By Amy Tennery
BEIJING (Reuters) – Finland crushed Switzerland 4-0 on Wednesday to claim the Olympic women’s ice hockey bronze medal.
Viivi Vainikka slipped the puck past Swiss netminder Andrea Braendli midway through the first period to draw first blood for the Finns.
They added to their advantage in the third period as three-times Olympian Susanna Tapani scored a shorthanded goal, defender Nelli Laitinen converted on a powerplay chance and four-times Olympian Michelle Karvinen also netted.
After clinching their fourth Olympic medal in the event, an elated Finnish team cheered and hugged in front of a subdued crowd inside Beijing’s Wukesong Sports Centre as the final buzzer sounded.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Ed Osmond)
