KHL
Metallurg M – Spartak 7:4 (end) | Avtomobilist – Donbass 3:4 (end) | Traktor – Riga 3:1 (end)
final
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
7:4 (3:3, 3:1, 1:0)
Spartak Moscow
Monday 03.12.2012, 13:00 • KHL
     
    This match had a clear favorite in Metallurg Magnitogorsk and the home side deserved their points today, since the overplayed Spartak in most aspects of the game. Despite the crazy scoreline after first period, the home team played pretty well and add another goals. In the third, we saw only one precise hit. Lisin didn't take advantage of his penalty shot, but Evgeny Malkin rewarded the fans with a seventh goal in the opponent's net.

    Good bye for now. I'm looking forward to another KHL online text coverages. (16:22:23)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    58:55
    Powerplay for the visitors. Nikolai Kulemin (MMG) is sent out for interference.
     
    58:20
    Gonchar's shot from the left side caught by Borisov. The game will continue with a face-off by the right hand of the away goalie.
     
    56:52
    Goal for Metallurg! EVGENY MALKIN shows his world-class once again. He got into the zone, got rid of two defenders with a nice deke and hits the net with a precise wrist shot to make it 7:4 for Metallurg! Without assists.
     
    55:56
    Malkin was hit by a flying puck, but he seems to be fine.
     
    55:40
    Ahonen in action after some time as he stopps Shefer's attempt.
     
    55:05
    One of the home players hit Ankudinov, who hardly gets back on feet. No foul here according to referees.
     
    54:25
    Malkin deflected Gulbin's effort from the left side. Borisov's ready again.
     
    53:20
    Kosov found the way into the place between circles, but his finish hit only Borisov's chest.
     
    53:10
    Lisin made a nice deke, but didn't finish his effort properly. On the other side, Borisov stayed on feet as long as needed and then stopped the shot with a blocker save.
     
    53:10
    Shaone Morrisonn has stopped Lisin, who was heading into a breakaway towards Borisov! There's only one possible solution – penalty shot.
     
    51:58
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    50:45
    Another clearence by the visitors and then even an icing for the home team.
     
    50:18
    Nice crossing pass and a one-timer by the home players. However, the puck was blocked and immediately threw out of the zone.
     
    49:58
    Shaone Morissonn (SPM) has fouled Malkin. 2 minute penalty and a powerplay for Metallurg.
     
    49:33
    Spartak has to improve its passing play if it wants to equalize this match.
     
    48:39
    Mozyakin's attempt from the circle was stopped with a fine blocker save by Borisov.
     
    47:40
    The visitors are trying to seize the contact goal, but Metallurg is playing in a great pace and with necessary calm.
     
    47:00
    After the puck flew over boards and ended between the fans, game will continue with a face-off in the neutral zone.
     
    46:10
    Nice shot from the side hit the post of Borisov's goal! Just when the away team is again at full strength.
     
    45:34
    Malkin's pass towards Mozyakin was poked out by one of the defending visitors.
     
    45:00
    Spartak's penalty killing has been working well so far. The home players hardly get into the zone.
     
    44:09
    Valery Pokrovsky (SPM) has weakened his team with a two-minute penalty for tripping.
     
    43:43
    The replays showed, that the referees were right, as Misharin only hit the post!
     
    43:00
    The visitors are playing much more carefully than in the last two periods. They don't want to concede again.
     
    41:55
    Misharin hit the post after a nice breaktrough. He was celebrating already, but the referees didn't see the puck behind the goal line and the game continues.
     
    41:08
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    40:19
    Kulemin's shot missed the away goal by inches.
     
    40:01
    3rd period began.
     
    The second period brought four more goals. Magnitogorsk showed its dominance and quickly took the lead again. Even though Spartak scored once more too, the away players will have to do much better in the third part, if they want any points today.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:30
    Antipin's dangerous effort blocked away by Borisov. Malkin then wanted the puck, but one of the defenders was faster and managed to throw it away of the visiting goal.
     
    39:08
    Anatoly Nikontsev (SPM) obtained a minor penalty for hooking.
     
    38:03
    Goal for Spartak!
    Spartak pulled one down with a tap-in by NIKOLAI BUSHUYEV, who found the puck in front of sitting Ahonen and sent it behind him. 6:4! Assist: Anatoly Nikontsev.
     
    36:59
    Goal for Metallurg! SERGEI MOZYAKIN strikes once more and again from the same place as last time. Wonderful combination between the home players ends with sixth goal for Metallurg. 6:3! Assists: Viktor Antipin, Evgeny Malkin.
     
    36:00
    Malkin, Mozyakin and Antipin are back on ice for their upcoming powerplay.
     
    35:05
    Strenght of both teams is equal again. Nikita Shchitov (SPM) is sent out for two minutes.
     
    33:50
    The home team defends well so far and penalty killing seems not to be a problem for Metallurg.
     
    33:35
    The visitors will play a powerplay. Bogdan Potekhin (MMG) got a minor penalty for slashing.
     
    31:30
    Borisov is back on ice as Yakhin leaves the goal!
     
    33:10
    Kazionov's shot from the boards blocked away by Borisov.
     
    33:00
    The visiting team is still under pressure and holds just thanks to Borisov, who's sometimes able to make a save.
     
    31:30
    Goal for Metallurg! Another powerplay goal for Magnitogorsk, which took back its two-goal lead. SERGEI MOZYAKIN hit the target with a nice slap shot after Malkin's crossing pass. 5:3! Assist: Evgeny Malkin.
     
    31:20
    Mikhail Yunkov (SPM) got a minor penalty for hooking.
     
    30:23
    Another great glove save by Ahonen.
     
    28:08
    Radivojevic was fighting for the puck in Ahonen's goal crease. The game will continue with a face-off in the Spartak zone.
     
    27:36
    Mozyakin poked out the puck on the attacking blueline. Nevertheless, he didn't manage to send it towards Yakhin before one of the defenders stopped him.
     
    27:05
    Home team at full strength.
     
    26:45
    Antoher loss of the zone for Spartak. This isn't their best powerplay so far.
     
    26:13
    Metallurg clears the zone again.
     
    25:05
    Dmitry Mikhailov (MMG) was sent out for interference.
     
    24:43
    Antipin's one-timer stopped by Yakhin's glove.
     
    23:43
    The home team defends well now and clears the zone. For more, the referees won't whistle for icing.
     
    21:40
    Goal for Metallurg! Just after Suglopolov got back on ice, the home team took the lead again! DMITRY KAZIONOV found the rebounded puck and sent it into the open goal. 4:3! Assists: Viktor Antipin, Sergei Gonchar.
     
    21:34
    Visiting team at full strength. Metallurg's still in front of Yakhin.
     
    21:01
    Malkin got into the zone and sends the puck on defenders.
     
    20:01
    2nd period began.
     
    We're wittnesses of a really strange match played in Magnitogorsk. The home side started brilliantly and with their two early goals, they forced Borisov leave the goal. However, Spartak took its chance and managed to equalize in the 16th minute. Magnitogorsk then managed to quickly take the lead back just 37 seconds later, but Spartak has prepared an even faster reply and made it 3:3. After the last goal, Metallurg also decided to change their goalkeeper. Let's see what both teams prepared for the second period, which will start with a powerplay for Magnitogorsk.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:26
    Alexander Suglobov (SPM) got a minor penalty for hooking. The visitors will probably start the second period while shorthanded.
     
    16:51
    That's enough also for Gelashvili, who left the goal crease and let Ahonen in!
     
    16:51
    Goal for Spartak!
    What a match! Spartak is here with a reply again. DMITRY KAZIONOV got the puck after a won face-off in the offensive zone and sent it towards the goal without hesitation. Gelashvili was late and the match is even again. 3:3! Assist: Artem Voronin.
     
    16:34
    Goal for Metallurg! Magnitogorsk took his lead back immediately. ANDREI ANKUDINOV tried his luck with a snap shot from the blueline and since Yakhin didn't see his effort at all, the puck went into the net. 3:2! Assist: Viktor Antipin.
     
    15:57
    Goal for Spartak!
    There's the equalizer! ANATOLY NIKONTSEV has deflected Khokhlachyov's shot right between Gelashvili's pads. 2:2! Assist: Alexander Khokhlachyov.
     
    15:26
    Goal for Spartak!
    The visitors have also managed to take advantage of their powerplay with a precise finish by ALEXANDER BUDKIN. 2:1 Assists: Nikita Shchitov, Branko Radivojevic.
     
    15:10
    Another penalty for the home team. Yakubov (MMG) will spend two minutes in penalty box.
     
    14:52
    Kulemin got with the puck in front of Yakhin. However, he was too close, to finish successfully.
     
    13:40
    The home team lost the puck and the visitors went forward. Shot from the blueline was stopped by Gelashvili.
     
    13:03
    The home players got trough the neutral zone.
     
    12:35
    Icing of the home team. There will be a face-off in front of Gelashvili.
     
    07:46
    Yaroslav Khabarov (MMG) is also sent out and the visitors will have a chance with a short 5 on 3 powerplay.
     
    11:49
    Antipin doesn't want to rush anything right now. He's waiting with the puck behind Gelashvili's goal.
     
    09:49
    Metallurg locked Spartak in their own zone, but the home players just can't hit the target.
     
    09:46
    Home team at full strength.
     
    07:49
    The visitors can't get in front of Gelashvili for a long.
     
    06:09
    Sergei Gonchar (MMG) received 2 minutes penalty for cross-checking.
     
    04:18
    Spartak decided to change their goalkeepers already! Borisov is out of the goal, Alexei Yakhin went in.
     
    04:18
    Goal for Metallurg! What a start for the home team. Wonderful combination between the Metallurg stars ends with a second goal already in the fifth minute. VIKTOR ANTIPIN added his second one in the powerplay. 2:0! Assists: Sergei Gonchar, Evgeny Malkin.
     
    04:11
    Alexander Suglopolov (SPM) got a minor penalty for slashing.
     
    03:38
    Goal for Metallurg! VIKTOR ANTIPIN has opened the scoreline with a precise early shot. 1:0! Without assist.
     
    03:18
    Kazionov sent the puck into the zone and went to the bench.
     
    02:37
    Metallurg managed to send a shot towards Borisov. However, the Moscow goaltender was ready.
     
    01:48
    Bad pass from Mamkin ends with an icing.
     
    00:47
    The visitors have got themselves into the offensive zone.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Gelashvili (Ahonen) – Antipin, Biryukov, Gonchar, Khabarov, Bondarev, Misharin, Bernatsky – Kulemin, Lisin, Malkin – Mozyakin, Hodgman, Potekhin – Shingareyev, Platonov, Zdunov – Kazionov, Kosov, Yakubov – Mikhailov

    Spartak Moscow: Borisov (Yakhin) – Shefer, Nakladal, Budkin, Shchitov, Mamkin, Morrisonn, Zheldakov, Pokrovsky – Gubin, Petrov, Suglobov – Lewandowski, Yunkov, Radivojevic – Nikontsev, Bushuyev, Khokhalchyov – Voronin, Ankudinov, Medvedev

    Referees: Vasilyev, Komarov – Alyoshin, Ivanov.
     
    Metallurg Magnitogorsk
    The home team is playing pretty well this season. Its players won 16 games and lost 15. With their impressive gain of 58 points, they're just 6 points back behind the Eastern Conference leader from Kazan. However, Kazan has played two more games right now. Metallurg also have the best offense in the Eastern Conference and the second best in whole KHL, better is just SKA Saint Petersburg.

    Spartak Moscow
    The visitors are last but one in the Western Conference, since they won only ten games so far and lost twenty of them. If we want to compare the offensive power of both teams, Spartak is way behind their opponent with their third worst offense in KHL.
     
    Metallurg will face Spartak Moscow. The home team doesn't have the best record in the last games, since they won only 2 out of their last 8 matches. However, with their 58 points in the league table, they are still way above Spartak with 32 points.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 13:00.
    Commentary by

    Marek Kratochvíl

    CZ@marekratochvil

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 4. Antipin, 5. Antipin (Gonchar, Malkin), 17. Kazionov (Antipin), 22. Kazionov (Antipin, Gonchar), 32. Mozyakin (Malkin), 37. Mozyakin (Antipin, Malkin), 57. Malkin - 16. Budkin (Shchitov, Radivojevic), 16. Nikontsev (Khokhlachyov), 17. Ankudinov (Voronin), 39. Bushuyev (Nikontsev)

    Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Gelashvili (Ahonen) – Antipin, Biryukov, Gonchar, Khabarov, Bondarev, Misharin, Bernatsky – Kulemin, Lisin, Malkin – Mozyakin, Hodgman, Potekhin – Shingareyev, Platonov, Zdunov – Kazionov, Kosov, Yakubov – Mikhailov
    Spartak Moscow: Borisov (Yakhin) – Shefer, Nakladal, Budkin, Shchitov, Mamkin, Morrisonn, Zheldakov, Pokrovsky – Gubin, Petrov, Suglobov – Lewandowski, Yunkov, Radivojevic – Nikontsev, Bushuyev, Khokhalchyov – Voronin, Ankudinov, Medvedev
    Referees: Vasilyev, Komarov – Alyoshin, Ivanov