Novosibirsk – Novokuznetsk 6:1 (end) | SKA St. Petersburg – HC Sochi 3:2 (end)
final
HC Sibir Novosibirsk
6:1 (3:0, 2:1, 1:0)
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Saturday 06.09.2014, 12:00 • Sibir Ice Palace • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and Sibir Novosibirsk have got their new KHL campaign off to a flyer with a competitive 6:1 triumph over Metallurg Novokuznetsk! It really was comfortable for the home side but the game was full of niggly penalties. Andreas Thuresson with a double found the net, as well as Patrick Hersley, Dmitriy Monya, and Alexey Kopeikin who as well struck twice. Ansel Galimov got Metallurg's consolation. Thanks for following the game with us, and join me again soon for SKA Saint Petersburg against HC Sochi in the KHL! (14:32:21)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:46
    We're now into the final seconds with Sibir heading to a very confident opening victory!
     
    57:59
    Sibir are now back at full strength with both teams already ready to head back to the dressing rooms, the home side have been completely dominant today!
     
    57:13
    Maltsev! With a thumping slapper from the right faceoff circle Dmitriy Maltsev makes the Sibir netminder work brilliantly with his blocker!
     
    55:59
    There have been so many penalties today and of course he's another, this time it's a powerplay for Metallurg as Alexey Kopeikin has been penalised for holding
     
    54:10
    Komaristiy! The Sibir defence briefly goes AWOL as Alexander Komaristiy finds himself clean through one on one, back with his right pad Mikko Koskinen makes a fantastic save to keep him out!
     
    53:35
    Goal for Sibir! Ilya Sorokin is doing his best in the Metallurg net but he's receiving very little help! The puck is flying all around the crease, and free at the right stick ALEXEY KOPEIKIN calmly slots home with the netminder already helpless! Powerplay goal and it's 6:1! Assists- Dmitriy Kugryshev and Jarno Koskiranta
     
    52:24
    Alexander Komaristiy has now also been penalised for hooking for Metallurg, giving the hosts another two man's advantage!
     
    51:51
    Viktor Bobrov of Sibir has picked up what looks like a nasty head injury, and as he's being helped back to the bench his attacker Kirill Gavrilychev has been slapped with a 2+10 penalty!
     
    50:31
    We have a fight on our hands! Ansel Galimov challenges Vladimir Butuzov to a scuffle behind Metallurg's net, but the referees manage to break it up just in time! And both have duly been sent to the penalty box
     
    49:55
    Kopeikin! Dmitriy Kugryshev with a cutting ice pass feeds the open Alexey Kopeikin free at the right hand post, he seems sure to score but he's denied by a stunning Ilya Sorokin glove save! What a save that is!
     
    48:52
    Sibir are going right back on the powerplay already however, as for slashing against his opponent Artyom Garifulin has been called
     
    47:53
    The visitors looked more compact on that penalty kill though and it's a full strength game again
     
    45:53
    Metallurg have been punished for a foul in that play though, as Matt Lashoff for slashing has been called just as Sibir came back to full strength
     
    45:41
    Sannikov! That could and should have been Sibir's sixth shorthanded! Taking up the puck by the boards on the right Sergey Sannikov powers through one on one, but Ilya Sorokin gets the better of him!
     
    44:42
    A very heavy Mikhail Kuklev slapshot has Mikko Koskinen scrambling around by his right hand post, and he is relieved to see that crawl wide!
     
    43:48
    The first penalty of the third stanza has gone to the hosts, Vyacheslav Belov for tripping has been handed a two minute minor
     
    42:56
    Jarno Koskiranta pulling to the left whips the puck across goal with real power, but no one is fast enough to catch up with it!
     
    41:57
    Metallurg couldn't get anything going at all though and Sibir have survived that extended five minute penalty!
     
    40:20
    Here we go in the third and final period! At 1:5 down it will be very hard for Metallurg to get back into things, but they do have a man's advantage still for just under two minutes!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 39-21
    Shots on target: 32-19
    Faceoffs: 28-21
    Hits: 12-10
    Penalty minutes: 39-19
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:16
    With only just over 30 seconds left in the second stanza Metallurg are back at full strength as their extended powerplay continues
     
    38:40
    Kugryshev! Dmitriy Kugryshev twisting around trying to find an option by the left faceoff circle wrists into the near corner, but a covering defender charges it down at source!
     
    37:16
    That powerplay has promptly been cancelled out though Alexander Romanov of Metallurg for holding has evened up the numbers!
     
    36:57
    Ilya Musin has been completely smashed and taken out into the boards, and the Metallurg forward looks in serious pain! And as he's being helped off the ice the culprit Konstantin Alekseev has indeed been handed a 5+20 penalty!
     
    35:24
    Sergey Sannikov twists his whole body around the net to Ilya Sorokin's post glove side, but his wraparound attempt is shut out by the young netminder! Metallurg will be very disappointed to having conceded so quickly after scoring themselves!
     
    34:05
    Goal for Sibir! Just like that the hosts restore their four goal lead and snuff out any Metallurg hope! On a very pacy counterattack down the right flank the puck is flashed across, and ALEXEY KOPEIKIN tips it past Ilya Sorokin! It's 5:1! Assists- Dmitriy Kugryshev
     
    33:47
    Goal for Metallurg! They couldn't afford to let that chance slip them by! The puck is slid cleverly across the face of goal by the right of the crease, and ANSEL GALIMOV is in the right place at the right time to score! Powerplay goal and it's 4:1! Assists- Vladimir Malinovskiy and Alexander Komaristiy
     
    32:13
    Konstantin Alekseev of Sibir has now been sent to the penalty box for holding, and Metallurg have an extended powerplay opportunity to get something going!
     
    31:27
    Maltsev! Twisting around devilishly to the right of the crease from around the net Dmitriy Maltsev looks to catch out the netminder near post, but Mikko Koskinen is awake!
     
    30:27
    No one wants to play full strength today! Sergey Shumakov of Sibir is the next to be handed a two minute minor, this time for slashing
     
    29:39
    Oleg Gubin skates in with real pace, wrists in with some whip between the circles but Ilya Sorokin is right behind that and freezes
     
    28:19
    And that has very quickly become a four on three Sibir advantage! Mikhail Kuklev of the visitors hasn't got away with tripping his opponent!
     
    28:09
    That Metallurg powerplay didn't last for long! Almost immediately the numbers are evened up as for slashing Alexander Komaristiy has been punished by the referees!
     
    27:55
    Sibir really are feeling comfortable now but they have given away another powerplay, Jarne Koskiranta for slashing has been called into the box
     
    25:12
    Sibir looked very solid on that penalty kill and they're back at full strength. Everything is going just about perfectly for them so far!
     
    24:52
    Matt Lashoff with little options around him looks for someone to make a telling deflection on his wrister into the slot, but it flies all the way through and into the boards
     
    23:12
    Metallurg have been gifted a powerplay opportunity for themselves to try and stem the flow of the tide though, Oleg Gubin of the hosts has been penalised for slashing
     
    22:05
    Goal for Sibir! The Metallurg defence just hasn't turned up to the party today! Ilya Sorokin does his best to stone a wraparound attempt by his right post, but the rebound falls to ANDREAS THURESSON who emphatically whips it into the right hand corner! Powerplay goal and it's 4:0! Assists- Jonas Enlund and Dmitriy Monya
     
    20:52
    Metallurg really are making their lives harder by taking needless penalties! Ilya Musin has been called for slashing against his opponent
     
    20:10
    The second period is underway, and Metallurg really have to tighten up defensively! And they have indeed pulled their netminder Andrey Kareev in favour of Ilya Sorokin!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 23-8
    Shots on target: 18-8
    Faceoffs: 8-11
    Hits: 7-6
    Penalty minutes: 6-8
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:57
    Goal for Sibir! Just three seconds before the period is out Sibir grab a third for themselves! The hosts work the puck well down the right hand boards, it's flashed across the crease and DMITRIY MONYA taps it into the net! It's 3:0!
     
    19:29
    Just as a deflected Metallurg slapshot rolls wide of Mikko Koskinen's left hand past the hosts back at the other end force Andrey Kareev to spread himself big to freeze the loose puck on his slot! The chances keep on coming for Sibir!
     
    17:08
    Goal for Sibir! Finally the hosts notch up that second goal that they have been pressing for! PATRICK HERSLEY wrists the puck in on net from the blue line, and through traffic it catches out the goalkeeper! It's 2:0! Assists- Andreas Thurreson
     
    17:04
    Sibir just couldn't get set up in the zone long enough and Metallurg thankfully for them are back at full strength again!
     
    16:02
    Kugryshev! Dmitriy Kugryshev looks to cause mayhem on the crease as he sneaks it across by the right hand post, but with players queuing up to take a whack at it it somehow rolls wide!
     
    15:04
    Metallurg just cannot keep stop fouling! For slashing Alexander Makarov is now to blame, Sibir cannot let these penalties go unpunished!
     
    14:14
    The penalties keep on coming! Ryan Stoa of Metallurg is the next to be on their way to the penalty box as he has been spotted roughing
     
    13:20
    The numbers have already been evened up though, as for interference Mikhail Kuklev of Metallurg has been punished
     
    12:53
    A soon as Sibir get back to full strength they're going back on the penalty kill, Vitaly Menshikov is again taking a seat this time for hooking
     
    12:21
    Matt Lashoff hangs his stick back before looking for someone to making a telling deflection on his slapshot, but it goes all the way to Mikko Koskinen who kicks it out of danger!
     
    10:41
    Both teams keep taking it in turns to keep fouling and now Vitaly Menshikov of Sibir for holding is the guilty party
     
    09:35
    The visitors have weathered that particular storm and it's a five on five hockey game again
     
    09:07
    Ozhiganov! Igor Ozhiganov lets two fearsome slappers rip from distance, and as they both get deflected Andrey Kareev has to show expert reactions!
     
    07:35
    Metallurg have now received their first two minute minor as Ansel Galimov for tripping has been called into the penalty box
     
    07:09
    But immediately afterwards Ilya Musin somehow doesn't make it a tied game already! Picking up a loose puck right on the doorstep all alone he can only find Mikko Koskinen's pads! That would have shocked the home fans!
     
    06:51
    Goal for Sibir! With the first major chance of the day the hosts have made the breakthrough! ANDREAS THURESSON has his initial slapper just to the left of the crease blocked, he takes up his own rebound and from between the circles he thrashes the puck past the goaltender and in! It's 1:0! Assists- Dmitriy Monya
     
    06:32
    Jonas Enlund charges down the left wing, just past the faceoff circle lets a pacy wrist shot go and the netminder pads it around into the boards!
     
    05:28
    Dmitriy Kugryshev goes on a wonderful mazy skate right down the middle of the Metallurg zone, but he's stripped of the puck by the last defender!
     
    04:54
    Vitaly Zotov cutting in off the left flank skates hard to the slot, wrists looking for the near post but Mikko Koskinen is there and holds solidly
     
    03:55
    Metallurg couldn't get anything going on that powerplay at all though and their opponents are back at full strength
     
    01:55
    We already have the first penalty of the day and it's against Sibir, Dmitriy Kugryshev for slashing has been penalised
     
    01:30
    And straight away the hosts had a very dangerous couple of attacks, but Andrey Kareev in the Metallurg net shows good early reactions!
     
    00:11
    Here we go inside the Sibir Ice Palace! It's a sellout here and the fans are really pumped up!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are out on to the ice, and after the anthem of the Russian Federation we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    HK Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Bespalov)- Hersley, Alekseev, Menshikov, Belov, Ignatovich, Gimaev, Ozhiganov- Shumakov, Monya, Bobrov, Thuresson, Kugryshev, Gubin, Kopeikin, Enlund, Sannikov, Koskiranta, Voroshilo, Butuzov

    Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Kareev (Sorokin)- Makarov, Lashoff, Zotov, Fairchild, Gavrilychev, Skutar, Kuklev, Kamalov- Romanov, Kurepanov, Galimov, Maltsev, Rachunek, Garifulin, Musin, Malinovskiy, Komaristiy, Kosourov, Plotnikov, Stoa

    Referees: Denis Naumov, Yury Tsiplakov, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming.
     
    This is indeed the first game of the season for Sibir, and at home only victory will be acceptable for them. Metallurg are coming off the back of a brilliant 1:0 triumph away to Avangard though, and they won't be short of confidence.
     
    All hockey fans in Novosibirsk have been long awaiting the start of the new KHL season, and they will want to have a repeat of last season where they reached the Eastern Conference semi finals beating Kazan giants Ak Bars along the way. Metallurg are generally regarded as one of the league's more modest outfits, but they have several talented youngsters including star goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin.
     
    Good morning and welcome to this KHL regular championship match between Sibir Novosibirsk and Metallurg Novokuznetsk. For the hosts it's there long awaited season opener, wheres for Metallurg they will be looking to build on a superb start.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 12:00.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 7. Thuresson (Monya), 18. Hersley (Thuresson), 20. Monya, 23. Thuresson (Enlund, Monya), 35. Kopeikin (Kugryshev), 54. Kopeikin (Kugryshev, Koskiranta) – 34. Galimov (Malinovskiy, Komaristiy)

    HC Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Bespalov)- Hersley, Alekseev, Menshikov, Belov, Ignatovich, Gimaev, Ozhiganov- Shumakov, Monya, Bobrov, Thuresson, Kugryshev, Gubin, Kopeikin, Enlund, Sannikov, Koskiranta, Voroshilo, Butuzov
    Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Kareev (Sorokin)- Makarov, Lashoff, Zotov, Fairchild, Gavrilychev, Skutar, Kuklev, Kamalov- Romanov, Kurepanov, Galimov, Maltsev, Rachunek, Garifulin, Musin, Malinovskiy, Komaristiy, Kosourov, Plotnikov, Stoa
    Referees: Denis Naumov, Yury Tsiplakov, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming