Salavat Yulaev – Donbass 5:1 (end) | Dynamo – Cherepovets 5:3 (end) | Lev – Lokomotiv 7:3 (end)
HC Slovan – Mytishchi 3:2 (end)
final
Lev Praha
7:3 (1:0, 4:2, 2:1)
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Friday 23.11.2012, 19:00 • Tipsport Arena, Prague • KHL
     
    An unexpected result between two teams known for strong defence and not so much offence, but Lev Praha comes out with their biggest output of the season to win 7-3. They were led by 2 goals and 1 assist from Lubos Bartecko. (21:15:54)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:58
    Too many players on the ice for Lokomotiv, though it hardly matters.
     
    59:40
    Lev almost gets an 8th goal . . .
     
    59:07
    Yegor Averin is set up in front and one-times a shot that Stepanek holds onto.
     
    57:57
    Lokomotiv comes back into the Lev zone and gets a couple more chances, but this game is done, for all intents and purposes.
     
    57:23
    Goal for Lev!
    Empty-net goal for MICHAL REPIK, easy goal. Assist: Erik Christensen.
     
    55:29
    Stepanek covers a loose puck at the side of the net.
     
    55:12
    Offside Lokomotiv. Sanford returns to the net.
     
    54:50
    Lev bak at full strength, Lokomotiv net still empty, play still in Lev zone . . .
     
    53:50
    The Lokomotiv net is empty. Lev can ice it . . .
     
    53:28
    Alexander Guskov takes a slap shot from the point that hits Stepanek and stays out . . .
     
    52:47
    Jiri Novotny gets called for tripping. Lokomotiv desperately needs to score on this power play if they hope to salvage any points.
     
    52:39
    Shot from Emil Galimov along the boards fooled Stepanek and was loose in the crease, but he eventually covered it.
     
    52:25
    Petr Vrana receives a pass offside, faceoff at the Lokomotiv blueline.
     
    Tonight's attendance: 8632
     
    51:58
    Curtis Sanford catches a looping dump-in and holds it.
     
    49:44
    Slap shot Staffan Kronwall, pad save Stepanek . . .
     
    49:19
    Hand pass against Lokomotiv in the attacking zone, faceoff outside.
     
    49:00
    Goal for Lev!
    Petr Vrana with the drop to LUBOS BARTECKO, who beats Sanford with a beautiful wrist shot for his 2nd of the game. Assist: Petr Vrana
     
    48:48
    Offside Lokomotiv on the pass. Faceoff at centre ice.
     
    47:58
    Lev 2 on 1, Cervenka tries a saucer pass to Voracek just out of his reach, otherwise probably a goal.
     
    47:46
    Shot deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff stays inside.
     
    Still lots of time left and Lokomotiv really seems like they're going to make a push. Going crazy in the second period, the Prague crowd now seems a bit nervous.
     
    47:35
    Artyom Anisimov takes a wrister from the point through traffic that Jakub Stepanek gloves and holds.
     
    46:59
    Lokomotiv shoot in goes over the glass and out of play. Faceoff at centre ice.
     
    46:24
    Lokomotiv rush, Alexei Kruchinin comes in but denied by Stepanek . . .
     
    45:51
    Jiri Novotny takes a slap at a rolling puck from the point and it goes just wide.
     
    After the 3rd Lokomotiv goal, they are pulling Kolesnik and putting Curtis Sanford back in. I guess down by only 2 now they think he's their best chance to shut the door.
     
    44:01
    Just as they get back to full strength, Lokomotiv almost scores again. Stepanek makes a pad save on Chernikov.
     
    43:10
    Goal for Lokomotiv!
    Shorthanded goal. A turnover leads to a 2 on 1, and YURI PETROV takes the pass from Chernikov and makes a move on Stepanek to score. Assist: Alexander Chernikov, Mark Flood
     
    42:39
    Vitaly vshnevsky's shot hits Stepanek in the blocker, Lev now on the PP.
     
    41:56
    Lokomotiv power play is over as Sami Lepisto gets his stick up on Tomas Rachunek in the neutral zone. Teams will play 4 on 4 for the next :36, then Lev to the power play.
     
    41:39
    A shot by Sami Lepisto, Stepanek stops and holds it. :56 left in the penalty.
     
    41:20
    Lev ices . . .
     
    40:35
    Lokomotiv is going to get an early chance on the power play as Jiri Novotny is called for tripping.
     
    40:01
    3rd period began.
     
    Teams are on the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
     
    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Lev 11 (24), Lokomotiv 12 (19).

    Lokomotiv`s dominance in the faceoff circle continued in the 2nd, winning 13/22 for an overall edge of 25-15. With 8/10, Daniil Apalkov is still the best. Petr Vrana is 4/6 for Lev.

    3rd period will begin at 20:39 CET, 14:39 EST.
     
    A goal explosion that period. Lev took a stranglehold on this game by scoring the first 3 to take a 4-0 lead, but Lokomotiv battled late and scored a pair, with a 5th Lev goal sandwiched between.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    38:01
    Icing Lev.
     
    37:34
    Icing Lev.
     
    37:00
    Goal for Lokomotiv!
    Not giving up, Lokomotiv comes back again and SERGEI PLOTNIKOV receives a pass and roofs the puck. Assist: Emil Galimov.
     
    36:07
    Icing Lev.
     
    35:39
    Goal for Lev!
    Lev gets a 2-on-1 after the puck hits a linesman in the neutral zone and JAKUB KLEPIS one-times the pass for his 13th of the season. Assists: Petr Vrana, Lubos Bartecko.
     
    35:15
    Alexei Kalyuzhny, the scorer of the first goal, cut right into the slot and fired a backhander that Stepanek caught and held.
     
    35:02
    And now another Lokomotiv attempt is covered by Stepanek. They're coming on now and really would like another goal before the end of the period.
     
    34:47
    Artyom Anisimov spins around in the Lev zone and gets a quick shot on goal . . .
     
    34:00
    Latvian Mikelis Redlihs streaked into the Lev zone but was forced wide by a backchecking defenceman . . .
     
    33:51
    Off the draw, Tomas Surovy gets a shot that Kolesnik catches and holds.
     
    33:46
    Icing Lokomotiv. It came just after they put on pressure with a big push but the puck stayed out.
     
    33:17
    Lokomotiv goes back to the attack and Stepanek makes a big save. Another Loko goal could really open the door to a comeback attempt.
     
    32:47
    Goal for Lokomotiv!
    Apalkov finds ALEXEI KALYUZHNY alone in front and he beats Stepanek with a one-timer to get his team on the board. Assist: Daniil Apalkov.
     
    31:25
    Goal for Lev!
    After Porseland's shot from the point is stopped, LUBOS BARTECKO backhands home a rebound in front. Assists: Jakub Klepis, Mathias Porseland.
     
    31:03
    Yegor Averin with a hard wrist shot right off the faceoff that goes just wide of the post.
     
    31:00
    Puck goes out of play in the Lev zone. Face off will stay inside.
     
    30:40
    Hit by Martin Skoula on Alexander Chernikov along the boards, then Chernikov repays the favour in the corner.
     
    30:20
    Lev back at full strength, play continues in the Lev zone.
     
    29:40
    Loko getting good pressure on this PP. The timeout after the last goal seems to have settled them down.
     
    11:43
    Timeout Lokomotiv.

    Lokomotiv has made a goaltending change. Vitali Kolesnik replaces Curtis Sanford.
     
    28:17
    Now Lokomotiv gets their first power play chance. Zdeno Chara is called for tipping in his own zone.
     
    27:30
    Goal for Lev!
    Right off the draw, MARTIN SKOULA's shot from the point goes through traffic and in for a quick power-play goal. Assist: Erik Christensen (won faceoff).
     
    27:26
    Sergei Plotnikov checks Jakub Voracek from behind into the boards as the Lev forward was offside and not wanting to touch the puck. Lev back to the power play, they're 1/2.
     
    25:46
    Michal Repik with the weak-angle shot that's stopped . . .
     
    24:42
    Goal for Lev!
    After 3 minutes of ineffective power play time, Lev finally got things together. TOMAS SUROVY scored on the rebound. Assists: Ondrej Nemec, Martin Skoula.
     
    23:55
    Jakub Voracek shot attempt is blocked.
     
    23:25
    First half of the double minor killed, Loko ices . . .
     
    22:40
    Lev with possession along the perimeter but having trouble penetrating the box . . .
     
    21:24
    Sami Lepisto gets 4 minutes for high sticking as his stick hits Jakub Klepis in the face. Lev gets the game's first power play.
     
    21:00
    Big slap shot from the point by Sami Lepisto, save Stepanek . . .
     
    20:28
    First shot of the period stopped and held by Curtis Sanford.
     
    20:05
    Right off the faceoff, Sergei Plotnikov threw a bone-crunching hit on Jakub Voracek into the boards.
     
    20:01
    2nd period began.
     
    The teams are on the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
     
    2nd period will begin at 19:48 CET, 13:48 EST.
     
    Shots on goal in the 1st period: Lev 13, Lokomotiv 7.

    Lokomotiv was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 12 of 18 draws. Daniil Apilkov was 5/6.

    Ice time leaders: Lev: Martin Skoula 7:46, Lokomotiv: Alexander Guskov 7:26.
     
    Lev was the more dangerous team for much of that period, scored the first goal and got some other chances as well, but Lokomotiv seemed to be coming on late a bit.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:40
    A couple more Lev shots, Sanford keeps it out . . .
     
    19:20
    Ondrej Nemec snuck in from the pint and tried to beat Sanford in close . . .
     
    18:20
    Now Sanford stops the puck and we get a whistle. It doesn't appear they're going to check upstairs.
     
    17:40
    Alexander Chernikov comes into the Lev zone and his shot hits the bottom of the crossbar but stays out. I'm sure they'll take a look at it when the play stops.
     
    17:07
    And now another Loko shot that Stepanek freezes for a faceoff.
     
    16:47
    Staffan Kronwall's shot from the point hit Stepanek and goes wide. I don't think Stepanek could see it.
     
    16:29
    Another puck out of play. This time it's deflected out in the Lev zone. Faceoff inside.
     
    16:21
    Lev outlet pass attempt gets deflected over the boards. Faceoff at the Lev blueline.
     
    15:47
    Puck goes over the boards between the benches. Faceoff at the Lokomotiv blueline.
     
    15:00
    Martin Skoula took a dangerous-looking shot from the point through traffic that nobody saw but was deflected to the corner.
     
    13:35
    Streaking down the left wing, Roman Cervenka's high wrister is turned away by Sanford's blocker.
     
    13:07
    Scramble in the Lokomotiv goalmouth, Sanford finally covers the puck.
     
    12:50
    Erik Christensen with the shot from the boards that hit Sanford but he didn't know where it was and it sat in front of him for a while before cleared.
     
    12:28
    Offside Lev.
     
    12:14
    Coming into the Lev zone 1 on 2, Maxim Trunyov takes a long shot that Stepanek stops . . .
     
    10:44
    Mathias Porseland with a high wrister from the point that Sanford gets a glove on and deflects to the corner.
     
    10:12
    Yuri Petrov with a shot from the boards that Stepanek had trouble with but eventually covered.
     
    09:59
    Then the play goes back down the other way and Sanford covers it in his crease.
     
    09:40
    Another turnover in the Lev zone. This time it came to Plotnikov, who wound up for a big slapper, turned away by Stepanek.
     
    09:21
    Icing Lokomotiv.
     
    08:25
    Big slap shot from Sergei Plotnikov that whistles wide.
     
    08:08
    Icing Lokomotiv.
     
    08:00
    Puck out of play in the neutral zone. Faceoff at the Lokomotiv blueline.
     
    07:30
    Nice work by Lubos Bartecko down low in the attacking zone, fought off a check and spun around to get a shot on goal . . .
     
    07:03
    Lokomotiv rush, the shot by Anisimov and the save Stepanka.
     
    06:40
    More Lev pressure after the faceoff. Ondrej Nemec with the shot from the point that Sanford catches and holds.
     
    06:33
    Amost another Lev goal. First Michal Repik's shot was stopped, then Erik Christensen got the rebound and it looked like his shot was labelled for the top corner, but Sanford got a shoulder on it and deflected it over the glass.
     
    04:25
    Goal for Lev!
    After some sustained pressure, ROMAN CERVENKA scores his 1st KHL goal of the season in his 5th game. After winning a battle behind the net, he fed to Jiri Novotny, whose shot was stopped, but Cervenka was at the side to put in the rebound. Assist: Jiri Novotny.
     
    02:10
    Lev's first decent chance is a wraparound attempt by Michal Birner.
     
    01:25
    Artyom Anisimov gets away from Chara behind the Lev goal and gets a shot, save Stepanek . . .
     
    00:13
    Early turnover in the Lev zone, Yuri Petrov gets first shot on goal, play continues . . .
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The national anthems of the Russian Federation and Czech Republic are finished, and the opening faceoff is moments away.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Lev Praha: Štěpánek (Kocián) - Škoula, Němec - Chára, Krejčík - Mikuš, Porseland - Oystrick - Novotný, Červenka, Voráček - Bartečko, Vrána, Klepiš - Birner, Surový, Hossa - Rachůnek, Christensen, Řepík - Cingel.

    Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Sanford (Kolesnik) - Kronwall, Guskov - Vishnevsky, Pashnin - Lepistö, Flood - Yakovlev - Kalyuzhny, Apalkov, Hagman - Plotnikov, Anisimov, Galimov - Chernikov, Petrov, Averin - Trunyov, Kartayev, Kruchinin - Redlish.

    Referees: Anisimov, Buturlin - Pavlov, Chubykin.
     
    The starting goalies will be Jakub Štěpánek for Lev and Curtis Sanford for Lokomotiv. For both goalies, it will be their first appearances since they faced each other last Friday.
     
    This matchup of two KHL Western Conference teams features #2 seeded Lokomotiv Yaroslavl visiting #8 seeded Lev Praha. The two teams met last Friday in Yaroslavl, with Lokomotiv winning 2-1 in overtime. Click here for online play-by-play of that game.

    Lokomotiv enters tonight's game on a 9-game winning streak -- 6 in regulation and 3 in extra time, which include's last Friday's overtime win over Lev. Lev's fortunes have improved since making a coaching change, with a 2-1-0-1 record in their last 4 games.

    Familiar Lokomotiv names include goaltenders Curtis Sanford and Semyon Varlamov, defencemen Staffan Kronwall, Vitali Vishnevsky, Mark Flood and Sami Lepisto, and forwards Artyom Anisimov, Niklas Hagman and Viktor Kozlov. For Lev, international fans might know goaltender Tomáš Pöpperle, defencemen Ondřej Němec, Zdeno Chára, Nathan Oystrick and Mathias Porseland, or forwards Jan Klepiš, Erik Christensen, Jakub Voráček and Roman Červenka.
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 19:00 local time in Prague (CET), 22:00 in Yaroslavl (MSK) and 13:00 EST/10:00 PST in North America.
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 5. Cervenka (Novotny), 25. Surovy (Nemec, Skoula), 28. Skoula (Christensen), 32. Bartecko (Klepiš, Porseland), 36. Klepiš (Vrana, Bartecko), 49. Bartecko (Vrana), 58. Repik (Christensen) - 33. Kalyuzhny (Apalkov), 37. Plotnikov (Galimov), 44. Petrov (Chernikov, Flood)

    Lev Praha: Štěpánek (Kocián) - Škoula, Němec - Chára, Krejčík - Mikuš, Porseland - Oystrick - Novotný, Červenka, Voráček - Bartečko, Vrána, Klepiš - Birner, Surový, Hossa - Rachůnek, Christensen, Řepík - Cingel.
    Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Sanford (Kolesnik) - Kronwall, Guskov - Vishnevsky, Pashnin - Lepistö, Flood - Yakovlev - Kalyuzhny, Apalkov, Hagman - Plotnikov, Anisimov, Galimov - Chernikov, Petrov, Averin - Trunyov, Kartayev, Kruchinin - Redlish.
    Referees: Anisimov, Buturlin - Pavlov, Chubykin.