Five highlights from Saturday at Sochi Games

Story highlights

U.S. men's hockey team loses bronze-medal game to Finland 5-0

Dutch men and women both win gold in team pursuit speed skating

Russia's Vic Wild wins gold in parallel slalom

Norwegian women sweep podium in the marathon of cross-country skiing

CNN  — 

It was the next-to-the-last day of the Sochi Games, so athletes fought hard Saturday for the remaining medals of the Olympics.

Of the day’s five highlights, it was men’s hockey that dominated many sports lovers’ minds. In the bronze medal game, the U.S. team suffered an embarrassing defeat to Finland 5-0. The Finns took home the bronze, and the Americans nothing.

Men’s hockey

The U.S. men’s hockey team lost any dream of an Olympic medal when Finland shut it out in the consolation game for the bronze medal.

The loss was an American embarrassment in one of the Olympics’ marquee events, especially after the Americans earlier beat the Russians.

Finland broke open the scoreless game in the second period, by scoring two successive goals in the opening minutes. The Americans seemed uninspired throughout the game. By the third period, the game was a blowout as the U.S. team was unable to find the goal.

The Americans appeared to still be reeling from their loss this week to Canada, 1-0, which meant that the Americans would be relegated to playing for the bronze and the Canadians advancing to Sunday’s gold game against Sweden.

At least the U.S. women fared better. This week, they took a silver medal after losing to Canada in overtime, 3-2.

Double Dutch speed skating

The Netherlands, a powerhouse in speed skating, took the gold in the men’s team pursuit, following by Korea for silver and Poland taking bronze.

“We sacrificed our individual programs the last four years to do this,” said Jan Blokhuijsen, one of the trio that clinched men’s team pursuit gold. “It is a great feeling. It is fantastic to race so fast in the Olympic final.”

And it was the Netherlands again winning the gold in the women’s team pursuit, followed by Poland and Russia.

The Dutch women set a new Olympic record.

Men’s slalom

The Austrians nearly swept the final alpine skiing event of the Sochi Games.

Favorite Marcel Hirscher came in second to countryman Matt Mario, who took gold. Winning bronze was Norway’s teen sensation, Henrik Kristoffersen.

American giant slalom gold medal winner Ted Ligety couldn’t finish his second run down the course and put himself out of contention.

Women’s cross-country skiing: 30-kilometer

The Norwegians swept the podium in the marathon of women’s cross-country ski racing.

In fact, the three controlled the race from the outset. It was just a matter who would cross first, second and third at the finish line. The women were near single file at the home stretch.

Winning gold was Marit Bjoergen. Silver went to Therese Johaug and Kristin Stoermer won bronze.

Parallel slalom

The parallel slalom races are skiing’s rare contest where spectators see two racers competing against each on parallel courses – as opposed to the usual isolated contest where skiers one by one run a course and see who posts the fastest time after everyone has reached downhill.

The side-by-side racing is a treat to watch.

Russia’s Vic Wild won the gold in the men’s big final, beating Slovenia’s Zan Kosir, who took the silver medal.

Winning the small final race was Austria’s Benjamin Karl, who won the bronze medal by beating Italy’s Aaron March.

In the women’s parallel slalom, gold went to Austria’s Julia Dujmovits and silver to Germany’s Anke Karstens. Germany also won bronze, by Amelie Kober.