Czech Republic earn bronze

Erat started the Czech scoring just four minutes into the first period when he took a pass from David Vyborny in the corner. Erat one-timed a slap shot from the point that left Nabokov without a chance.

Early in the second period Russia's second leading scorer, Ilya Kovalchuk, received a game misconduct after a brutal hit on an unsuspecting Pavel Kubina. Kubina took several minutes to pick himself up off the ice, making his way directly to the locker room after.

Marek Zidlicky doubled the Czech lead in the 26th minute when Jaromir Jagr found him with a cross ice pass. Zidlicky made no mistakes in powering the puck into lower right corner of the net.

Russia's explosive offence scored 25 goals in five preliminary matches but fell silent scoring only twice in the next three games including back-to-back shutouts to the Finns and Czechs.

The Russians welcomed back teenager Evgeni Malkin who returned after being banned for the 4-0 Russian loss at the hands of Finland in the semi-finals on Friday.

Along with Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk looked dangerous throughout the match. The Russians failed put the puck in the net as too many times their stars opted to shoot instead of pass in front of Vokoun's net.

The Czechs were deprived of captain Jaromir Jagr for most of the contest due to a thigh strain sustained in the second period.

"I think we just ran out of energy," said Russian captain

Alexei Kovalev. "If you take so many penalties it is going to hurt you.

"When you play six games in eight nights it's tough."

In the final period the Russians poured down on Vokoun's net out shooting the Czechs 12-2. Datsyuk had a goal waved off when in the 56th minute he picked the puck out of mid air and slapped it over Vokoun's right shoulder. Head referee Thomas Andersson signaled to the video review box who then ruled that the puck had been struck with a high stick.

Martin Straka iced the game for the Czechs a minute from full time after Russia pulled Nabokov. Maxim Afinogenov lost control for the Russians in the Czech zone and Erat and Straka skated the length of the ice as and Straka did the honours of guiding the puck into the empty net.

For the fourth straight Olympics the Russians failed to win the gold medal after taking it home six out of seven tries previously.

The Czechs won their 10th ice hockey Olympic medal, leaving them tied with the United States and just two behind Russia.