shots Friday to lead the Czech Republic past Finland, 3-0. Then he criticized himself for not being perfect.

“The defense played very well in front of me,” he said. “I’ve got to hold on to my stick better.”

As if that was a problem. Once the Czechs took a 2-0 lead early in the third period, Finland was doomed.

“He’s not going to give up more than two goals a game,” Rucinsky said.

Hasek, 33, is a three-time winner of the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s best goalie. Last year he became the first goaltender in 35 years to win the league’s most valuable player award, and it’s obvious that the Czech Republic’s chances to win rest in his gloved left hand.

“Everybody knows good goaltending is the first step to getting a medal,” Czech assistant coach Slavomir Lener said.

Hasek has seven shutouts in 49 games this season and ranks second in save percentage.

“He’s tough to beat on most nights, and he was on top of his game in this one,” said Finland’s Saku Koivu, who plays for Montreal.

Hasek credited the Czech defensemen for making it a relatively hassle-free night, and he’s hoping for more of the same Sunday against Kazakhstan.

“The team made my day much easier by giving them only a few close chances,” Hasek said. “The shutout is nice, but the wins are what we came here for. For us, it’s a matter of winning the next game so we don’t have to play the best team from the other group in the quarterfinals.”

Russia 9, Kazakhstan 2--Sergei Fedorov, who hadn’t played in a game since June, needed only 90 seconds to prove that inactivity hasn’t affected his skills.

Fedorov is in the midst of a holdout after helping leading the Detroit Red Wings to the 1996-97 Stanley Cup championship. He scored with 1:30 elapsed and later added an assist.

Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks, Alexei Yashin of the Ottawa Senators and Andrei Kovalenko of the Edmonton Oilers each scored two goals for the Russians, who dressed 20 NHL players.