AFP - Teemu Selanne, who is playing in his fifth Olympics, equalled the all-time Olympic record for most points as Finland routed Belarus 5-1 in their first game of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Selanne, 39, earned an assist on Finland's opening goal for his 36th career point to tie him with three others, including the legendary Valeri Kharlamov of the former Soviet Union.

He also tied totals put up by Vlastimil Bubnik of Czechoslovakia and Canada's Harry Watson. It was his 16th assist to go with 20 goals.

With Finland on the powerplay, Selanne passed out front to his Anaheim Ducks teammate Saku Koivu who then slid the puck between the legs of a Belarus defender to forward Olli Jokinen for the goal.

Selanne, who has been plagued by injuries this season with the NHL Ducks, is playing with a plastic face mask to protect a broken jaw.

Selanne had several chances to break the record, including three shots in the first period, but couldn't dent the armour of Belarus netminder Vitali Koval.

Niklas Hagman had two goals for Finland who beat Belarus 8-1 at the Salt Lake 2002 Games, the only other time the two nations have met at the Olympics.

Sergei Kostitsyn scored early in the second period for Belarus who had just two shots on goal in each of the first two periods.

Finland is the reigning Olympic silver medallists and they also won bronze medals at the 1994 Lillehammer Games and the 1998 Nagano Olympics.