Julie Jacobson / AP

Finland's Antero Niittymaki makes one of his 21 saves in a 4-0 shutout of Russia in Friday's semifinal in Turin. Finland will face Sweden for gold on Sunday.

The Russians, winners of five in a row heading into the semifinals, may have had a natural letdown after eliminating Canada. Or maybe they missed 19-year-old forward Evgeni Malkin, who was barred from playing Friday because he was ejected against Canada for kicking Vincent Lecavalier.

Or maybe it was Philadelphia Flyers rookie Antero Niittymaki, supposedly only the third-best goalie on Finland’s roster but one of the surprise stars of these Winter Games.

Niittymaki made 21 saves in outplaying fellow rookie Nabokov, who had previously allowed only two goals in five games. Niittymaki became the starter only because goalies Miikka Kiprusoff and Kari Lehtonen pulled out with injuries.

Whatever the reason, the Finns so discouraged the Russians that Kovalchuk and defenseman Darius Kasparaitis each took 4-minute penalties late in the game, the outcome long since decided.

Robert Laberge / Getty Images Ville Peltonen, right, of Finland celebrates scoring a goal during the first period in the semifinal of the men's ice hockey match between Finland and Russia.  The winner faces Sweden Sunday for the gold medal.

Long before that, Finland got its first goal on a power play with Russia’s Sergei Gonchar off for interference, as point man Timonen’s shot from the blue line deflected off Peltonen’s stick and past Nabokov. Both Peltonen and Teemu Selanne were in front of the net and in position to tip it in.

It was a familiar start for Finland, which has trailed only once in the tournament.

Toni Lydman made it 2-0 midway through the second, with a left-handed one-timer from the high slot off Saku Koivu’s backhand pass. Right about then, their inability to solve Finland’s tight defense was beginning to show on the discouraged Russians’ faces.

“They didn’t give us any opportunities to create any scoring chances,” Alexei Yashin said.

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Finland and Sweden last played in the medal round in 1998, a 2-1 victory by Finland in the quarterfinals of the first Olympics with mostly NHL players. Finland has never won a gold — Sweden did in 1994 — but did get the bronze in 1988.