Russia captain Pavel Datsyuk has hailed the home fans for their support during their victory over Slovenia in their opening Group A game at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The host nation's men's ice hockey team got the better of their opponents 5-2 at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi on Thursday amid chants of 'Ro-ssi-ya! Ro-ssi-ya!' from more than 11,000 spectators.

"I would like to say thank you to our fans," The AP quotes the Detroit Red Wings center as saying. "They helped us."

In the other Group A match on Thursday, the USA defeated Slovakia 7-1.