Reigning champion ROC into men's ice hockey final via shootout at Beijing 2022

Players of ROC celebrate after the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) nailed a thrilling 2-1 shootout victory over Sweden to reach the men's ice hockey final at Beijing 2022 here on Friday.

The ROC reached the semifinals with a 3-1 win over debutants Denmark, while seventh-seeded Sweden advanced with an impressive 2-0 win over world No. 1 Canada in Wednesday's quarterfinals.

Anton Slepyshev from the ROC broke the deadlock with a memorable solo goal at 20:15, the very begining of the second period.

The ROC's lead was maintained during the period, with a lot of pushing and shoving between the two teams.

Both teams showed their ability to clamp down defensively at the third period. Sweden's captain Anton Lander scored an equalizer at 46:22, before the match was evenly played with some threatening shots from both sides in the final minutes but without any goal scored. The overtime also went in a thrilling but goalless fashion.

During the shootout, the ROC's Arseni Gritsyuk scored a winning goal to end the tightly contested match.

The gold medal game between Finland and the ROC will be held on Sunday. 

Vadim Shipachyov (L) of ROC vies for the puck during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Pontus Holmberg (L) of Sweden vies for the puck during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Players of ROC celebrate after the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Athletes vie for the puck during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

Athletes vie for the puck during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

Athletes of ROC celebrate winning the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

Goalkeeper Lars Johansson (C) of Sweden competes during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

Lars Johansson (2nd L) of Sweden competes during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

A fight breaks out during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

Kirill Semyonov (L) of ROC vies with Oscar Fantenberg of Sweden during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

Joakim Nordstrom (L) of Sweden vies with Kirill Semyonov of ROC during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Li An)

(220219) -- BEIJING, Feb. 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Anton Slepyshev (L) of ROC vies with Henrik Tommernes of Sweden during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)

Sergei Plotnikov (2nd R) of ROC vies for the puck during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

(220219) -- BEIJING, Feb. 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Players of ROC celebrate victory after the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)

Players vie for the puck during the ice hockey men's play-off semifinal of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between ROC and Sweden at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)