SIB 5:3 LEV | HC Sibir Novosibirsk - Lev Praha (KHL)

KHL

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Vityaz – SKA St. Petersburg	2:3 (1:2 after SO)

final

HC Sibir Novosibirsk

5:3 (4:0, 0:3, 1:0)

Lev Praha

Sunday 29.09.2013, 12:00 • KHL

		Lev fired 42 shots on goal this game, but other than a brief period in the middle of the second period, Mikko Koskinen was solid in the Sibir goal. At the other end, Atte Engren was pulled after surrendering 3 goals on 13 shots in the first period, though 2 of those goals came directly off of turnovers. For the rest of the game, rookie Jan Lukas was impressive, stopping 11 of 12. (14:49:21)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:27	Jan Lukas goes to the bench for the extra attacker on the fly.
	58:34	Sibir is now back at full strength and play is stopped as the puck goes out of play in the neutral zone.
	57:02	More pressure from Lev and a shot from the perimeter, glove save Koskinen. 1:28 left in the penalty.
	56:48	Another save by Koskinen, who holds on. The fans are now chanting his name. 1:42 left in this Lev power play.
	56:30	Alexander Kutuzov is called for tripping. Lev will have a 4-on-3 advantage for :03, then it'll be 5-on-4.
	54:33	We've got off-setting penalties now, as Patrik Zackrisson and Ivan Lekomtsev are each going off for roughing following some pushing and shoving. We'll play 4 on 4 for the next two minutes.
	54:10	Now a rocket from the blueline, I'm not sure who exactly, but Mikko Koskinen does it again, flashing the leather and holding on.
	53:07	Koskinen stops a long shoot-in and covers it. Lev now over the 40-shot mark, but need 2 goals.
	52:30	Sibir now back at full strength. Lev had possession in the attacking zone for most of that advantage, but only a couple of quality shots.
	51:27	Ondrej Nemec from the point, hits Koskinen in the chest and he traps it there. 1:01 left in the penalty.
	50:55	Off a faceoff win, Martin Thornberg fired from the point. Mikko Koskinen made a stick save and the puck lied dangerously in the crease. Finally a Siber PKer got his stick on the puck and cleared it.
	50:28	Igor Ozhiganov hits Danielsson without the puck and is going off for interference. The physical play of this game starting to pick up now. Down 2 goals, Lev really needs to cash in on the power play here.
	50:06	Just past the halfway mark of the 3rd period, Petr Vrana ties a shot through traffic but Koskinen sees it all the way and holds on.
	49:06	Now a collision between Sibir's Vitali Karamnov and Lev's Jakub Nakladal, who were both teammates last year with Lev. Nakladal hobbles off the ice. We'll see if he returns.
	48:45	Goal for Sibir! They didn't score on the power play, but they get one not long after. DMITRI MONYA led the rush into the Lev zone and fired a hard wrister inside the post.
	48:22	At the tail end of the power play, a shot by Kugryshev and a blocker save Lukas, play continues . . .
	47:17	Kugryshev tried to shoot but the puck skipped over his stick and Lev ices for the second time on this penalty, which is almost half over.
	46:24	Martin Sevc going to the box for hooking. Sibir's been coming on of late and they'd love to cash in here to get a bit of breathing room in this game. They're 0/2 on the power play so far.
	46:02	Finally a Lev chance. Ridderwall shoots and Koskinen makes a pad save, then Azevedo shoots wide on the rebound. This 3rd line has all 3 Lev goals.
	44:12	Now a chance for Jori Lehtera and a glove save by Lukas. Sibir seem to be playing their best hockey of the game so far right now.
	43:43	Alexander Romanov from point-blank range tried to go five-hole on Jan Lukas but the youngster closes the door. What a KHL debut he's had so far.
	43:11	Lukas Cingel is now playing with Novotny and Klepis on the top line this period. We'll try to update you on Erik Christensen's status if we get the chance.
	42:45	Another save by Lukas, who traps the shot against his body and holds on.
	42:39	SIbir now back at full strength and play is in the Lev zone.
	42:10	A shorthanded chance for Sannikov and Lukas forced to cover for a faceoff in the Lev zone late in the power play, :21 left.
	41:50	A blast from Jaakola gets deflected out of play in the Sibir zone. Faceoff inside with :49 left in the penalty.
	41:22	Koskinen makes a relatively easy save and covers. 1:09 left in the penalty.
	40:39	Now a bad Sibir change and they're called for too many players on the ice. Lev with a chance to tie the game on the power play -- they're 0/1 today.
	40:31	Lev with the first offensive chance of this game but Koskinen covers the puck. They're going for the equaliser.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		The teams are back on the ice and the 3rd period faceoff is moments away.
		Well, what a turn of events in that period. Actually, Lev was just as strong offensively in the first period, but their defence was a lot better as Sibir have a few players that are ready to pounce on mistakes. Mikko Koskinen has been a busy man tonight, and he started looking fatigued in that second period. Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Sibir 9 (22), Lev 12 (34). 3rd period begins at 13:46 CEST, 07:46 EDT.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:12	A late chance for Sibir. Jonas Enlund with the tricky-looking shot but Jan Lukas has a handle on it. The shots he's faced haven't been numerous but every save he makes keeps Lev's comeback hopes alive.
	37:12	Off the draw Zackrisson shoots, and yet another save by Koskinen, who holds on.
	37:01	Icing Sibir again. They just want to escape this period with the lead right now.
	36:40	Icing Sibir, as Lev had once again set up in the zone, though failed to get a shot on that last sequence.
	35:00	A rare Sibir rush, 2 on 2, and a shot is kicked to the corner by Lukas.
	34:00	More Lev pressure. Sekac shoots from the blueline and it hits Koskinen, who covers. You have to wonder if he's getting fatigued now with all this work.
	32:03	Timeout Sibir. No surprise here, as they're really reeling right now. Lev already has 32 shots on goal this game and we're just over halfway done.
	32:03	Goal for Lev! Just 39 seconds later they cut the deficit to 1. Two Canadians hook up, as Humphries passes to JUSTIN AZEVEDO, and his shot from the left circle finds its way through a maze in front and in. Assist: Spencer Humphries.
	31:24	Goal for Lev! What plagued Lev in the first period was turnovers, and now Sibir makes a costly mistake trying to get out of their zone. PATRIK ZACKRISSON picks up the puck just inside the blueline and fires a long slapshot that beats Koskinen up high for his 2nd of the game. Unassisted.
	30:37	Birner with a shot, Koskinen saves and covers. Sibir now back at full strength.
	30:00	Lev was putting on pressure, but now the puck is iced.
	29:00	Novotny passes to Nathan Oystrick, his one-time slapper hits Koskinen up high and falls to the ice. The Finnish goalie didn't seem to know where it was but finally the puck was cleared before a Lev player could get to it.
	28:36	Now Lev will go to the power play as Kristian Kudroc is called for holding on Azevedo.
	27:55	Lev ices three times and are now back at full strength. They might build some momentum off of this.
	26:50	Sibir maintains possession in the Lev zone now only 1 man up, but not getting quality shots as the Lev PK continues to do well.
	26:16	Dangerous chance for Sibir and a nice save by Jan Lukas, snaring Alexander Kutuzov's blast from the point. There's now just :04 left in the Azevedo penalty.
	25:55	Lev's done a good job on the PK so far, but they're now going to be down 2 men as Ondrej Nemec is called for high-sticking. It'll be 5-on-3 Sibir for :28.
	24:20	We're now getting the game's first penalty (not counting the penalty shot). Justin Azevedo for slashing, so Sibir to the power play.
	23:59	Goal for Lev! They finally break through after so many chances. After missing the net a bit earlier, Sekac gets the puck back and finds PATRIK ZACKRISSON at the far side, who just has to re-direct it in. Assist: Jiri Sekac.
	23:48	Topi Jaakola tries to feed Sekac, but he re-directs it just wide.
	23:30	Icing Sibir.
	22:50	Sibir 2 on 1. Jiri Novotny the lone man back prevents the pass and Jonas Enlund shoots. Jan Lukas makes the save and covers--his first KHL save and it's a big one.
	22:22	Lev putting on pressure again, and Koskinen continues to stand tall. First Nakladal, then Ridderwall's shot hits his shoulder and goes out of play.
	21:20	A shot attempt by Klepis is deflected out of play in the Sibir zone. Faceoff inside.
	20:35	Lehtera fires a slapper just wide. Lukas still untested.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		The teams are on the ice and the 2nd period will start shortly. Not surprisingly, Jan Lukas is taking over from Atte Engren in the Lev goal.
		That period couldn't have gone any worse for Lev, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Jan Lukas in the 2nd period. They fired 22 (!) shots at Mikko Koskinen and he stopped them all, including a penalty shot, while Sibir scored 4 goals on 13 shots, 2 of them coming directly off neutral-zone turnovers. I won't say this game is done, but it won't be easy to come back from this. Shots on goal in the 1st period: Sibir 13, Lev 22. Faceoffs: Sibir 12/21, Lev 9/21. Icetime leaders: Sibir – Alexeyev 8:18, Lev – Nakladal 8:42. 2nd period begins at 12:54 CEST, 06:54 EDT.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:59	Goal for Sibir! Now they do score. JONAS ENLUND missed the net, but Lehtera got the puck behind the net and passed back in front, where Enlund's one-timer beat Engren five-hole with 1 second on the clock! Assist: Jori Lehtera.
	19:25	Sibir almost makes it 4-0 but forward Michal Birner made a great sliding save to keep the puck out on a one-time attempt.
	19:18	Now a chance for Danielsson, hits Koskinen in the chest and he holds on.
	18:10	Save Mikko Koskinen. Klepis went to his backhand on the penalty shot but Koskinen kicks it out. That's a huge save at this point and he's had a huge period.
	18:10	Jakub Klepis in all alone but he's hooked from behind. He still gets a shot away and Koskinen stops it, but a penalty shot is being called.
	17:21	Goal for Sibir! Lev cleared once, but Sibir came back into the zone and Kristian Kudroc's bullet from the point is deflected on the way by OLEG KUBIN and finds the back of the net. It didn't appear that Engren could see it through the traffic in front. Assist: Kristian Kudroc.
	16:15	In this back-and-forth period, it's now Sibir's turn to put on the pressure. They're having trouble setting up shop, though.
	15:25	Play now in the Lev zone, Enlund shoots from a sharp angle, hits Engren, who covers.
	14:53	First Sekac shot high on the backhand, then the puck stayed in the Sibir zone but finally it's covered by Koskinen.
	13:37	Goal for Sibir! Another goal is the result of an interception in the neutral zone by Alexeyev. This time, he picked off the pass from Oystrick, crossed the blueline and passed to the dangerous JORI LEHTERÄ. He makes a little fake and fires a backhander just inside the post. Assist: Konstantin Alexeyev.
	13:08	Christensen wins the draw back to Nathan Oystrick, who fires a high slapper that's caught by the glove of Mikko Koskinen. He seems to have a good glove hand.
	12:52	Lev pressure continues and the puck slides to Koskinen in traffic and he wisely covers again.
	12:00	Lev was a bit taken aback after that goal but now they're starting to get something going again. Thornberg shoots and Koskinen makes a pad save and covers.
	10:47	Goal for Sibir! Lev was rushing out of the zone but then an errant neutral zone pass is picked off by Konstantin Alexeyev, who feeds STEPAN SANNIKOV on a breakaway. Catching everyone flat-footed, he went in all alone on goal and fired a wrister high to the blocker side on Engren and off the back crossbar. Assist: Konstantin Alexeyev.
	10:34	Play continues in the Lev zone, Kurgyshev with the puck but can't find anyone open in front.
	10:04	Koskiranta with a shot but Engren makes a nice save. He's had a history of poor starts but he's been sharp so far this game.
	08:14	A blast from Ridderwall just sails wide of the post.
	08:00	Offside Lev.
	07:30	Finally Lev manages to clear the zone, play in the neutral zone now.
	07:10	Sibir with possession in the Lev zone around the perimeter but having trouble getting shots through.
	06:50	Sibir break out of their zone off the draw and get a few chances . . . Jonas Enlund sets up Jori Lehtera with a wide-open side of the net but he fans on the one-time attempt.
	06:10	Now a slapper from Thornberg but Koskinen catches it and holds on again. He's been busy early.
	05:40	Lev on the attack again . . . Danielsson and Nakladal both try to shoot but neither get through to the net. Lots of traffic in front.
	04:05	Now Sibir with some pressure. First Lehtera had a chance but lost the puck without shooting. Then Kurgyshev shoots but Engren stops and covers it.
	03:05	Lev really putting on some early pressure. Calle Ridderwall with a great chance but Mikko Koskinen makes a big glove save and holds on for the game's first whistle.
	02:10	Martin Thornberg with a shot from a sharp angle, blocked in front.
	01:15	Back and forth action from the opening faceoff, as both Mikko Koskienen and Atte Engren have made their first saves. Still without a whistle.
	00:01	Game started.
		The national anthems of the Czech Republic and Russian Federation are complete, and the opening faceoff is moments away.
		Starting Lineups: HK Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Orekhov) – Belov, Kudroč, Alexeyev, Kutuzov, Lekomtsev, Ozhiganov, Karavayev – Lehterä, Enlund, Romanov – Kugryshev, Kopeikin, Koskiranta – Monya, Gubin, Sannikov – Karamnov, Lemtugov, Voroshilo – Butuzov Lev Praha: Engren (Lukáš) – Oystrick, O’Byrne, Ševc, Nakládal, Jaakola, Němec, Humphries – Novotný, Klepiš, Christensen – Birner, Vrána, Danielsson – Sekáč, Zackrisson, Thörnberg – Ridderwall, Azevedo, Kubalík – Cingel Referees: Sergeyev, Bondar – Alyoshin, Ivanov.
		Lev Praha goes into this game looking to record their fifth victory in six games, as the club’s promising start has seen them rise to tth in the Western Conference standings. On the other hand, Sibir sit just outside of the playoff places in 9th in the East. Last season saw Sibir finish in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, falling in seven games to Avangard Omsk. The two clubs faced each other twice in November last year, with Sibir taking a 5-3 victory following a third period collapse in Prague. Twenty-seven days later, while Lev was on their Far Eastern road trip, Sibir emerged victorious in a closely fought contest, snatching a 2-1 victory. It has been a summer of change in Novosibirsk, as the club welcomed thirteen new faces in order to strengthen a roster which has been smarting since losing talisman Vladimir Tarasenko to the NHL. Vyacheslav Belov joined from Gagarin cup finalists Traktor. Talented young defenceman Nikita Zaitsev was moved to CSKA Moscow, but in return the club received the pair of Igor Ozhiganov and Dmitri Kugryshev, with the latter picking up six points in his first eight games for his new club. Sibir also looked to Finland for reinforcements, recently signing goaltender Mikko Koskinen from Espoo and Jarno Koskiranta from KalPa. Former Lev forward Vitali Karamnov also joined Sibir in the off-season. However, the linchpin for Sibir remains KHL all-star Jori Lehterä. The 25-year old picked racked up 46 points last season, and has continued his rich vein of form by scoring at a point per game so far this season. Also returning from last year’s roster is fellow Finn Jonas Enlund. His 38 points were essential to Sibir’s playoff push last season, and the former Tappara forward already has three goals to his credit this season. For Lev, defenceman Martin Ševc and centre Niko Kapanen each scored two goals in Friday's game and now share the team scoring lead with 7 points. Unfortunately for the club, Kapanen suffered a lower body injury in the game and is expected to miss the rest of the road trip. He won't be playing this game. Petri Vehanen will be playing, however, return to the Lev net after a night off Friday.
		Welcome. This game starts at 17:00 NOVT local time in Novosibirsk, 12:00 CEST in Prague, 06:00 EDT.

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 11. Sannikov (Alexeyev), 14. Lehtera (Alexeyev), 18. Gubin (Kudroc), 20. Enlund (Lehtera), 49. Monya – 24. Zackrisson (Sekac), 32. Zackrisson, 33. Azevedo (Humphries)

HC Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Orekhov) – Belov, Kudroč, Alexeyev, Kutuzov, Lekomtsev, Ozhiganov, Karavayev – Lehterä, Enlund, Romanov – Kugryshev, Kopeikin, Koskiranta – Monya, Gubin, Sannikov – Karamnov, Lemtugov, Voroshilo – Butuzov

Lev Praha: Engren (Lukáš) – Oystrick, O’Byrne, Ševc, Nakládal, Jaakola, Němec, Humphries – Novotný, Klepiš, Christensen – Birner, Vrána, Danielsson – Sekáč, Zackrisson, Thörnberg – Ridderwall, Azevedo, Kubalík – Cingel

Referees: Sergeyev, Bondar – Alyoshin, Ivanov

1st period
	10:47
	13:37
	17:21
	19:59
1st intermission
2nd period
	23:59
	24:20
	25:55
	28:36
	31:24
	32:03
2nd intermission
3rd period
	40:39
	46:24
	48:45
	50:28
	54:33
	56:30
Final