Russia have moved top of the overall standings in the Euro Hockey Tour after beating Finland in Helsinki. The opening game of the Swedish leg of the tour was played outdoors in front of a 30,000-strong crowd in extremely cold conditions.

Russia managed to score on each side of a goalless second period in a match at the Olympic Stadium.

Forward Stanislav Chistov scored the opening goal late in the first period, assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nikolay Zherdev. While Kuznetsov doubled the score early in the third after a brilliant individual effort, set up by Ilya Nikulin.

“I managed to score, to assist and didn’t freeze down,” Kuznetsov said smiling after the game. He also stressed he loved the idea of playing official games outdoors.

Reigning champions Russia are followed closely by the Czech Republic, who had a much tougher win over 2011 runners-up Sweden.

Petr Nedved stole the show in the Swedish capital as he scored a regulation goal and was the only player on either team to convert in a post-match shootout, meaning the Czechs won 2-1.

Russia are in action again on Saturday, when they battle Sweden in Stockholm.