KHL
Spartak – Barys 3:4 (end) | Donbass – Avtomobilist 4:2 (end) | Medvescak – Avangard 4:0 (end)
final
Medvescak Zagreb
4:0 (0:0, 2:0, 2:0)
Avangard Omsk
Wednesday 02.10.2013, 19:30 • Dom Sportova - Zagreb, Croatia • KHL
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:30.
     
    Warmups are over here in Zagreb. We are just about 15 minutes away from the starting faceoff here in Zagreb. The lines and roster information are already posted.
     
    "Welcome to the big hockey spectacular"! The announcement is up and players are coming out of the tunnel. National Anthems next!
     
    Thank you for joining us on EuroLiveScores for tonight's matchup between KHL Medvescak Zagreb and Avangard Omsk.

    The home team has won four straight and Avangard has lost seven in a row. Will fortunes continue for the Bears or is this when Avangard starts their turnaround. Follow us here to find out!
     
    The buzzer sounds and here we go!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Kostin and Brust are the keepers tonight for both sides.
     
    01:30
    Murray wins the opening faceoff cleanly for Medvescak. Medvescak getting into the zone a couple of times, but neither team getting any chances so far.
     
    03:00
    Both teams get their first shots, but they were both fairly harmless. The crowd is starting to heat up a bit here in support of the Bears.
     
    04:30
    Brust gets tested on a couple nice tries by Avangard. A rebound is kicked out into a potential break for Bjorkstrand, but the defense recovers.
     
    06:00
    Avangard playing well so far. They have forced a couple of icing calls and are getting the puck on Brust. The game remains scoreless, however.
     
    06:56
    After Kalinin jumps offsides on a near 2-on-1 with Mozer, Medvescak's 4th line grinds in their own end a bit before also going offsides. Commercial break here in Zagreb.
     
    08:30
    Both teams playing patiently. Avangard has the upper hand here early as Medvescak has three icing calls and only one shot on goal.
     
    09:16
    Vesce feeding Linglet for a deflection that is pushed high is the best chance in a slow game so far. Avangard it trying to grind a goal in their end and Medvescak seems to be looking for a little tic-tac-toe early.
     
    11:00
    Linglet tries a wraparound opportunity on Kostin, but it was a weak attempt. Avangard back the otherway, but they are unproductive on that shift.
     
    12:30
    Both teams playing a tight game with no mistakes. Avangard is pinning the Medvescak players against the boards in an attempt to take possession of the puck, nearing obstruction, but no calls.
     
    13:45
    Perezhogin gets a nice cross crease feed, but Brust anticipates it well. The keeper gets from post to post and comes out a bit to cut off the angle. A good scoring chance, but too predictable that time.
     
    15:00
    Berdnikov gets an opportunity for good shot, but Medvescak does good to man up and stop a potentially dangerous run.
     
    16:00
    Brust is slowing the game down a lot tonight. He took a flip shot and held on that time. Throughout the evening he has gloved a couple on the side of the net to stop a play setting up from behind him. That is partially why there have been no goals yet. Just slow, deliberate play.
     
    17:40
    Important first chance for Zagreb as Kazionov goes off for a tripping call.
     
    19:40
    The refs are letting the boys play tonight and not calling much. Avangard plays a good, physical penalty kill and is back at full strength. More importantly, unharmed.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    16 shots for an active Avangard to 4 for Medvescak. There weren't many scoring chances for either side and many SOG for Avangard were only shots by "definition". A slow night for the score keepers so far here in Zagreb.
     
    The 2nd period begins in 5:00. Something has to give here. Brust now 85+ minutes without allowing a goal, but Avangard working hard to break that.

    Faceoff just around the corner...stay tuned.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Murray and Semin kickoff the 2nd with a faceoff win by Avangard.
     
    21:30
    Avangard hits one out of play as the 2nd period starts off pretty slow again. Medvescak slightly getting the better of the two early.
     
    22:12
    Foster gets hit hard by Ivanov behind the net, Foster comes back and hits him on the boards. Somewhere in the process, Svarny trips an Avangard player giving them the extra man chance. Almost a 5-on-3 there.
     
    23:12
    Brust barely covers a five hole chance for Frolov after giving up a rebound from a nice slapper. He hangs on for a faceoff to his right.
     
    24:09
    Two good chances there by Avangard, but they can't get it past Brust. Medvescak at full strength.
     
    25:30
    Things slow down a bit again, but Cheechoo-Vesce and Thomas make Avangard ice the puck. Faceoff to the right of Kostin now.
     
    25:51
    Berdinkov on a two on one takes the shot instead of passing. Brust gloves him, then taunts him a bit with the high glove sign to get the ref's whistle. Avangard in control, but nothing to show for it.
     
    26:17
    Another chance here for Medvescak for a hard hit on Koren behind the Avangard net. Kulyash in the box.
     
    27:59
    Cheechoo with an amazing shot over Kostin from the bad angle. The keeper falls asleep a bit on his stick side post and Cheechoo snipes him.
     
    29:40
    Both teams retooling now after Medvescak did not stop Avangard's energy with that goal.
     
    30:40
    Avangard's Badyukov in the box giving this potent Medvescak power play a chance at their second. The call is slashing.
     
    31:00
    Pikkarainen makes an amazing pass after coming in a bit from the blue line. He hits a charging Jessiman and Kostin has no chance.
     
    32:30
    Medvescak is firing on all cylinders. They smell blood here, scoring two in three minutes. Avangard in a bit of trouble with the momentum.
     
    33:28
    Linglet fervently argues a call there that he shoved Mozer to the ice. It falls on deaf ears and Avangard gets a chance of their own on the power play after the commercial break.
     
    35:30
    Medvescak at full strength after he gloves a shot floating on Zaborsky's jersey.
     
    37:15
    Cheechoo, Murley and Thomas giving Avangard fits as they cannot get it across the center line. Kostin holding strong.
     
    38:20
    Zaborsky stickhandles through several Medvescak defenders, but gets too close to Brust before he can put anything on net. A smaall rebound laid flat and Jessiman sets up behind Brust to go back the other way.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Avangard trying to go physical on the forecheck to create some chances at the end of the 2nd. They are punishing the Medvescak skaters, but Brust is a brick wall.
     
    The official score sheet shows Medvescak only had 5 shots that period and Avangard had 14. That seems a little off, but we know this is as much art as science.

    The bottom line, Medvescak made Avangard pay on the power play and stopped them on the penalty kill.
     
    In breaking news, Brian Willsie is in his last game for Medvescak. He will be returning to TPS of the Finnish league.
     
    One minute to go before we start the final period!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:27
    Walker gets a pass from Murray and works hard behind Kostin. The defense forgot about Murray who settled in for an easy deflection over Kostin's glove.
     
    42:30
    Semin and Perezhogin fighting hard in their own end to get Avangard a chance here. Medvescak still in possession despite some punishing hits.
     
    45:00
    Pikkarainen putting some work in on the boards. Avangard gets possession and goes the other way. The players on the bench are trying to see if their teammates are making any progress in the Medvescak zone, but we have a stalemate here after the Bears 3rd.
     
    46:37
    Commercial break here after a Brust cover. Avangard coach speaking with Milyukov, Blatay and Vorobyov anout X's and O's. Time is running out here for the guests.
     
    48:30
    Brust takes two to the chest, letting rebounds go on alternating sides. He gets back to the third one to glove it and shut the momentum down a bit. Avangard starting to surge here.
     
    48:57
    Cheechoo gets a feed behind the net and comes out to the goal line. Kostin hugs the post this time indicating a correction from his past experience. He forgets about the glove side and Cheechoo snaps another one high.
     
    51:30
    Willsie playing a little forecheck after a near icing call. Avangard sets up in a hurry in a chance to try to get something here. A little unorganized going in and they are called offsides.
     
    52:42
    Cheechoo almost gets a hat trick on a nice feed from Murley. Kostin gets his stick over the five hole and it's just enough to stop Medvescak's 5th of the game.
     
    54:30
    Brust at his best when he is aggressive. He holds a puck in front of him before sticking it to his teammate for an offensive try. Carle dumps it for a line chance and the score remains.
     
    56:00
    Pivtsakin gets one over the Medvescak defenders stick, but the defense recovers and stops a breakaway attempt.
     
    57:30
    Kane and Jessiman are on the checking line for Medvescak. They are earning their keep, now playing a bit like Avangard on the forecheck.
     
    59:15
    Nothing here for Avangard as they have packed it in.
     
    A penalty against Brust for holding the game, but insignificant with only a second to play.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    Medvescak wins their 5th straight as Avangard leaves losing their 8th.

    Shots:

    Medvescak: 16
    Avangard: 39

    Brust was never really tested tonight, despite the high number of shots.
     
    The difference was another shutout performance by Barry Brust and Medvescak going 2 for 3 on the power play.
     
    Cheechoo gets two goals and newest defender Hannu Pikkarainen gets two assists, including a beauty to Jessiman.
     
    That is all from Zagreb. We hope you enjoyed our coverage as always.

    Thank you for following EuroLiveScores. We hope you check out the rest of our KHL action as we cover all the action around the league.

    Good night! (21:43:24)
    Commentary by

    Tim Bourcier

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 28. Cheechoo (Thomas, Pikkarainen), 31. Jessiman (Pikkarainen, Murley), 41. Murray (Walker), 49. Cheechoo (Katic)

    Medvescak Zagreb: Brust-Vasiljevic; Thomas-Cheechoo-Murley-Martinovic-Carle; Linglet-Vesce-Willsie-Foster-Svarny; Walker-Murray-Bjorkstrand-Pikkrainen-Katic; Koren-Kane-Jessiman-Perkovich-Popovic
    Avangard Omsk: Lassila-Kostin; Perexhogin-Semin-Kostitsyn-Blatak-Kulyash; Kvasha-Zaborsky-Frolov-Lyamin-Baranka; Kazionov-Ivanov-Badyukov-Yegorshev-Vorobyov; Kalinin-Mozer-Berdnikov-Milyukov-Pivtsakin
    Referees: Referee: Bulanov Vyacheslav, Odins Eduard Linesmen: Mikhel Alexei, Shikhanov Roman
    Attendance: 4,500