WinterSports2002.com, Saturday, February 23, 2002

Face-off fodder

By Jody Genessy
Deseret News sports writer

BRONZE-MEDAL GAME

BELARUS VS. RUSSIA

E Center

Saturday, 12:15 p.m.

TV: NBC

SLAP SHOTS: This will be the second time these two former Soviet Union republics will meet in Salt Lake. Russia held off the upset-minded Belorussian by a closer-than-expected score of 6-4 a week ago Friday . . . Russia goalie star Nikolai Khabibulin uncharacteristically allowed four goals in that one . . . If Belarus has an edge, it's that the new country isn't as devastated over its 7-1 semifinal loss to Canada as the Russians are about their 3-2 loss to the U.S.

GOLD-MEDAL GAME

CANADA VS. UNITED STATES

E Center

Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV: NBC

SLAP SHOTS: A North American country will win the gold medal in hockey for the first time in more than two decades . . . Team USA won last, of course, in 1980. Canada, surprisingly, hasn't struck gold since 1952 . . . Canada won the last meeting between these two neighbors, 4-1 in Nagano. The countries skated to a 3-3 tie in 1994 Lillehammer Games . . . "Everybody in North America was hoping for a North American final," said U.S. star Mike Modano. "We're looking forward to it."

© 2002 Deseret News Publishing Company