Russia coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov: 'Playoff win important for the team'

Russia's men's ice hockey coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov has said that winning their playoff against Norway is "very important" for the team.

The host nation will take on the Norwegian side for a place in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Sochi Games later this afternoon.

Bilyaletdinov told BBC Sport: "This is very important for all of us. We've been waiting for it for many years. Everybody is expecting a big result from us."

Russia have not won gold in the ice hockey event since the Unified Team of six former Soviet republics achieved victory in 1992.