KHL
Riga – Vityaz 6:1 (end) | HC Slovan – Ak Bars 2:1 (after OT) | Lev – Dynamo 2:1 (end)
final/OT
HC Slovan Bratislava
2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 1:0 (OT))
Ak Bars Kazan
Saturday 21.09.2013, 17:30 • Ondrej Nepela Arena (capacity 10,055) • KHL
     
    Final word:
    9,702 attendance was in expectation for Slovan's first straight win in current KHL season. Kazan players were considered favorites despite that, their position in KHL standings was the reason. Ak Bars spent opening minutes in attacking zone to prove their favorite-status, but there was no danger whatsoever for home goal. Period was actually quite fluent with plenty of fast skating and actions on both sides, but there weren't many chances to score or even shoot on any side. Second period looked similar. Both teams played tight defensive style of hockey and managed 11 shots on goal combined. Slovan supporters were delighted by home team's goal in 27th minute of the game and period finished with the tiniest possible lead for home team. Big offensive was expected from Kazan players in third period, but Slovan answered on Kazan's open approach with exactly the same style. Third period was therefore quite entertaining actually with teams firing 21 shots combined. Alex Svitov equalized the result half way through the period and none of the teams couldn't score in remaining minutes. Overtime offered two penalties, one on each side. Seconds after both penalties expired Milan Bartovic presented his qualities in fastbreak and beat helpless Emil Garipov to gave Slovan deserved OT win.
    Eurolivescores man of the game: Milan Bartovic (Slovan). (20:24:19)
     
    Leading skaters:
    Slovan – Zdenek Kutlak (23:40 on ice, 32 shifts), Martin Skoula (23:39, 32) and Milan Bartovic (20:34, 29)
    Ak Bars – Ilya Nikulin (23:13 on ice, 28 shifts), Shaun Heshka (22:40, 26) and Konstantin Korneyev (21:33, 27)
     
    Penalty minutes overall: Slovan 10, Ak Bars 14
     
    Faceoffs overall: Slovan 16/57, Ak Bars 41/57
     
    Shot summary overall:
    Slovan 25, Ak Bars 23
     
    Overtime faceoffs – Slovan 0/4, Ak Bars 4/4
    Penalties: Slovan 2, Ak Bars 2
     
    Overtime shot summary:
    Slovan 3 – BARTOVIC 2(1), Kutlak
    Ak Bars 1 – Korneyev
     
    Game over.
     
    62:51
    Goal for Slovan!
    MILAN BARTOVIC runs a quick counter attack from his own zone – he skates on right side and shoots from close circle line to beat Emil Garipov
     
    62:48
    Vondrka comes back on ice for Slovan, play is 4 on 4
     
    62:23
    Ak Bars with 4 skaters on ice, Tereschenko comes from penalty box
     
    61:53
    Konstantin Korneyev shoots from left circle, Janus holds the puck
     
    60:48
    Michal Vondrka (Slovan) is penalized for cross-checking
     
    60:23
    Tereshchenko (Ak Bars) is penalized for charging on Netik
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    Faceoffs third period: Sloan 1/11, Ak Bars 10/11
    Penalties: Slovan 2, Ak Bars 2
     
    Third period shot summary :
    Slovan 6 – Stajnoch, Miklik, Kolena, Netik, Bartovic , Dano
    Ak Bars 10 – Nikulin, SVITOV 2(1), Varnakov 2, Golubev, Pesonen, Heshka, Obukhov, Lukoyanov
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    58:35
    Kazan players look more interested in securing another point during last minutes
     
    57:16
    Ilya Nikulin fires big shot from right side board blue line, Janus holds the puck against his body
     
    55:50
    Michel Miklik sneaks inbetween both defensemen and skates against Garipov who reacts great and deflects the puck before any serious shot by Miklik
     
    54:14
    Alexander Osipov shoots from top of left circle, Janus catches the puck and gets ovations from crowd
     
    54:12
    Home team at full strength.
     
    53:07
    Ilya Nikulin is in great chance to score inside right circle and he fires good shot, but Janus saves the puck with great reaction
     
    52:12
    Vladimir Mihalik (Slovan) is penalized for holding – 2 min. minor
     
    51:57
    Janne Pesonen pulls puck from behind the goal on left side and tries to send it up near Janus' shoulder, but home goalie is focused enough to deflect the puck
     
    50:04
    Goal for AK Bars!
    ALEXANDER SVITOV gets nice assist from Dmitry Obukhov from left side; he is inbetween circles, one-times the puck and beats Jaroslav Janus
     
    48:47
    Michel Miklik shoots from wide angle inside left circle, garipov deflects the puck on far side
     
    47:30
    Olvecky skates fast into attacking zone and tricks his defenseman; he fires from top of left circle, no trouble for Emil Garipov
     
    47:06
    Lukoyanov endangeres Janus with sudden shot, but eventually everything is cleared again by Slovan defense
     
    45:34
    Ak Bars at full strength.
     
    44:15
    Janus tries to stop the puck coming from attacking zone. He slips and Janne Pesonen gets a momentary chance to score shorthanded – Slovan defensemen clear the situation though
     
    43:34
    Denis Golubev (Ak Bars) goes into penalty box for tripping
     
    42:58
    Lukoyanov is injured at the board behind Slovan's goal after Vladimir Mihalik bumps into him
     
    42:30
    Alexander Svitov shoots from center of right circle, Janus is focused and saves
     
    41:18
    Slovan at full strength.
     
    40:30
    Vondrka steals the puck inside defensive zone (Slovan is shorthanded) and skates fast onto attacking half, but gets caught by Kazan players and no chance to shoot occurs
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Faceoffs second period – Slovan 5/8, Ak Bars 3/8
    Penalties – Slovan 2, Ak Bars 4
     
    Second period shot summary:
    Slovan 4 – Mikus T., SKOULA, Mihalik, Hudacek
    Ak Bars 2 – Burmistrov, Vincour
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:50
    Puck bounces in front of Slovan goal and there are several attempts from Ak Bars players to push it inside the net, but Janus eventually covers it
     
    39:39
    Janne Pesonen passes great puck on the right side for Mikhail varnakov who fires immediately, Janus saves
     
    39:18
    Zdenek Kutlak (Slovan) is penalized for tripping on Kirill Petrov
     
    37:28
    Netik fires from two metres after Kolena provided him with a grea t pass, but puck misses Garipov's goal
     
    36:35
    Janne Pesonen finds himself in great position to score right inbetween the circles, but Janus comes up big and catches the puck in his glove
     
    35:17
    Alexander Burmistrov skates from behind the goal, turns around and fires the puck against Janus; Janus saves and deflects the puck
     
    34:10
    Bartovic and Netik combine for several seconds in Ak Bars zone to ease pressure from Slovan's zone
     
    32:32
    Ilya Nikulin fires from the distance, Janus deflects the puck
     
    31:12
    Ak Bars is currently more active and attacking oriented, Slovan is defending their lead well by now
     
    29:56
    Slovan pressure is over, Ak Bars is trying to level the score
     
    28:10
    Slovan players are boosted by leading goal and are trying to extend the lead, Ak Bars on the other side is defending well
     
    26:45
    Goal for Slovan!
    Martin Skoula gets the puck after faceoff on right side blue line in attacking zone. He skates all across blue line to left side and shoots, puck is deflected by MILAN BARTOVIC in front of goal and tricks Emil Garipov. Powerplay goal! Another assist – Juraj Mikus.
     
    25:15
    Alexander Svitov (Ak Bars) goes to penalty box for tripping – 2 min.
     
    25:10
    Michal Vondrka shoots from distance on left side, Garipov deflects the puck into his right corner
     
    22:59
    Ak Bars at full strength.
     
    22:22
    Slovan spends most of his powerplay time inside Ak Bars zone, but guests are very aggressive in their defending and are so far successful
     
    20:59
    Janne Pesonen (Ak Bars) sits in penalty box for high-sticking
     
    20:58
    Janne Pesonen accidently hits Mikus with stick on his face, play is stopped
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Opening period faceoffs – Slovan 7/13, Ak Bars 6/13
    Penalties – Slovan 2, Ak Bars 6
     
    Opening period shot summary:
    Slovan 7 – Mikus 2, Netik 2, Vondrka 2, Olvecky
    Ak Bars 4 – Varnakov, Korneyev, Yarullin, Obukhov
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    18:28
    Ak Bars at full strength.
     
    17:15
    Tomas Mojzis fires from blue line, puck deflects off player in front of him and Mojzis skates close to Garipov,- he shoots, Garipov deflects the puck with his stick
     
    16:28
    Evgeny Medvedev (Ak Bars) is penalized for high-sticking on Milan Bartovic
     
    14:19
    Shaun Heshka pushes Juraj Mikus hard into goal/goalie from right side; Mikus looks injured – no penalties whistled though
     
    13:48
    Milan Kolena shoots from top of right circle, no real trouble for Garipov who catches the puck
     
    12:53
    Lukoyanov circles around Slovan goal and shoots backhanded under pressure, Janus saves
     
    12:32
    Ak Bars at full strength.
     
    10:48
    Big shot comes in from right side board, Garipov deflects the puck into his left corner
     
    10:32
    Artyom Lukoyanov (Ak Bars) sits on penalty bench for high-sticking
     
    10:26
    Ak Bars at full strength.
     
    09:07
    Puck comes to Emil Garopv who holds it, Milan Bartovic is close and three Ak Bars players are pushing him around...refferees calm down the situation
     
    08:26
    Mikhail Varnakov (Ak Bars) sits on penalty bench for tripping
     
    07:11
    Kirill Petrov receives pass right after faceoff on left circle and shoots from inbetween circles, Janus saves
     
    05:54
    Slovan at full strength.
     
    05:20
    Ak Bars spends time in Slovan zone, but no shots so far
     
    03:54
    Michal Vondrka (Slovan) sits on penalty bench for tripping – 2 min.
     
    03:40
    First penalty for tripping for Slovan coming on, puck is in Ak Bars possession and Garipov leaves the goal for sixth skater
     
    02:06
    Several Slovan attempts to endanger Ak Bars also happened, still no shots
     
    00:55
    Opening minute passes by in Slovan zone, no shots against any goal so far
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Shorty delay for ice-trouble
     
    Slovakian National Anthem is played
     
    Russian National Anthem is played in Slovnaft Arena (Ondrej Nepela Arena)
     
    Welcome to live coverage of Slovan – Ak Bars game. Slovan's last game two days ago in Bratislava was big dissapointment – they lost againts Vityaz 1:4. Ak Bars also lost in Moscow against CSKA (0:2), but they provided strong resistance against famous "Army" team. Slovan is yet to reach straight win this season, although they have one OTW (overtime win); all other five games were defeats, so today's great chance to improve on poor early season impression. Ak Bars lost three out of seven games played so far and are probably considered favorites for today's game, but who knows...
    Follow our live coverage!
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
    Commentary by

    Ben Kelsson

    CZ@MarcusLuxie

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 27. BARTOVIC (Mikus, Skoula), 63. BARTOVIC – 51. SVITOV

    HC Slovan Bratislava: Janus Kopriva – Skoula Kutlak Sigalet Mihalik Stajnoch Mojzis Brejcak – Miklik Vondrka Olvecky Hudacek Netik Bartovic Mikus J. Kukumberg Dano Mikus T. Mraz Kolena Bakos
    Ak Bars Kazan: Garipov Yaroslavlev – Nikulin Korneyev Heshka Medvedev Osipov Panin Yarullin – Pesonen Tereshchenko Petrov Stapleton Varnakov Burmistrov Svitov Obukhov Lukoyanov Tkachyov Vincour Faizullin
    Referees: Bulanov Ronn – Metalnikov Sirotkin
    Attendance: 9,702