Ice hockey news: May 18, 2008

May 19, 2008

IIHF World Championship: Russia wins world hockey championship
An overtime goal by Ilya Kovalchuk on Sunday earned Russia's hockey team its first IIHF world championship gold in 15 years. The game in Quebec City ended with the team's 5-4 victory over Canada before three minutes of overtime had elapsed.

NHL Playoffs: Pittsburgh Penguins win Eastern Championship
The Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth game of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday. The Penguins scored 6-0 on home ice to enter the Stanley Cup finals.

The Western Conference champion is still to be confirmed as the Detroit Red Wings leads the Dallas Stars three games to two. Detroit won its first three games straight, when Dallas began its attempt to make a comeback that only two teams in NHL History have enjoyed - the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942 and the New York Islanders in 1975.

Game six of the Western finals is scheduled for Monday, with Wednesday reserved for game seven if Dallas wins on Monday.