RIG 6:1 VTZ | Dinamo Riga - Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

KHL

Riga – Vityaz

6:1 (end)

HC Slovan – Ak Bars

2:1 (after OT)

Lev – Dynamo

2:1 (end)

final

Dinamo Riga Latvia

6:1 (2:0, 3:1, 1:0)

Vityaz Podolsk

Saturday 21.09.2013, 16:00 • Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia • KHL

		We witnessed a great performance from Dinamo, they showed how to neutralize your opponent. Thank you for following the game with us, we still have Lev – Dynamo Moscow and Slovan – Ak Bars live, so feel free to follow them as well. Until next time, goodbye. (18:21:10)
		Shots on goal: DRG 10 (30), VIT 5 (17) Faceoffs: DRG 5 (31), VIT 9 (27) Penalties: DRG 2 (31), VIT 6 (14) Powerplay: DRG 2/7, VIT 1/4 Ice leaders: DRG – Sandis Ozolins – 22:49 VIT – Branislav Mezei – 24:18.
		It's all over in Riga and we could have guessed the winner from the early beginning. Dinamo set the tempo and the pace of the game not allowing Vityaz to seriously threaten their net and played a disciplined game completely dominating. Vityaz were able to score a goal, but compared to 6 on the Latvian side it's not sufficient.
	60:00	Game over.
	59:54	Right off the faceoff Vityaz take a shot from the edge of the circle, but get denied by Tellqvist.
	59:52	Martins Cipulis (DRG) is called for slashing and Dinamo will go a man down.
	59:18	Anton Korolyov takes the puck in over the left wing, circles the net and gets the shot from the right post while Tellqvist still can't retrieve, but hits the post and it bounces out.
	59:00	One minute to go in the game.
	58:02	Dinamo again could have increased the lead to six goals up, but on the 2-on-1 breakaway, Gints Meija decided to try his luck and fires from the right, but it's right into Backlund.
	57:33	Pyett is back on the ice as nothing interesting was going on during the powerplay.
	55:33	Seems like Logan Pyett (VIT) picked a cross-checking call on the scoring play, so Dinamo will have anotehr chance on the powerplay.
	55:33	Goal for Dinamo Riga! Another powerplay tally to increase the already huge lead. Robinson had the puck on the left post with time to find PAUL SZCZECHURA for his second of the night wiht a one-timed slapshot from the slot. Assists: Mat Robinson, Rodrigo Lavins.
	55:00	Robinson takes a hard wrister from the blue, gets denied to the right by the defence in front.
	53:57	Vasilyev back onto the ice for a single powerplay for Dinamo.
	53:41	Alexander Rybakov (VIT) tekes the hooking call and sees his team go on a 5-on-3 penalty kill for the third time tonight.
	53:28	A big opportunity for Dinamo as Backlund can't locate the puck on the deflected shot by the Latvians, it comes to the right side for a tip-in, though they can't put it in.
	51:57	Alexander Vasilyev (VIT) is called for slashing.
	51:13	Dinamo don't allow Vityaz to enter the zone safe, and will start the possession behind the net.
	50:06	Korolyuk gets a shot from the blueline, but sees it wide of the left post.
	49:17	Dinamo are clever to close the game and neutralize Vityaz completely while still getting some offensive chances. Meija leads the attack over the right wing but can't send the puck to the other post as there are two defencemen covering Ozolins, so he takes a shot at Backlund who makes a chest save.
	48:31	Dinamo ice the puck going for the line change, but now will have to get back to the ice and continue with the same squad.
	47:46	Dmitry Shitikov receives a puck to the face by the right post and the refs will stop the play.
	46:48	Dinamo take the puck in the zone through Meija on the right, though he can't beat the defence by the boards.
	45:44	Dinamo look like they've taken a break offensive-wise and accentuate the defence in this period while Vityaz can't get a good offense and set a play up.
	44:28	A hard slapper goes wide to the left taken by Vityaz at the blueline.
	43:36	Solodukhin takes it all the way on the right side and to the net, but can't deke out Tellqvist who sticks with the right post.
	42:48	Both teams exchange possession in the opening minutes of the third, though we haven't seen a shot so far.
	41:52	A pass from the back is unprecise but Kyle Wilson gets to it behind the net to keep the play alive for Dinamo.
	41:22	No real offense of chances by either side as Dinamo go offside on their first attack.
	40:14	Vityaz win the opener and have 20 minutes to get back in the game, which I doubt they will be able to achieve.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Third period coming up at 17:46 CET, 19:46 MSK, 11:46 EDT.
		Shots on goal: DRG 9 (20), VIT 10 (12) Faceoffs: DRG 14 (26), VIT 9 (18) Penalties: DRG 27 (5+GM) (29), VIT 4 (8) Powerplay: DRG 1/4, VIT 1/2 Ice leaders: DRG – Sandis Ozolins – 16:10 VIT – Branislav Mezei – 17:49.
		Completely deserved lead built in the second period as Dinamo dominates the game. Vityaz had some shots and chances this period and managed to score the goal, but that was practically it, as they can't otganize offensively and generate some serious shots.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:36	Malevich leaves the puck on the left side at the goal line, but the later combination in the zone is innacurate and the puck goes out.
	39:00	The final minute of the second period.
	38:34	Vityaz take the game to the other end and try to cut the lead a bit before the intermission, but Tellqvist looks unbeatable today, besides that one goal.
	37:46	Goal for Dinamo Riga! Dinamo have the initiative and momentum while keeping the puck in the zone. The feed is sent from the right wing to the middle, a risky pass through the middle but it pays off as it gets to PAUL SZCZECHURA who dekes out Backlund to the left and puts a backhander in. Assist: Miks Indrasis.
	37:34	Icing Vityaz.
	36:25	Dinamo trying to get another one past Backlund who successfully deflects all shots coming from between the circles.
	35:47	Logan Pyett takes a shot from the slot but it's high into the netting for another stoppage in play.
	35:33	Dinamo is playing at full strength.
	35:07	Tellqvist puts all he can into defending the net with help from his defencemen as he can't cover the puck on a shot from the left, but finally gets the glove onto it and showes gratitude to the defenceman who took the Vityaz player away.
	34:03	Vityaz pass back and forth on the right side, but when the feed is sent to the middle, there is a lot of traffic and the puck ends on the other side of the rink. Twice.
	33:33	Vitalijs Pavlovs will be forced to cool down as he's called for tripping on defence.
	32:29	Vityaz is back at full strength.
	32:05	Backlund has to make some crucial saves as Dinamo fire from all areas on the powerplay.
	31:14	Goal for Dinamo Riga! It didn't take long for Dinamo to take advantage of 5-on-3. Sandis Ozolins sends the pass from the middle outside the circles area to the left side just a few metres off the post where ALEKSANDRS NIZIVIJS receives it and takes a precise wristshot to beat Backlund the fourth time today. Assist: Sandis Ozolins.
	30:29	Sergei Rozin (VIT) gets the call for slashing and Dinamo will go two men up once again.
	30:01	Vityaz will go a man down as Vojtech Polak was hooked coming to the net on the left on a breakaway. Dinar Khafizullin (VIT) gets the call.
	29:19	Dinamo is back to full strength.
	28:53	Still Vityaz in possession circling around the zone, though the shot is deflected and Dinamo can go down the ice.
	28:39	Tellquist keeps his team in the game with a couple of saves from different angles.
	27:28	Still a man down Dinamo have to defend their lead, while Vityaz put on pressure. Hennessy from the right blueline to Malevich on the opposite side but his shot from the slot gets deflected wide to the left.
	26:34	Goal for Vityaz! The major penalty pays off for Vityaz as they get back into the game. Dinar Khafizullin couldn't shoot with a man in front on the left side so gets the pass back to VLADIMIR MALEVICH whose one-timer beats Tellqvist and gets Vityaz on the board. Assist: Dinar Khafizullin.
	25:27	Rekis leaves the ice in problems with his leg, while Vityaz try to get the hopes back with 5-minutes powerplay.
	24:19	Kristaps Sotnieks (DRG) gets the 5 min call for checking to the head and neck area and a game misconduct.
	24:02	The puck gets back to Mezei on the left post but Tellqvist is again in place to save.
	23:32	Vityaz take the puck into the zone as Branislav Mezei fires from the blueline but it goes wide to the right.
	22:07	Goal for Dinamo Riga! Vitalijs Pavlovs in possession on the right wing behind the goal line takes a cross pass to OSKARS CIBULSKIS in the middle who has some time to aim and fire hard on Backlund to increase the lead to 3 goals. Assists: Vitalijs Pavlovs, Adris Dzerins.
	20:23	The opening faceoff goes to Vityaz and Mike Iggulden takes the puck in deking out a few players, but can't shoot as he gets blocked so gets it to Branislav Mezei whose shot off the blue is wide to the left.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Second period coming up at 16:52 CET, 18:52 MSK, 10:52 EDT.
		Shots on goal: DRG 11, VIT 2 Faceoffs: DRG 12, VIT 9 Penalties: DRG 2, VIT 4 Powerplay: DRG 0/2, VIT 0/1 Ice leaders: DRG – Sandis Ozolins – 7:33 VIT – Logan Pyett – 7:23.
		The first period is over, Dinamo take the initiative early on which pays off with a couple, they completely dominated the first period and neutralized any chances Vityaz might have. Though Vityaz fired back by the end of the period, but it wasn't enough to make a serious threat for Dinamo's balanced game.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:54	With six seconds left Vityaz try to dump but ice the puck doing so.
	19:27	Vityaz get rid of the pressure and take the puck to the net, but can't build a real shot.
	19:00	One minute to go.
	18:31	Miks Indrasis has another opportunity on the breakaway over the left, though the shot taken hits a diving Russian who this way defends the net.
	17:21	Goal for Dinamo Riga! MATT ROBINSON finds himself in the perfect spot as the puck deflects to the middle between the circles and Vityaz's defenceman is down on the ice coming for the puck, Robinson takes a full circle turn to give him enough time to set up and fire into the upper right corner, where Backlund can't deny it with the glove. Assist: Aleksandrs Nizivijs, Martins Cipulis
	16:34	Kyle Wilson skates in from the left and receives a pass to the middle, but can't deke the man in front so decides to get the pass back to the blue.
	15:41	Although Vityaz find themselves in the zone they can't play not a few passes as Dinamo take over and go up front with a fast transition, but the shot from Indrasis is deflected into the netting.
	14:38	Another big chance for Dinamo coming from the left side and the feed is sent for a tip-in, though the oncoming skater is a bit too late.
	13:57	Dinamo takes the domination in the game with a shocker for Vityaz who can't retrieve.
	11:29	Goal for Dinamo Riga! Dinamo comes to the zone through the middle and with two defenceman around has to shoot immediately, Backlund makes a sloppy reaction deflecting a caughtable puck to the right side where MARCEL HOSSA receives it and dekes a defenceman to the side taking a shot to the right post where Backlund couldn't retrieve and scores. Assists: Kristaps Sotnieks, Gints Meija.
	10:09	Pavlovs finally gets the puck to take a shot, he fires off the right wing, though it's all too easy for Backlund who deflects to the left.
	09:29	Dzerins takes the puck in the zone and keeps it all the way to behind the net, plays a few passes on the right side, but they just can't find a spot to shoot.
	08:43	Dinamo Riga back to full strength.
	08:27	Vityaz at full strength.
	08:21	Another save by Backlund coming from a shot at the blue which was a backhander but got deflected off Vityaz's player on the way, and it could have gone in, but Backlund is focused.
	07:38	As Afinogenov skates back Dinamo had a huge chance, but the puck went straight to Balckund's glove.
	07:11	Still Dinamo with the offence as they still ahve a man up, the puck comes to Robinson after circling the net, Robinson fires a one-timer, and Backlund only stood in net hoping to get hit by the puck, and he did and then covered it before the crease.
	06:43	Although they had a big chance and were in the zone, Vitalijs Pavlovs (DRG) slashed someone on the defence, and will put Dinamo to 4-on-3.
	06:27	Sergei Rozin (VIT) will take the box for tripping and Dinamo will have a huge chance 5-on-3.
	06:11	Dinamo take the initiative on the powerplay with Sandis Ozolins firing from the slot, but it's deflected off Backlund's pads.
	05:38	Maxim Afinogenov (VIT) is called for delaying the game.
	05:09	Andris Dzerins gets the puck on the left wing with lots of space and as he enters the circle fires a slapper to the upper left corner, though Backlund deflects the puck over the glass.
	04:31	Dinamo again go on the attack, but passing back and forth lose possession and will have to restart from their zone.
	04:01	Mikael Tellqvist is forced to make a save as Branislav Mezei takes a wristshot from the right wing on the blueline.
	03:17	Alexander Vasilyev comes over the right wing and skates towards the net trying to make a shot while falling to the ice, but can't have a good grip on it and the Latvians take it.
	02:13	Afinogenov is up front for Vityaz and gets the puck in, though Vityaz lose possession behind the net.
	01:49	Now Dinamo ice the puck from their end.
	01:19	Sotnieks and Cipulis combine at the left wing, but in the end can't get the puck to the net.
	00:50	Icing Vityaz.
	00:16	Dinamo take the opening faceoff and go on the attack immediately with Gints Meija dumping the puck.
	00:01	Game started.
		Starting lineups: Dinamo Riga: Tellqvist (Cimermanis) – Rekis, Ozolins, Wilson, Hossa, Meija – Kuzmenkovs, Sotnieks, Nizivijs, Robinson, Cipulis – Lavins, Skvorcovs, Dzerins, Cibulskis, Pavlovs – Siksnis, Szczechura, Siksna, Indrasis, Polak Vityaz Podolsk: Backlund (Saprykin) – Shitikov, Mezei, Iggulden, Pyett, Korolyuk – Solodukhin, Rozin, Seleznyov, Korolyov, Rybakov – Khafizullin, Hennesy, Afinogenov, Poltorak, Malevich – Mamin, Vasilyev, Korovkin, Kudinov, Podzins Referees: Zakharov, Kadyrov – Gordenko, Tomilov.
		The national anthems of Russia and Latvia are being played.
		It will be interesting to see whether strong Dinamo will take another win regardless of how many points they win, or Vityaz can surprise and take a road win. The game starts at 16:00 CET, 18:00 MSK, 10:00 EDT.
		Their today's opponents didn't have such good introduction to the new season. They openend the season with a win against Traktor, lost to Metallurg Magnitogosk, then beat Neftekhimik, but then went to winless for three consecutive games only to win in the last one in Bratislava against Slovan. They sit in 8th seed in the East with 2-2-2 and 9 points.
		After a great start with 4 consecutive wins, Dinamo Riga fell to CSKA in Moscow but got a point as they lost in the shootout. Then they lost to Bars of Kazan in Latvia and beat the champions, Dynamo Moscow in the shootout, also at home. Now they have two more home games, one today and the other on Monday against Torpedo. They currently stick in 3rd place of the West.
		Welcome and good afternoon in today's KHL coverage between Latvian Dinamo Riga and Russian Vityaz Podolsk.
		Welcome. Game starts at 16:00 CET, 18:00 MSK, 10:00 EDT.

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 12. Hossa (Sotnieks, Meija), 18. Robinson (Nizivijs, Cipulis), 23. Cibulskis (Pavlovs, Dzerins), 32. Nizivijs (Ozolins), 38. Szczechura (Indrasis), 56. Szczechura (Lavins, Robinson) – 27. Malevich (Khafizullin)

Dinamo Riga: Tellqvist (Cimermanis) – Rekis, Ozolins, Wilson, Hossa, Meija – Kuzmenkovs, Sotnieks, Nizivijs, Robinson, Cipulis – Lavins, Skvorcovs, Dzerins, Cibulskis, Pavlovs – Siksnis, Szczechura, Siksna, Indrasis, Polak

Vityaz Podolsk: Backlund (Saprykin) – Shitikov, Mezei, Iggulden, Pyett, Korolyuk – Solodukhin, Rozin, Seleznyov, Korolyov, Rybakov – Khafizullin, Hennesy, Afinogenov, Poltorak, Malevich – Mamin, Vasilyev, Korovkin, Kudinov, Podzins

Referees: Zakharov, Kadyrov – Gordenko, Tomilov

Attendance: 7420

1st period
	05:38
	06:27
	06:43
	11:29
	17:21
1st intermission
2nd period
	22:07
	24:19
	26:34
	30:01
	30:29
	31:14
	33:33
	37:46
2nd intermission
3rd period
	51:57
	53:41
	55:33
	55:33
	59:52
Final