KHL
Admiral – Riga 3:0 (end) | Khabarovsk – CSKA 1:3 (end) | Novokuznetsk – HC Slovan 1:3 (end)
Novosibirsk – Lev 5:3 (end) | Metallurg M – Neftekhimik 4:3 (end) | Salavat Yulaev – Traktor 3:1 (end)
Torpedo – Cherepovets 0:2 (end) | Dynamo – Mytishchi 3:2 (end) | Ak Bars – Lokomotiv 2:0 (end)
Vityaz – SKA St. Petersburg 2:3 (1:2 after SO)
final
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
1:3 (0:0, 0:2, 1:1)
HC Slovan Bratislava
Sunday 29.09.2013, 12:00 • Dvorets Sporta Kuznetsk Metallurg, Novokuznetsk, Russia • KHL
     
    Thank you for following the game with us. We appologize for problems with time, but the scoreboard wasn't visual. For our other coverages, please check our schedule. Until next time, goodbye. (14:20:49)
     
    Shots on goal:
    MNK 10 (26) – Mantyla, Zhafyarov (2), MARTYNOV (1)
    SLV 13 (33) – MIKLIK, Kukumberg, Netik, Bartovic (2)
    Faceoffs: MNK 10 (33), SLV 10 (27)
    Penalties: MNK 22 (30), SLV 4 (10)
    Ice leaders:
    MNK – Mikhail Chernov – 21:43
    SLV – Tomas Mojzis – 21:54.
     
    Slovan take the road win in Novokuznetsk as they show more of the game in the second period. Third was even balanced and levelled scoring-wise but altogether neither team had the edge in the game as they struggled offensively.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59'
    Goal for Slovan!
    This puts the game to a close. Zdenek Kutlak takes the puck at the blueline for Slovan gets it to the neutral zone to MICHEL MIKLIK who fires just as he passes the centre red line to seal the deal.

    Assist: Zdenek Kutlak.
     
    59'
    Timeout Metallurg.
     
    59'
    Kopriva makes the save and covers the puck as the shot came from circling the net on the left post.
     
    58'
    Metallurg pull the goalie to go with the extra man.
     
    58'
    Two minutes to go in the third.
     
    57'
    Metallurg take a hard shot on Kopriva from the blueline to the right side, but the shot gets deflected by Kopriva and Slovan take over.
     
    55'
    Another opportunity for Slovan as they come cruising into the zone but the shot from the slot is too low and too easy for Hovinen who makes the save.
     
    55'
    Metallurg dump the puck for a chase which suits Slovan better as they are quicker to it and clear the danger.
     
    54'
    Bartovic tries to execute a shot on net coming from the left side and getting the feed from the opposite, but Hovinen makes it to the left post deflectind the shot wide.
     
    53'
    The game is still calm and nothing happens, which suits the visitors who are happy to let the time go by.
     
    50'
    Metallurg gets back at full strength, as Slovan weren't able to produce anything on the powerplay.
     
    48'
    Yegor Martynov (MNK) gets called for delaying the game.
     
    47'
    Slovan is playing at full strength.
     
    47'
    Kopriva is forced to make the save after Nazarov took a shot.
     
    46'
    Slovan play tight on a long penalty kill denying Metallurg all the time and forcing them to regroup from behind the net.
     
    45'
    Metallurg is back at full strength.
     
    45'
    Michal Vondrka (SLV) gets called for high-sticking, 2+2 minutes.
     
    44'
    Slovan put pressure with the man advantage but can't get a good shooting opportunity as Metallurg are able to clear the danger twice.
     
    43'
    Evgeny Lapenkov gets called for tripping so Slovan will get another chance on powerplay. They are 2/4 so far.
     
    43'
    Goal for Novokuznetsk!
    The shot from the hosts gets deflected in the slot and goes to the blue but midway to the line YEGOR MARTYNOV comes skating and fires a blast past helpless Kopriva.

    Unassisted.
     
    41'
    Slovan wait from the early beginning of the third to see what the opponent does without challenging them.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Third period coming up at approx. 13:45 CET, 15:45 MSK, 07:45 EDT.
     
    Shots on goal:
    MNK 7 (16) – Lapenkov (3), Vyglazov (2)
    SLV 11 (20) – Skoula, MIKUS (2), MIKLIK (1)
    Faceoffs: MNK 17 (23), SLV 4 (17)
    Penalties: MNK 6 (8), SLV 2 (6)
    Powerplay: MNK 0/3 , SLV 2/4
    Ice leaders:
    MNK – Nikita Vyglazov – 13:12
    SLV – Tomas Mojzis – 14:56.
     
    The second period is over with Slovan scoring a pair to get some action going down on the ice. We haven't seen much from Metallurg this period and they will have to wake up and consolidate to keep up with the pressure Slovan have been putting on them.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39'
    Slovan try to put pressure in the waning moments of the period, though they get only one wide shot.
     
    39'
    As both players get back onto the ice we're back to full strength hockey, but there weren't many opportunities on either side. The game is pretty much boring.
     
    37'
    Tuukka Mantyla (MNK) and Tomas Matousek (SLV) will cool down in the box for roughing.
     
    37'
    Metallurg take the action down the ice as Lapenkov sends a feed to the slot for Nikita Vyglazov, although it seemed like a shot and then we have a brawl in the crease, so there will be some penalties.
     
    36'
    Hovinen is forced to make another glove save with the shot coming from the right, but he covers the lower corner, Michel Miklik was on the shot.
     
    35'
    The game seems more like someone's wake than a sports even as everything is quiet, while Slovan keep the pressure up.
     
    33'
    The play is mainly in the neutral zone while the hosts can't retrieve from the shock with Slovan's double.
     
    32'
    Slovan get up front but only shoot from the blue to spend some time and get the line changed.
     
    31'
    Metallurg take the puck in the zone on the offense and try to generate and open up a bit, though Slovan don't allow any shooting opportunities.
     
    30'
    Goal for Slovan!
    Milan Bartovic took a shot from outside the right circle which got deflected into the boards off Hovinen's pads, but on the left side there is JURAJ MIKUS who takes the puck with lots of time and fires a precise wrister past Hovinen to double the lead.

    Unassisted.
     
    29'
    A tripping call coming up on Rafael Akhmetov (MNK) and Slovan goes on the powerplay again.
     
    28'
    A mistake defensively behind Slovan's net could have been expensive had the hosts took advantage of the free attack.
     
    27'
    Both teams keep struggling offensive-wise when it comes to full strength play so we have a lot of dump and chase on both sides and the play mostly behind the nets resetting.
     
    25'
    Goal for Slovan!
    A powerplay tally for MICHEL MIKLIK as he gets the puck on the left side in the centre of the circle firing one-timed on the feed from Peter Olvecky.

    Assists: Michal Vondrka, Peter Olvecky.
     
    25'
    Slovan get the game going with Tomas Mojzis firing from the blue, but it's over the bar.
     
    25'
    Slovan dump the puck into the zone and lose possession while Metallurg are whistled down for a hand pass.
     
    24'
    A big opportunity for Metallurg going alone with Kopriva but he stays focused and covers the five-hole thus deflecting the puck aside.
     
    24'
    Holding call on Anton Kapotov (MNK) as Slovan will try to capitalize.
     
    23'
    Slovan dump the puck in for Bakos at the right boards who sends a feed in, but finds no one in the slot for a shot.
     
    22'
    Metallurg dump the puck to the other end, but no icing call.
     
    21'
    Slovan enter the second period better and try to build on the attack, but can't get a good shooting opportunity.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Second period coming up at 12:53 CET, 14:53 MSK, 06:53 EDT.
     
    Shots on goal:
    MNK 9 – Anttila (3), Lapenkov (2)
    SLV 9 – Kukumberg, Hudacek (2)
    Faceoffs: MNK 6, SLV 13
    Penalties: MNK 2, SLV 4
    Powerplay: MNK 0/2,SLV 0/2
    Ice leaders:
    MNK – Evgeny Lapenkov – 7:22
    SLV – Martin Skoula – 7:35.
     
    After the first period the score is tied and goalless with neither team taking the edge of the game. Metallurg had more of the play but couldn't capitalize on their chances.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19'
    Right off the faceoff inside Metallurg's zone Tomas Mojzis took a shot, but it got deflected off Hovinen's pads and to the side.
     
    19'
    One minute left in the first period.
     
    18'
    Evgeny Lapenkov receives the pass into the zone on the right and goes to behind the net, but can't hold to the puck.
     
    18'
    Metallurg intercept the pass as Slovan were exiting their zone, get back in and shoot from the right just as they reach the circle, but Kopriva skates out of the net and deflects Martynov's shot to the left.
     
    17'
    Another huge save for Kopriva as Marko Anttila gets the puck to the net on the left side and fires to the upper right, but in the waning moments Kopriva puts his arm up and gets the deflection into the protective net.
     
    17'
    Two quick shots by Metallurg coming off the left circle and the right blueline, both deflected by Kopriva aside.
     
    15'
    We're still scoreless as neither team is able to generate offensively or get any organization within the zone.
     
    13'
    Unbeliveable save as Metallurg take it on the offense and into the slot alone with Kopriva, it seemed he was deked but put his glove up and saved a sure goal.
     
    13'
    Slovan is back at full strength.
     
    13'
    Slovan take the puck down the ice as they try to waste as much time possible.
     
    12'
    Metallurg dominate on the powerplay taking a few shots but nothing serious.
     
    11'
    Tomas Matousek (SLV) will take the penalty for tripping as he put his stick before Damir Zhafyarov's legs.
     
    10'
    Metallurg is back at full strength.
     
    10'
    Slovan spread the game wide as they build on the attack with the man advantage, but Metallurg now denies twice shooting the puck away from danger.
     
    9'
    Slovan back at full strength and go on the offense.
     
    8'
    Holding the stick call on Magomed Gimbatov (MNK), so Slovan will go on the powerplay.
     
    7'
    Peter Olvecky (SLV) is called to the box for slashing.
     
    6'
    Metallurg still with the initiative early on but as they go on Kopriva the net comes loose as Semyon Valuisky who took the shot was pushed by Sersen.
     
    5'
    Slovan gets the possession down the ice for the first time with Milan Bartovic taking a shot on Hovinen, but the shot got deflected off the defenseman's skate.
     
    4'
    Slovan clear away the danger and can't get the hold of the puck. Metallurg have to regroup.
     
    3'
    No real offense expect for the one shot from Metallurg while Slovan still couldn't win possession.
     
    2'
    After an icing the faceoff comes into Metallurg's end, and they win it going on the attack.
     
    1'
    Metallurg win the opening faceoff and try to build from it getting into the zone and Evgeny Lapenkov is there on the shot from outside the slot area, goes wide to the left.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    We're ready to drop the puck as the players gather at the centre of the ice.
     
    The national anthems of Slovakia and Russia are being intonated.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Hovinen (Sorokin) – Giroux, McLean, Valuisky, Martynov, Kosourov – Matyla, Vyglazov, Gimbatov, Lapenkov, Chernov – Anttila, Yemelin, Korabeinikov, Kapotov, Nazarov – Kurepanov, Akhmetov, Kanarsky, Skutar, Zhafyarov

    HC Slovan Bratislava: Kopriva (Godla) – Miklik, Skoula, Kutlak, Vondrka, Olvecky – Mojzis, Sersen, Netik, Bartovic, Mikus – Sigalet, Kukumberg, Matousek, Mihalik, Hudacek – Stajnoch, Kolena, Dano, Bakos

    Referees: Belyayev, Rogachyov – Streltsov, Tarasov.
     
    As we get ready for the game waiting for the players to hit the ice in Novokuznetsk, here are your starting lineups.
     
    Metallurg is led by Tukka Mantyla and Marko Anttila regarding points, each having 3, while their top scorers include Semyon Valuyski and Evgeni Lapenkov with 2 goals.

    Slovan have their leaders in Tomas Mojzis, Martin Skoula and Michel Miklik with 3 points, while Mojzis and Milan Bartovic are the top scorers with two goals apiece.
     
    Two last placed teams in each conference and in the league meet today in Novokuznetsk. Metallurg Nk will try to put an end to their six games losing streak, while Slovan has now lost two in a row, after wining against Ak Bars in Bratislava after overtime.

    Metallurg have a record of 2-1-5 and 7 points. Slovan on the other side are still winless in regulation being 0-2-7 with 4 points.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 12:00.
    Commentary by

    Alan Ilijic

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 43. Martynov – 25. Miklik (Vondrka, Olvecky), 30. Mikus, 59. Miklik (Kutlak)

    Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Hovinen (Sorokin) – Giroux, McLean, Valuisky, Martynov, Kosourov – Matyla, Vyglazov, Gimbatov, Lapenkov, Chernov – Anttila, Yemelin, Korabeinikov, Kapotov, Nazarov – Kurepanov, Akhmetov, Kanarsky, Skutar, Zhafyarov
    HC Slovan Bratislava: Kopriva (Godla) – Miklik, Skoula, Kutlak, Vondrka, Olvecky – Mojzis, Sersen, Netik, Bartovic, Mikus – Sigalet, Kukumberg, Matousek, Mihalik, Hudacek – Stajnoch, Kolena, Dano, Bakos
    Referees: Belyayev, Rogachyov – Streltsov, Tarasov
    Attendance: 3275