Salavat Yulaev – Ak Bars 4:3 (after OT)
final/OT
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
4:3 (1:0, 1:2, 1:1, 1:0)
Ak Bars Kazan
Monday 18.03.2013, 14:00KHL
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 13:00 GMT / 14:00 CET.
     
    After stealing the home advantage from Ak Bars Kazan with two away wins at the start of this Eastern Conference semifinal series the underdogs Salavat Yulayev Ufa received three consecutive losses so that they have to win today or they are out of competition. The guests from Kazan are in the comfortable situation that they have two match balls ahead of them.

    The winner of this series has to play against Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Conference finals.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Salavat Yulayev Ufa: Tarkki (Vasilevsky) - Blatak, Proshkin, Zubarev, Koltsov, Atyushov, Sopel, Isangulov - Ruzicka, Filatov, Zinovyev, Mirnov, Pihlström, Kaigorodov, Trubachyov, Svitov, Slepyshev, Musatov, Stepanov, Glukhov, Pankov

    Ak Bars Kazan: Barulin (Garipov) - Nikulin, Korneyev, Kulyash, Medvedev, Zakharchuk, Khomitsky, Yarullin - Zaripov, Kapanen, Morozov, Pesonen, Immonen, Obukhov, Tereshchenko, Lukoyanov, Petrov, Bodrov, Golubev, Zherdev

    Referees: Gofman, Ronn - Shelyanin, Sivov
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    02:30
    Both teams with an aggressive start. Ufa want to force another game in this series whiel Kazan want to end it today and this is clearly visible on the ice.
     
    04:00
    The guests from Kazan play with very early pressing already in the defensive zone of Ufa.
     
    04:52
    Shot by Igor Mirnov from a half right position, pad save by Barulin.
     
    05:19
    Goal for Salavat Yulaev!


    The hosts won the face off on the right circle and then the puck came to ALEXANDER SVITOV who tried to deke out Barulin from short distance. His first attempt was stopped by the guest goalie but he used the rebound to give Ufa the early lead!

    Assisted by Vitaly Proshkin.
     
    06:50
    Huge mistake by an Ufa defender whose pass was intercepted inside his own zone but the following shot from the left circle went just wide past the right post!
     
    07:45
    Another double chance for Kazan. The guests are getting stronger.
     
    08:16
    After a won face off Yuri Trubachyov had a dangerous opportunity for the home side before a blue line shot was stopped by a defender.
     
    08:25
    When Barulin covered the puck up his defender Bodrov avoided a rebound by blocking his opponent and thus almost provoking a fight.
     
    09:18
    Back hander by Zinovyev from a central position, goes just wide past the left top corner! Ufa are dominating this match so far.
     
    10:01
    A blue line shot by the guests was stopped by Tarkki.
     
    10:34
    Harmless shot by Pesonen from the left circle, easy pad save for Tarkki.
     
    11:52
    Dangerous cross-pass by the hosts from the left wing but all their forwards missed the puck.
     
    12:37
    Another give away by the hosts in their own zone when they lost the puck on the wing but the following pass by Tereshchenko was blocked.
     
    13:31
    Hard blue line shot by the guests at height of the right wing, goes wide.
     
    14:09
    Dangerous shot by Pesonen from a central position but he missed the net!
     
    15:38
    An Ufa forward stole the puck in the neutral zone and almost had a break away but the last Ak Bars defender stopped him on the left wing.
     
    16:47
    Kazan's Kirill Petrov skated from the left wing towards the Ufa net but Tarkki blocked the shot from short distance!
     
    17:35
    Bodrov received a hard check just next to the boards and it looks like he suffered a minor injury but no penalty is called.
     
    19:23
    Alexei Glukhov with a shot from the right circle for Ufa but despite not seeing the puck through the crowd Barulin makes a glove save.
     
    19:47
    Ilya Nikulin (Kazan) gets two minutes for tripping. It's the first penalty of the match.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    In a very fast and even first period Ufa gained an early lead through Alexander Svitov. Both sides had several good opportunities without creating really big danger.

    Shots on goal: Salavat Yulayev 9 - Ak Bars 8
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:24
    Blue line shot by the hosts, no danger for Barulin.
     
    20:37
    Double chance for Ufa right to the guest net!
     
    21:25
    A forward who tried to deke out Barulin was stopped in the last moment by a guest defender.
     
    21:56
    Vadim Khomitsky (Kazan) gets two minutes for holding.
     
    22:12
    After a blue line shot by Atyushov and the following ome-timer by Mirnov Barulin was out of position for a short time and the hosts tried it with a warp-around but were too slow.
     
    23:07
    Miroslav Blatak with a shot from the blue line that didn't make it through the crowd.
     
    23:45
    Kirill Koltsov deflected a shot from short distance just wide past the left post!
     
    23:56
    The guests are back at full strength.
     
    25:02
    Goal for Salavat Yulaev!


    Break away for ALEXANDER STEPANOV and the Ufa forward fires the puck through the pads of Barulin for the deserved 2-0 lead!!

    Assisted by Alexander Svitov.
     
    27:00
    The hosts continue with a lot of pressure, want the next goal!
     
    28:30
    A lot of breaks recently which is not helpful at all for the level of play.
     
    29:53
    Shot by the guests from the left wing and Tarkki allows a rebound but his defense helps him out.
     
    30:41
    Goal for AK Bars!


    Suddenly the guests cut the lead to the half! Brilliant goal by KIRILL PETROV who conquered the puck behind the Ufa net, left his opponent behind and scored with a wrap-around!

    Assisted by Alexei Tereshchenko.
     
    31:10
    Harmless shot by a Kazan forward from the left circle into the gloves of Tarkki.
     
    31:50
    Kazan make a fresher impression after their recent goal. Ufa barely make it out of their own zone.
     
    33:39
    Ufa lose the puck behind the guest net after more than half a minute of trying to create a chance.
     
    34:27
    One-timer by Mirnov into the gloves of Barulin.
     
    34:47
    Goal for AK Bars!


    After a cross-pass in front of the Ufa net it was JARKKO IMMONEN who scored the equalizer from short distance into the right corner!

    Assisted by Janne Pesonen and Dmitry Obukhov.
     
    35:18
    The next dangerous short-distance shot by the guests. Ufa don't make the safest impression in their defense.
     
    35:56
    Kirill Koltsov (Ufa) gets two minutes for cross-checking.
     
    37:56
    The hosts survived the recent Ak Bars power play without problems.
     
    39:39
    Excellent counter chance for Ufa but the last pass was not precise enough and despite several rebound opportunities they were not able to score!
     
    39:58
    Vitaly Proshkin (Ufa) gets two minutes.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    The hosts from Ufa had a perfect start into the middle period with several good scoring opportunities and rewarded themselves with the second goal through Alexander Stepanov but out of the blue Kirill Petrov brought the guests from Kazan back into the match around "half time". From this point on Ak Bars dominated the match and even scored the equalizer through Jarkko Immonen so that everything stays open after 40 minutes.

    Shots on goal: Salavat Yulayev 18 (28) - Ak Bars 10 (18)
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    41:58
    The hosts are back at full strength. Ak Bars were not able to create enough pressure during their power play.
     
    43:09
    Goal for Salavat Yulaev!


    After a won face off at the right circle Igor Musatov skated towards the guest net, coming from the right side. When he tried to deke out Barulin he was stopped but ALEXANDER STEPANOV fired the rebound into the net from short distance to restore the Ufa lead!!

    Assisted by Igor Musatov.
     
    45:54
    Long distance shot by Kazan's Obukhov from within the neutral zone, easy save for Tarkki.
     
    46:32
    Nice solo by Tereshchenko inside the Ufa zone but his last pass to his team colleague at the right wing was too long.
     
    47:42
    Evgeny Bodrov with a shot from the blue line at height of the left wing, no danger for Tarkki.
     
    48:13
    An almost identical shooting position for Brent Sopel on the other side of the ice but his blue line shot only found the gloves of Barulin.
     
    48:35
    Igor Mirnov with a shot from short distance, blocked to the side by the guest goalie.
     
    49:10
    Back hander by Mirnov and it looks like Pesonen was hit by the Ufa forward's stick and he skates towards the bench.
     
    50:26
    After a shot from a central position one of the guest forwards crashed into Tarkki but completely unintentional.
     
    52:00
    The guests are investing more again. Are they able to draw level again?
     
    53:49
    The match is very one-sided currently. It's only Kazan playing.
     
    54:19
    Goal for AK Bars!


    What a beauty by DMITRY OBUKHOV!!! The guest forward received a long pass right to the Ufa net, made a nice twist and deked out Tarkki to score the important equalizer!

    Assisted by Janne Pesonen.
     
    55:05
    Shot by Kirill Petrov from the left wing, easy save for Tarkki.
     
    57:15
    Not much time left in regulation and Kazan continue to be the more active side.
     
    59:24
    Harmless shot by Nikulin from the right wing int othe gloves of Tarkki.
     
    59:45
    After a long pass Barulin coveres the puck up before an Ufa striker can get it.
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    Ufa restored their lead at the start of the period but weren't able to continue with their pressure. Instead Ak Bars became stronger and stronger and scored the equalizer that sends the game into overtime just as it was the case during the last match between the two teams on Saturday.

    Shots on goal: Salavat Yulayev 11 (39) - Ak Bars 12 (30)
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    62:30
    So far Ufa are investing more in overtime.
     
    63:40
    Still not much going on at the moment. If Kazan win, the series is over.
     
    64:04
    A little push from behind by Morozuov and an Ufa defender crashed into his own goalie...
     
    64:41
    Short distance shot by the guests from left to the Ufa net.
     
    64:53
    On the other side of the ice Antti Pihlsträm tried it from a half left position but only hit the chest of Barulin.
     
    67:33
    Barulin cleared a shot by Alexei Kaigorodov with a lot of trouble as the puck almost went through the five-hole.
     
    67:48
    On the other side of the ice Morozov failed with a shot from the right circle.
     
    69:01
    This time Ufa tried it from the right wing but the shot didn't get through.
     
    71:00
    Both teams are left without much power and this clearly is visible on the ice during this overtime. Only few chances, no real combinations.
     
    72:42
    Glove save by Tarkki.
     
    73:05
    First Mirnov tried it with a shot from the blue line which was blocked and then he gave a pass back towards Pihlström that was intercepted by a defender.
     
    73:11
    Stepan Zakharchuk (Ak Bars) gets two minutes for high-sticking.
     
    75:11
    The guests are back at full strength. Ufa weren't able to get a real scoring opportnity during their power play.
     
    76:25
    Ufa win a faceoff but lose the puck right afterwards... both sides lack concentration.
     
    77:03
    Big opportunity for the hosts from short distance and also the rebound is stopped by Barulin.
     
    78:19
    Shot by Korneyev for the guests from the left wing with a very sharp angle and Tarkki gloves it in the last moment.
     
    80:00
    End of the first overtime.
     
    80:01
    Start of the second overtime.
     
    82:30
    Ufa with more puck possession in the second overtime so far but without getting a real scoring opportunity.
     
    83:03
    Brent Sopel with a shot from short distance from a position left to the guest net after the puck came back from the boards.
     
    85:11
    Vitaly Proshkin with a shot from a half right position that hits the pads of Barulin and from there almost bonces over the goalie! In the last moment he stopped the puck!
     
    86:20
    Ufa with hockey into one direction currently.
     
    86:48
    Back hand shot by the guests from the right wing, easy glove save for Tarkki.
     
    88:00
    Both teams don't risk anything in overtime. Few shots on goal.
     
    89:22
    Artyom Lukoyanov with a shot from short distance but Tarkki makes the pad save.
     
    91:45
    Stefan Ruzicka (Salavat Yulayev) gets two minutes for tripping.
     
    92:12
    After a break that lasted several minutes the game continues. Tarkki had a problem with his skates and pads that was fixed by the team staff on the bench.
     
    93:37
    Blue line shot by Nikulin, stopped by Tarkki.
     
    93:45
    The hosts are back at full strength.
     
    95:28
    Kazan's Ilya Nikulin was hit in the face by a high stick in the neutral zone but no penalty.
     
    95:54
    Goal for Salavat Yulaev!


    With a shot from the left circle into the left bottom corner BRENT SOPEL earns the game winner for Ufa in overtime!

    Assisted by Stefan Ruzicka and Sergei Zinovyev.
     
    Game over.
     
    With his game winner at 95:54 Ufa's Brent Sopel saved the day for his team and forced a decisive game #7 that will take place in Kazan so that the Eastern Conference finals opponents of Traktor Chelyabinsk are still unknown!
     
    Thanks for following the game with us. At 19.10 CET we also have Czech Extraliga for you. Stay tuned. (17:52:53)

    Dennis Mende

    Goals and assists: 6. Svitov (Proshkin), 26. Stepanov (Svitov), 44. Stepanov (Musatov), 96. Sopel (Ruzicka, Zinovyev) – 31. Petrov (Tereshchenko), 35. Immonen (Pesonen, Obukhov), 55. Obukhov (Pesonen)


    Salavat Yulaev Ufa: Tarkki (Vasilevsky) - Blatak, Proshkin, Zubarev, Koltsov, Atyushov, Sopel, Isangulov - Ruzicka, Filatov, Zinovyev, Mirnov, Pihlström, Kaigorodov, Trubachyov, Svitov, Slepyshev, Musatov, Stepanov, Glukhov, Pankov
    Ak Bars Kazan: Barulin (Garipov) - Nikulin, Korneyev, Kulyash, Medvedev, Zakharchuk, Khomitsky, Yarullin - Zaripov, Kapanen, Morozov, Pesonen, Immonen, Obukhov, Tereshchenko, Lukoyanov, Petrov, Bodrov, Golubev, Zherdev

    Referees: Gofman, Ronn - Shelyanin, Sivov