Sweden Replaces Ugly Memories With Olympic Gold

Sweden has won the Olympic gold medal, erasing a recent history of deflating losses and occasional embarrassment in international hockey.

Not that most North American fans will care, but it was among the best hockey games played this season. Nicklas Lidstrom scored the winning goal early in the third period, and the Swedes held off a furious rush in the closing seconds to defeat Finland 3-2 in today's gold medal game.

It is Sweden's second Olympic title, the first coming in 1994. Finland previously won the silver medal in 1988, and has never won gold at the Olympics.

The Czech Republic won the bronze medal on Saturday, defeating Russia 3-0 in a somewhat lacklustre game.