JEK 4:6 PET | Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

KHL

Avangard – Lokomotiv	5:2 (end)	\|	HC Yugra – Mytishchi	4:1 (end)	\|	Avtomobilist – SKA St. Petersburg	4:6 (end)
Barys – Cherepovets	10:1 (end)	\|	Torpedo – Traktor	3:4 (end)	\|	Ak Bars – Salavat Yulaev	4:3 (after SO)
Dinamo Minsk – CSKA	1:2 (after OT)	\|	Donbass – Lev	3:2 (after OT)	\|	Medvescak – Riga	1:5 (end)

final

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg

4:6 (0:1, 1:4, 3:1)

SKA St. Petersburg

Sunday 08.09.2013, 13:00 • KHL

		Thanks for following the game with us! We also have plenty of other KHL games for you this afternoon! (15:22:54)
		Avtomobilist gave SKA a good fight in the third period and came as close as to a score of 4-6 but failed to create even more damage in the guest defense due to a strong Ilya Ezhov. In the end the second period was decisive for the close loss against the big favourites from St. Petersburg who started with a 6-point-weekend on the road into the new season. Avtomobilist only gained 1 point at home in their first two matches but their performances promise more positive results for the near future! Shots on goal: Avtomobilist 12 (32) – SKA 10 (42)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:57	After a misdirected pass the hosts almost provoke an empty net goal but they can clear the situation themselves.
	59:33	Once more an icing by the guests who just wait in their zone and fire all pucks away they can get.
	59:27	Another icing by the guests but not much hope left in the home team.
	59:17	Icing by SKA.
	58:52	The SKA defense is able to clear the puck deep into the opponents' zone. Gives them time to take a breath.
	58:37	Just after the face off a blue line shot is blocked by Ezhov.
	58:35	Kovar now left his net for an additional attacker. All or nothing for Avtomobilist!
	58:35	Ilya Krikunov won the puck at the right circle, deked out a defender and then tried it with a precise shot towards the left bottom corner but Ezhov was there with a brilliant pad save before he also avoided that Filipp Toluzakov could use the rebound!
	58:00	Two minutes left to play and SKA force Avtomobilist back into their own zone with early pressing. Kovar still stands in his net.
	56:52	A long pass by the guests towards the Avtomobilist blue line goes wide and ends up with an icing.
	55:33	Goal for Avtomobilist! The hosts keep the pressure high and reward themselves with the 4-6. A pass by Artyom Chernov from right to the SKA net came to FYODOR MALYKHIN who from short distance was able to get the puck past Ezhov! Both Malykhin and Chernov participated in 3 of the 4 goals of their team today. Assisted by Artyom Chernov.
	55:12	Easy shot from the right wing by Artyom Chernov, no task for Ezhov.
	54:15	The home fans still believe in their team and give them loud support.
	53:57	Shots by Avtomobilist from all possible angles but no way leads past Ezhov currently.
	52:22	Instead of just leaning back with their comfortable three-goal lead SKA continue to go for goals themselves. Vadim Shipachyov just missed the net from within the slot.
	52:01	The guests are back at full strength.
	51:26	After a nice combination at the right circle Malykhin tried it with a short distance shot against Ezhov but was denied a goal by the SKA goalie.
	50:40	This powerplay is probably the last chance for Avtomobilist to keep this game alive.
	50:01	Alexei Ponikarovsky (SKA) gets two minutes for slashing.
	49:23	Goal for SKA! It looks like the guests just made everything clear in this match. ARTEMY PANARIN received a pass deep inside the Avtomobilist third and from within the slot he sniped the puck into the left bottom corner for the chanceless Kovar.
	48:47	Almost the next one for the home side but the shot towards the right bottom corner was cleared by Ezhov.
	47:51	Goal for Avtomobilist! With a very hard and precise wrist shot from just behind the right circle ANTON LAZAREV gets the puck into the right top corner, past the glove hand of Ezhov to make it 3-5 and give Avtomobilist some hope back! Assisted by Fyodor Malykhin.
	47:21	Hard battle for the puck by Cervenka in the left corner of the Avtomobilist zone but his pass then goes wide and the attack is over.
	45:55	A harmless distance shot by Maxim Chudinov from the right wing goes wide.
	43:50	After their goal the hosts try the impossible and play very high now. Sooner or later this will give SKA a lot of counter chances.
	42:24	Goal for Avtomobilist! Just few seconds after the start of their power play the hosts get the second time this afternoon onto the scoreboard! FYODOR MALYKHIN was able to get the puck past Ezhov from short distance out of a large crowd! Assisted by Anton Lazarev and Artyom Chernov.
	42:07	Roman Cervenka (SKA) gets two minutes for high-sticking.
	41:54	No look shot by Ilya Kovalchuk after skating from behind the Avtomobilist net but Kovar had no difficulties to stop the puck.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		As much as Avtomobilist were able to keep the game even in the first 20 minutes, they were controlled completely by guests SKA in the second period and fell behind to a four-goal deficit which leaves the game more or less decided after 40 minutes. Shots on goal: Avtomobilist 9 (20) – SKA 15 (32)
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:19	The hosts miss the left bottom corner with a shot from the right wing.
	38:37	Evgeny Ketov (SKA) gets two minutes for roughing.
	38:37	A little fight between several players after a harmless shot from the right circle by Kovalchuk.
	37:02	After several ricochets Thoresen tried it with a back hand shot from the left circle but just missed the puck...
	34:53	Goal for SKA! The guests increase their lead further. After Kovar was able to clear the situation twice, a blue line shot by Maxim Chudinov was deflected and the puck landed just in front of EVGENY SKACHKOV who then had an easy task finishing the play from short distance! Assisted by Maxim Chudinov.
	34:09	Long pass for Evgeny Ketov towards the blue line during an SKA rush but he was just offside.
	31:52	After the goal Avtomobilist decided to make a goaltender change. In for Lobanov now is Jakub Kovar.
	31:52	Goal for SKA! After he received a pass in the neutral zone by Artemy Panarin it was ALEXANDER KUCHERYAVENKO who skated past the left wing to leave a direct opponent behind him and fire the puck past Lobanov for the 4-1 SKA lead! Assisted by Artemy Panarin.
	31:02	Avto's Nikolai Zhilin was checked into the boards by Ponikarovsky and his head crashed into the glass. He gets medical treatment on the ice and it looks like a possible concussion! Eurolivescores.com wishes the player a speedy recovery!
	29:54	One-timer by Cervenka from within the slot, blocked to the side by Lobanov!
	29:14	Offside call against Avtomobilist when the timing was not good during a rush.
	27:30	The hosts are showing a great moral and going for full offense to cut the deficit further.
	26:40	Goal for Avtomobilist! With a powerful shot from the left circle into the right top corner past the glove hand by Ezhov it was ARTYOM CHERNOV who brought hope back for the hosts from Yekaterinburg with their first goal this afternoon – 1-3. Assisted by Anton Lazarev.
	26:21	Avtomobilist want to give a reaction. Krikunov with a shot from the left circle, looks for the five hole but Ezhov can make a pad save!
	25:29	Goal for SKA! Fast 2-on-2 attack for the guests and this time they do it better! A perfect cross-pass by Alexander Kucheryavenko just in front the net comes to VIKTOR TIKHONOV who scores his 3rd goal of the season and the 3-0 for SKA today. Assisted by Alexander Kucheryavenko and Artemy Panarin.
	25:07	3-on-2 counter attack for SKA but the shot from within the slot by Andrei Sigaryov stays outside. Before there was the chance for a second try one of Sigaryov's team mates crashed into Lobanov.
	23:56	The hosts are back at full strength.
	23:50	Roman Cervenka suddenly appears in front of Lobanov after the goalie allowed a rebound but he covered the puck up in time.
	22:59	After a fast combination an SKA forward missed the net from shot distance! Almost the first goal for their power play formation today.
	21:56	Sami Lepistö (Avtomobilist) gets two minutes for tripping.
	20:34	Goal for SKA! PATRICK THORESEN doubles the lead for the guests with their very first attack of the middle period. He was through with a break away and left Lobanov no chance when he scored with a back hander through the five hole! This goal definately did calm down the home fans.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		A very entertaining first period with best chances on both sides ends in Yekaterinburg with a 1-0 lead for the guests from St. Petersburg through an early goal by Vadim Shipachyov. SKA had slightly more and better opportunities but the hosts play with heart – the fans gave them a lot of applause when they left the ice- and could have scored easily several times if there wasn't a brilliant Ilya Ezhov in the SKA net. On the other side also Lobanov could proof all his class. Shots on goal: Avtomobilist 11 – SKA 17
	20:00	1st period finished.
	18:57	In power play the guests have their next opportunity! Lobanov allowed a rebound after a one-timer and somehow one of the SKA forwards missed the empty net with the rebound and the puck went wide past the right post!
	18:25	Sergei Gusev (Avtomobilist) gets two minutes for tripping.
	18:20	Another crazy triple chance for the hosts from Yekaterinburg!! SKA goalie Ilya Ezhov blocked several shots from half a metre distance! What a performacne by him!
	17:43	Pass from right behind the Avtomobilist net by Ponikarovsky but Skachkov isn't able to get the puck past Lovanov from just one metre distance!
	16:17	Filipp Toluzakov tries it with a shot from the right wing for the home side, the angle was very sharp but still the puck came well towards the net and almost surprised Ezhov at the near post!
	15:48	Perfect crpss-pass by Patrick Thoresen from the left circle and Roman Cervenka appears in the 1-on-1 with Lobanov but his shot from short distance is stopped by the goalie with his chest! That was very, very close!
	13:57	Just after entering the guests' zone an Avto forward tries it with a fast shot from the left wing, pad save by Ezhov.
	13:00	The situation is not ideal currently for SKA attacks as parts of a broken stick lay allover the Avto third.
	12:11	The hosts are back at full strength.
	11:48	Maxim Chudinov with a harmless shot from the right wing, no danger for Lobanov.
	11:38	And there he suddenly appeared in front of the net! Dallman with a powerful one-timer from the left circle towards the left bottom corner but Lobanov makes a pad save just in time!
	10:25	This penalty came in the worst possible moment for the hosts, just when they were able to take over the initiative. Now they have to be aware especially of SKA defender Dallman who is a major weapon for them in power play.
	10:11	Sami Lepistö (Avtomobilist) gets two minutes for tripping.
	09:17	Martensson just can't reach a cross-pass towards the second post as a defender was in between. Almost the big chance for the guests.
	08:22	Nice pass towards the net by Avtomobilist's Alexei Simakov but at the left post his team mate Eric Belanger misses the puck.
	07:53	Fast counter by SKA but the following shot from short distance is blocked to the side.
	07:10	Avtomobilist keep the game very open currently. It isn't visible on the ice who are the favourites and who are the outsiders.
	05:55	Just when SKA were back at full strength Sergei Gusev had the big, big opportunity for the home side! His shot from within the slot was stopped by Ezhov but he allowed a rebound that almost caused the equalizer!
	04:30	With a man more on the ice Avtomobilist are trying to increase the pressure on their opponents!
	03:55	Alexei Ponikarovsky (SKA) gets two minutes for slashing.
	02:55	SKA stay dangerous and barely let the hosts out of their own third.
	02:07	Goal for SKA! The guests play very aggressively from the very first second and are already rewarded for their efforts! Evgeny Ketov wins the puck behind the Avtomobilist net and gives a perect pass towards VADIM SHIPACHYOV whose shot from short distance went past Lobanov into the left top corner – 1:0 SKA! Assisted by Evgeny Ketov.
	00:51	With their first attack of the match the guests from St. Petersbug already have a triple chance. First Avtomobilist goalie Lobanov was able to block a short distance shot after a rush before he kept the puck outside when SKA tried it with two rebounds.
	00:01	Game started.
		The Russian national anthem is over. The teams are doing their last preparations.
		Starting lineups: Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg: Lobanov (Kovar) – Lepistö, Rybnitsky, Viklund, Zhilin, Gusev, Tryamkin, Seluyanov, Teterin – Lewandowski, Krikunov, Toluzakov, Simakov, Belanger, Zhmakin, Lazarev, Chernov, Malykhin, Golyshev, A. Streltsov, V. Streltsov SKA St. Petersburg: Ezhov (Nalimov) – Alexandrov, Dallman, Kalinin, Ryasensky, Semenov, Chudinov, Yudin – Martensson, Thoresen, Cervenka, Kovalchuk, Ketov, Shipachyov, Tikhonov, Kucheryavenko, Panarin, Ponikarovsky, Sigaryov, Skachkov Referees: Anisimov, Romasko – Gordenko,
		Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg receive SKA St. Petersburg for a match in which the hosts are expected to be the clear outsiders. Last year Avtomobilist had by far the worst record of all KHL teams (35 points in 52 games; just 8 wins, 44 losses) and missed the playoffs in Eastern Conference by not less than 42 (!) points! With a lot of young players they often kept the games close and 12 times lost after overtime/shootout only. For SKA the season was of a more friendly nature but despite winning the regular season title – the Continental Cup – with 115 points, they had fired their Czech head coach Milos Riha midseason and substituted him with Jukka Jalonen from Finland as the SKA leadership wasn't satisfied with the way the team was playing. After an easy walkthrough in the playoffs against Atlant Moscow Oblast and Severstal Cherepovets with a 8-1 record, they were thrown out by Dynamo Moscow in the Western Conference finals (2-4) and once more failed to gain their first ever league title in club history despite their role as favourites no. 1. Avtomobilist had some major roster changes, the most important transfer being probably talented Czech goalie Jakub Kovar from HC Ceske Budejovice. Other well-known additions are Sami Lepistö from Finland and Éric Belanger from Canada. Only time will tell though if the team can improve their record and maybe even attack a playoff spot. SKA were able to keep their best players together and even were able to sign their lockout superstar Ilya Kovalchuk (New Jersey Devils, NHL) to a long-term contract and they were also able to convince Kovalchuk's Devils team mate Alexei Ponikarovsky to move to St. Petersburg. During their first regular season match on Friday Avtomobilist lost at home against Severstal Cherepovets (1-2 SO) but at least gained their first point of the season, their only goal scorer being Stanislav Zhmakin. Today's guests SKA beat Avangard Omsk in a top match 5-1 with an unlucky Kovalchuk who even missed the net from short distance in a 1-on-1. Their goal scorers so far are Viktor Tikhonov (2), Kevin Dallman, Alexander Kucheryavenko and Roman Cervenka. Everything but a clear win for SKA would be a huge surprise. If Avtomobilist can gain something, we'll see soon!
		Welcome. Game starts at 12:00 GMT / 13:00 CET / 15:00 MSK.

Commentary by

Dennis Mende

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 27. Chernov (Lazarev), 43. Malykhin (Lazarev, Chernov), 48. Lazarev (Malykhin), 56. Malykhin (Chernov) – 3. Shipachyov (Ketov), 21. Thoresen, 26. Tikhonov (Kucheryavenko, Panarin), 32. Kucheryavenko (Panarin), 35. Skachkov (Chudinov), 50. Panarin

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg: Lobanov (Kovar) – Lepistö, Rybnitsky, Viklund, Zhilin, Gusev, Tryamkin, Seluyanov, Teterin – Lewandowski, Krikunov, Toluzakov, Simakov, Belanger, Zhmakin, Lazarev, Chernov, Malykhin, Golyshev, A. Streltsov, V. Streltsov

SKA St. Petersburg: Ezhov (Nalimov) – Alexandrov, Dallman, Kalinin, Ryasensky, Semenov, Chudinov, Yudin – Martensson, Thoresen, Cervenka, Kovalchuk, Ketov, Shipachyov, Tikhonov, Kucheryavenko, Panarin, Ponikarovsky, Sigaryov, Skachkov

Referees: Anisimov, Romasko – Gordenko, Tomilov

1st period
	02:07
	03:55
	10:11
	18:25
1st intermission
2nd period
	20:34
	21:56
	25:29
	26:40
	31:52
	34:53
	38:37
2nd intermission
3rd period
	42:07
	42:24
	47:51
	49:23
	50:01
	55:33
Final