Ilya Kovalchuk's goal at 2:42 of overtime broke a 4-4 tie and gave Russia an historic gold medal today at the Colisée in one of the most anticipated finals games in many years. Kovalchuk also scored the tying goal with five minutes left in the third period.

The Russians struck quickly to open the scoring when Dan Hamhuis tried to pass Jay Bouwmeester, his defensive partner, behind the goal only to have the puck hit a referee’s skate directly behind the net. Alexander Ovechkin was right there and he made a quick pass to Alexander Semin in front. His quick shot beat an unsuspecting Cam Ward at 1:23.

Canada struck right back, though. Brent Burns's quick shot from the point, just as Vitali Proshkin was about to check him from behind after coming out of the penalty box, beat a screened Evgeni Nakokov over the stick side to tie the game, 1-1.

The Canadians put one over the goal line at 9:17 after a turnover in centre ice. Chris Kunitz walked in on Nabokov and drilled a great shot over his glove to make it a 2-1 game.

The Canadians opened a two-goal lead at 14:51 on a 5-on-3. Sergei Fedorov was serving a delay-of-game penalty and Proshkin was serving four minutes for cutting Rick Nash with a high stick. Heatley fanned on a slapshot, but the puck still got to Martin St. Louis by the side of the net. He made a nifty little pass to Burns at the top of the crease. He one-timed it through Nabokov's pads for his second goal of the game.

A late penalty in the first period proved costly for Canada as the Russians moved to within a goal at 1:14 of the second. Konstantin Korneyev's point shot whistled well wide of the goal but it banked off the boards behind Ward and out the other side. Semin was right there to one-time a shot before the goalie could move over to cover the open side.

Midway through the period Canada upped the score to 4-2 on a harmless-looking play. Getzlaf was cycling the puck in the corner when he spotted Heatley nearby. His shot to the short side beat Nabokov.

The Russians fought back in the third with a goal at 8:55 on a broken play. Alexei Tereshchenko jumped on a loose puck in the slot and rifled it between Ward’s legs to make it a 4-3 game.

With 6:45 to go, Ward made a phenomenal right pad save off Ovechkin, who cut through the slot and one-timed a shot labeled for the far side. A minute and a half later, however, Ilya Kovalchuk tied the game with a wrist shot using Bouwmeester as a screen.

And then came Kovalchuk's overtime heroics. He scored on a power play with Rick Nash in the box for delay of game after he shot the puck out of play at the Russian bench. The four officials huddled to discuss the play before calling the penalty. Ironically, the Russians received two delay of game penalties during regulation time. Kovalchuk moved in from the point and rifled a shot over Ward's shoulder before jumping for joy.

Russia, after 15 years, had finally won gold.

Source: IIHF.com