The Finnish Flash makes history

Teemu Selanne just tied the Olympic scoring record in men’s hockey, collecting the second assist on a power-play goal by Olli Jokinen against Belarus. It was a sweetheart—Selanne slipped a pass to Saku Koivu, who was waiting in the corner, and Koivu fired it across the crease for the tap-in.

Selanne now has 36 Olympic points (20 goals and 16 assists)—and shares the record with Vlastimil Bubnik of Czechoslovakia; Valeri Kharlamov of Russia; and Harry Watson, a Canadian who played in the early Olympic era.

He looked good to break the record before the game was out, creating numerous scoring chances in Finland’s 5-1 victory. But none of them worked out.

Few players have made hockey look as easy as Selanne over the years. Who could forget his rookie season with the Winnipeg Jets, when he pumped in an astonishing 76 goals. But time is catching up with the Finnish Flash. He’s 39, and this is probably the last time fans will see him on an international stage.

And he has grit. He’s participating in his fifth Olympic Games, with a clunky chin guard attached to his helmet after breaking his jaw on January 13 against the Boston Bruins.