LEV 1:2 MIN | Lev Praha - HC Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

KHL

Khabarovsk – Riga

4:2 (end)

Lev – Dinamo Minsk

1:2 (end)

final

Lev Praha

1:2 (0:1, 1:1, 0:0)

HC Dinamo Minsk

Saturday 26.01.2013, 17:00 • Tipsport Arena, Prague • KHL

		Huge win for Dinamo Minsk, as it now gives them sole possession of 7th place in the Western Conference. For Lev, their losing streak grows to 5 games, and they remain in 9th place, 2 points out of a playoff position. (19:16:07)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:53	Scramble in the Minsk crease but they can't force the puck over the line.
	59:33	Icing Minsk.
	59:22	Nemec shoots the puck in, Popperle to the bench.
	59:00	Offside Lev.
	58:14	Timeout Lev.
	58:14	Minsk back at full strength, then a clearing attempt is deflected out of play. Irgl now questioning the referee about the non-call.
	58:00	Zbynek Irgl almost gets a shorthanded breakaway, but he's brought down and the referee doesn't call it, apparently ruling that he simply skated over a fallen Lev player.
	57:40	Lev passing but not able to penetrate the front of the net, time in penalty winding down.
	57:00	Minsk again ices, Lev starts back . . .
	56:12	Penalty is over, but Lev is going right back to the power play as Libor Pivko is called for interference in the neutral zone.
	55:40	One time slapper from Lepisto blocked by Kitarov, who then ices...
	55:00	Lev passes around but not able to land any shots yet, Minsk ices...
	54:06	Under pressure, Minsk's Tim Stapleton clears the puck over the glass. After a brief discussion, the referees decide it wasn't tipped and he's given a minor penalty. Lev hasn't had any success on the power play so far this game, but this is their chance for sure.
	53:15	Wrist shot by Zbynek Irgl, Popperle knocks it down with the glove, play continues.
	52:34	A couple more Lev chances, and Haugen coves it now.
	52:10	Michal Birner with a glorious chance to tie this game, right in front of Haugen he pulled it to his backhand and the goalie made a HUGE glove save, but isn't able to hold onto it. His biggest save of the game.
	51:33	Icing Minsk.
	51:18	Minsk shoot-in hits the netting above the glass, faceoff to centre ice.
	50:42	Minsk 2 on 2, Stanislav Lopachuk's backhander is caught and held by Popperle.
	49:40	Vladimir Denisov hammers Cipulis with a hit...
	49:10	Zbynek Irgl worked out of the corner just after the penalty ended and got a shot from the slot, pad save Popperle, play continues...
	48:10	Petr Vrana got a one-on-one chance shorthanded but elected to shoot from far out.
	47:35	First penalty over, Minsk still on the PP. Another point shot from Murphy deflected away . .
	47:18	Minsk worked the puck off the draw for a shot from Murphy, Popperle caught it and held, :11 left in the first penalty.
	47:04	Marcel Hossa slashes the stick out of Dmitri Maleshko's hands and is penalized--Minsk will have a 2-man advantage for :25.
	46:30	Lev doing a good job on the kill, not allowing Minsk to get set up at all.
	45:29	Michal Birner takes Kulakov hard into the boards with a crosscheck and gets called for it, Minsk to the power play--they're 1/1 in the game.
	43:41	Anotehr Lev pass attempt goes for icing, Juraj Mikus complaining to the linesman that he'd gained centre before releasing it.
	43:22	Tomas Rachunek tried to spring Jakub Klepis with a pass but he misses and it goes for icing.
	43:14	Popperle covers the puck again for a faceoff.
	43:07	Geoff Platt with a slap shot on a rush, pad save Popperle, and he covers.
	42:26	Michal Birner takes a pass and nearly gets loose, but forced to shoot from the top of the circle, Haugen catches it and holds.
	42:00	Chances at both ends, Tomas Popperle makes a pad save on Sergei Drozd, then Lev comes back and Haugen covers for another faceoff.
	40:58	Minsk ices right off the draw, faceoff back in their own end.
	40:53	Another save by Lars Haugen, who covers it.
	40:13	Lev comes into the zone and gets the first shot of the period, Jiri Novotny from the boards, pad save Haugen.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Teams are back on the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
		Dinamo Minsk had a lot more going offensively in that period than the first, and they re-took the lead on a late goal by Geoff Platt. Lars Haugen continued to be strong in net, but was beaten five-hole by Martins Cipulis in the middle of the period. Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Lev Praha 4 (16), Dinamo Minsk 10 (14). Lev has won 18 of the 33 faceoffs through 2 periods. Petr Vrana is 6/7 for them, while Tim Stapleton leads Minsk at 5/7. Jakub Nakladal leads Lev with 15:35 of ice time, while Lukas Kajicek has played 15:15 for Dinamo. 3rd period begins at 18:39 CET, 12:39 EST.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:45	Icing Lev.
	39:00	Battle for the puck in the corner in the Minsk zone, bodies flying . . .
	37:35	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! First Cory Murphy's shot hits the crossbar, then he gets the puck back and his shot hits Popperle, but GEOFF PLATT is on the doorstep to put in the rebound. Assist: Cory Murphy.
	37:20	Lev 3rd line buzzing again, Hossa's one-timer blocked in front.
	37:03	Icing Minsk.
	36:30	Libor Pivko nearly got another breakaway, but again denied by great defensive play by Jakub Nakladal, who stripped him of the puck and knocked him down.
	36:12	Icing Minsk. Just before it, Nizivijs delivered a big open-ice hit on Pivko.
	35:25	Nathan Oystrick delivers a big hit on Alexander Kulakov behind the net, as this game is becoming more physical.
	34:24	Marcel Hossa is knocked down by a hit and he stays down, drawing a whistle, which is followed by some pushing and shoving. I didn't catch which player delivered the hit, but the fans and Lev bench are not happy there's no penalty call. Hossa is getting attended to at the bench now.
	33:45	Minsk defenceman Janne Niskala clears the front of the net by giving Jakub Klepis a cross-check. The Lev forward has some words for the referee as play continues...
	32:58	Puck goes out of play at the Minsk bench, faceoff at the Lev blueline.
	32:50	Another Lev odd-man rush, this time it's Jiri Novotny who tries to beat Haugen five-hole but the goalie doesn't let this one get through him, play continues...
	31:15	Lev back to the attack, slap shot from Jiri Sekac blocked by Oleg Goroshko, who was down for a while and went to the bench in some discomfort.
	30:34	Goal for Lev! Lev's 3rd line has been their best this period. MARTINS CIPULIS was not covered well on the rush and beat Haugen five-hole. In a game full of brilliant saves by the goalie, he probably should have had that one. Assists: Marcel Hossa, Tomas Surovy.
	30:15	Shot from Irgl deflects off a defenceman and hits the glass.
	29:40	Dinamo putting on pressure but not getting quality shots...
	28:11	Icing Lev.
	28:01	Sharp angle shot from Alexander Kulakov hits Popperle high and deflects out of play.
	27:43	Shot attempt from Novotny deflects out of play. Nemec is on the ice for the first time since his apparent injury, he's skating around during the TV timeout, testing the ankle. Faceoff upcoming in the Minsk zone.
	26:10	Libor Pivko took a pass that nearly put him on a breakaway, but his stick was tied up by Jakub Nakladal, which didn't let him get free. Dinamo bench is up in arms about no penalty call.
	25:48	Puck deflected out of play in the neutral zone. Faceoff at centre ice.
	25:18	Icing Lev.
	25:00	Ondrej Nemec walked down the hallway favouring his ankle, then returned to the bench. We'll see if he comes out next shift.
	24:10	Big slap shot from Denisov whistles just wide of the post.
	23:34	Michal Birner's shot hits Haugen in the shoulder and deflects over the glass. Faceoff inside.
	22:20	Big pressure from Lev's 3rd line, Tomas Surovy with a shot that Haugen had to be sharp on, then in a scramble Marcel Hossa just failed to put it in.
	20:47	On a Minsk rush, Zbynek Irgl's low shot is deflected by the stick of Tomas Popperle out of play. Faceoff coming up in the Lev zone.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Teams are back on the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
		Lev Praha outshot Dinamo Minsk 12-4 that period and had the majority of the quality scoring chances, but Minsk scored the only goal on their only power play, while Lev was 0/3. Norwegian goaltender Lars Haugen was brilliant, as he has been all season, particularly the past 3 weeks. 2nd period begins at 17:51 CET, 11:51 EST.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	18:15	Marcel Hossa turns and fires a low shot from the point, stick save Haugen.
	17:54	Icing Minsk.
	17:10	Slap shot from Zbynek Irgl on a rush, nice save Popperle...
	16:04	Off the draw Lev gets a quick shot, Lars Haugen with another save and he holds on for another faceoff.
	15:54	Icing Minsk.
	15:19	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! CORY MURPHY tees up a slap shot that beats Tomas Popperle, who appeared screened. In a period dominated by Lev so far Minsk gets the first goal. Assists: Zbynek Igrl, Tim Stapleton.
	14:47	Now Lev getting their first penalty of the game, Latvian Alexandrs Nizivijs for hooking in the attacking zone. Minsk to the power play.
	14:30	Right as the penalty ends, Nicklas Danielsson takes a slap shot, blocker save Haugen.
	13:54	Klepis with another attempt from the point, this time Haugen covers with :36 left in the penalty.
	13:00	One-time blast from Jakub Klepis from the point kicked out by Haugen, who I'm not sure could see it through all the traffic.
	12:30	Jere Karalahti is getting a penalty for kneeing from a collision, maybe a bit of a reputation call. It ended a stretch where Minsk was putting on their first real pressure of the game. Lev back to the power play.
	12:00	Platt gets a bit of revenge on Nemec with a big hit into the end boards.
	11:20	Minsk 2 on 1, pass fails to connect as Ondrej Nemec drives Geoff Platt into the net, dislodging it. No penalty and faceoff outside.
	10:30	Alexandrs Nivizijs cuts in from the boards and takes a shot, Haugen stops and covers.
	09:56	Offside Lev.
	09:15	Ondrej Nemec sneaks in from the point and lets go a one-timer and Haugen makes another great save--he's the reason this game is still scoreless.
	09:03	Icing Minsk.
	07:50	Penalty over but Lev keeps the pressure on, Nakladal with a shot from the slot, save...
	07:19	Puck goes onto the back of the Minsk goal, faceoff outside, :26 left in the penalty.
	06:45	Klepis tees up a one-time slapper from Lepisto, big save Haugen, the rebound kicked out...
	05:45	Lev going back to the power play, Minsk's Dmitri Maleshko gets the gate for tripping.
	05:08	Sami Lepisto with a wrist shot from the point, Haugen catches and holds.
	04:55	Offside Lev.
	04:23	Penalty now over, defenceman Juraj Mikus takes a shot on a rush and Haugen makes another save and holds.
	03:35	Now Petr Vrana with a shot from right in front, Haugen deflects it away
	03:07	Wrist shot from Jakub Klepis, Lev's leading scorer, glove save Haugen.
	02:54	Jiri Novotny takes a shot from a sharp angle, Haugen stops and holds with 1:16 left in the penalty.
	02:10	Cory Murphy of Minsk is getting the game's first penalty for tripping in his own zone. Lev to the power play.
	18:40	Now some action in front of Lars Haugen, who has to make a couple of saves from in close, play continues.
	19:00	Geoff Platt of Minsk gets the game's first shot from a sharp angle, save Popperle.
	19:30	Play along the boards in the Lev zone in the early going...
	00:01	Game started.
		The national anthems of Belarus and the Czech Republic have been played, and the opening faceoff is moments away.
		Tonight's game between Lev Praha and Dinamo Mink is key to the Western Conference playoff race. Minsk and Donbass Donetsk are tied for 7th with 62 and Lev is in 9th with 60, but with a game in hand on Minsk and two in hand on Donetsk. Right on their heels is Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod with 59 and Atlant Moscow Oblast with 58. It´s a tight race indeed and it appears that it will go right down to the wire, when Lev visits Donetsk in what could prove to be a huge game. Lev visited Minsk back on September 17, shutting them out 4-0. The Lions got two points each from forwards Juraj Mikúš and Marcel Hossa and goaltender Tomáš Pöpperle stopped all 27 shots he faced for his third of five shutouts on the season. Still injured, Mikúš won´t be in the lineup on Saturday but Hossa will and Pöpperle probably will be too, as coach Václav Sýkora seems to have decided on his number one goalie down the stretch after alternating between he and Jakub Štěpánek for a good part of the season. And while Mikúš and Erik Christensen are still out, forwards Nicklas Danielsson and Aleksandrs Niživijs are back in. With 9 points in nine games in a Lev uniform, Danielsson´s return is a godsend after the team struggled mightily on offence in his abscence. Norwegian Lars Haugen will likely start in goal for Dinamo. His play this season has been a pleasant surprise this season, with a 1.61 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and 2 shutouts in 16 games this season. His play has really been solid since Pekka Rinne returned to the NHL and is one of the main reasons the team has remained in the playoff hunt. Haugen is one of numerous imports to lead this Belarusian-based team. American Tim Stapleton is the leading scorer with 34 points, followed by Finn Teemu Laine (32), Canadians Geoff Platt (27) and Cory Murphy (26) and Czech Zbyněk Irgl (24). Murphy leads the defensive corps which also includes Finns Janne Niskala and Jere Karalahti and Czech Lukáš Krajiček. In all, eight different nationalities are represented on the KHL´s most diverse team. The Lions are going to try to end their four-game losing streak against them, which has come at a most inconvenient time. Many are considering this game to be a must-win. "We can probably say this is the most important game of the season so far," stated forward Michal Birner. "If we can handle the pressure of this, we´ll be ready for the playoffs."
		Welcome. Today's game starts at 17:00 CET local time in Prague, 18:00 EET in Minsk, 16:00 GMT, and 11:00 EST/08:00 PST in North America.

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 31. Cipulis (Hossa, Surový) - 16. Murphy (Irgl, Stapleton), 38. Platt (Murphy)

Lev Praha: Pöpperle (Štěpánek) - Oystrick, Nakládal, Lepistö, Němec, Mikuš, Porseland, Krejčík - Danielsson, Novotný, Niživijs - Rachůnek, Vrána, Klepiš - Cipulis, Surový, Hossa - Sekáč, Birner, Řepík - Cingel.

HC Dinamo Minsk: Haugen (Shelepnev) - Niskala, Krajíček, Karalahti, Denisov, Murphy, Goroshko, Nogachev - Platt, Pivko, Irgl - Maleshko, Kitarov, Kulakov - Mikhailov, Drozd, Pavlovich - Stapleton, Stas, Popachuk.

Referees: Odins, Shchenyov - Putilin, Balodis

1st period
	02:10
	05:45
	12:30
	14:47
	15:19
1st intermission
2nd period
	30:34
	37:35
2nd intermission
3rd period
	45:29
	47:04
	54:06
	56:12
Final