SBA 5:2 LEV | HC Slovan Bratislava - Lev Praha (KHL)

KHL

HC Slovan – Lev

5:2 (end)

final

HC Slovan Bratislava

5:2 (2:0, 1:0, 2:2)

Lev Praha

Tuesday 15.10.2013, 19:00 • KHL

		Welcome. This game starts at 19:00 CEST local time in Bratislava and Prague, 13:00 EDT.
		Last season, Lev and Slovan battled each other neck and neck all season, finishing within 2 points of each other at the end of the season. Their four head-to-head match-ups reflected that, as they were all decided by a single goal with Slovan taking the first three. When the two teams met for the fourth and final time of the season on February 3 in Bratislava, the playoff race was in full swing and Lev really needed a win. They got it on the strength of four first-period goals and a late game-winner by Martins Cipulis. Although the two teams were evenly-matched last season, that hasn´t been the case so far this year. While Lev is in 6th place in the Western Conference with 27 points, Slovan is tied for last with 17. They have come on a bit lately, though. They´ve won their last three games, most recently a 6-5 decision over Traktor Chelyabinsk on Sunday. After the stellar season Jaroslav Janus had last season, he´s struggled to start this season and Miroslav Kopřiva has played more minutes, leaving it up in the air who will start on Tuesday. Their top four defencemen include three ex-Lions and a Canadian: Michal Sersen with 7 points, followed by Tomáš Mojžíš and Jonathan Sigalet tied with 4, and Martin Škoula with 3. Another former Lev player, Juraj Mikúš, is up front, part of a group led by Milan Bartovič, Michel Miklík, Michal Vondrka and Tomáš Netík. Possibly the best internationally-known name on the roster is Columbus Blue Jackets´ first-round pick Marko Daňo. After a reasonably-successful home stand where they took 7 of 12 points -- but all the players believe they should have had more -- the Lions make a short excursion to Bratislava before heading back home for two more games. Jakub Klepiš and Martin Ševc continue to lead the team with 9 points, while Martin Thörnberg added his team-leading 7th goal of the season on Sunday afternoon to move up to 8 points. Niko Kapanen, Petr Vrána and Jiří Sekáč all have 7.
		Starting Lineups: HC Slovan Bratislava: Kopřiva (Janus) – Škoula, Kutlák, Mojžíš, Sersen, Štajnoch, Sigalet, Mihálik – Netík, J. Mikúš, Bartovič – Miklík, Vondrka, Ölvecký – Kukumberg, Bližňák, Hudáček – Daňo, Matoušek, T. Mikúš – Mráz. Lev Praha: Vehanen (Lukáš) – Jaakola, O'Byrne, Gragnani, Ševc, Němec, Nakládal, Humphries – Klepiš, Zackrisson, Thörnberg – Ridderwall, Azevedo, Sekáč – Novotný, Christensen, Danielsson – Birner, Vrána, Řepík – Cingel. Referees: Wiegand, Sergeyev – Golovlyov, Shelyanin.
		The national anthems of the Czech and Slovak republics are complete, and the opening faceoff is moments away. Slovan Bratislava is wearing their alternate powder blue uniforms with navy blue and white trim, white numerals, navy blue pants and helmets. Lev Praha is wearing road white with blue and red trim, red numerals, red NY Rangers-style pants and white helmets.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:50	Lev's Justin Azevedo gets the game's first shot on goal in close, kicked aside by Janus.
	01:04	Icing Sovan.
	01:07	A clean faceoff win by Azevedo and a shot by Nakladal, Janus catches and holds for another faceoff.
	03:30	Both these teams making changes, long stretch of play without any shots or stoppages.
	04:04	Michal Repik spins around and shoots in the Slovan zone, pad save Janus.
	04:42	Goal for Slovan! On their first scoring chance they score. It's a 2 on 1, and Olvecky passes to MICHAL VONDRKA, who waits for Vehanen to commit and then beats him on a backhand deke. Assists: Peter Olvecky, Michel Miklik.
	05:50	Now a shot from Marko Dano, blocker save Vehanen.
	06:52	Shot by Stajnoch from well out, pad save Vehanen.
	07:53	Calle Ridderwall shoots from the blueline, Janus traps it and holds on for the first whistle since the goal.
	08:04	Shot deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	08:47	Offside Slovan.
	09:00	The puck takes a funny deflection around the Lev goal and fans cheer, thinking it went in the net but play continues. We'll have to wait for a replay to see what exactly happened.
	09:33	Now Vehanen catches the puck and holds on, and we'll take a look. That puck hit the skate of a Lev defenceman, a Slovan stick in front, then the glove of Vehanen and fell down just wide of the post. Close.
	11:12	Puck deflected out of play in the Slovan zone, faceoff inside.
	12:04	Shot from Repik, kicked out by Janus.
	13:12	Jakub Klepis cuts out front and tries to backhand it up high but it hits Janus.
	13:23	Lev's Topi Jaakola is getting this game's first penalty, pinching off Tomas Netik behind the net. Slovan to the power play.
	14:34	Slovan called for icing on the power play with :49 to go. They're still without a shot on this advantage and haven't managed to fully gain the attacking zone.
	15:25	Lev back at full strength and are in possession in the neutral zone. Slovan didn't threaten at all during that advantage.
	15:46	Icing Slovan again.
	17:18	Slovan going back to the power play as Jiri Novotny drives Tomas Mojzis into the boards head-first and is called for boarding. That ends a stretch where Lev had possession in the attacking zone but stayed to the perimeter and didn't get a shot.
	17:46	The line that got the goal is out to start the power play, and Michel Miklik sends a tricky shot to the front of the net that Peter Olvecky deflects right into Vehanen, who covers with 1:32 left in the power play.
	18:26	Goal for Slovan! This power play was a lot different than the first, as Slovan was attacking hard. A nice passing play finishes with a pass from Mikus across the front to TOMAS NETIK, who quickly fires high to the glove side. Power-play goal. Assists: Juraj Mikus, Zdenek Kutlak
	20:00	1st period finished.
		A fairly even, defensive period of hockey, but Slovan manufactured two scoring chances and scored on them both -- one on a 2-on-1 break and the other on the power play -- and they go to the intermission up 2-0. Shots on goal in the 1st period: Slovan 9, Lev 7. Faceoffs: Slovan 9/18 (Bliznak 4/7), Lev 9/18 (Christensen 3/4). Icetime leaders: Slovan – Sersen 7:14, Lev – Sevc 8:39. 2nd period begins at 19:49 CEST, 13:49 EDT.
		The teams are on the ice and the 2nd period faceoff is moments away.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:40	Tomas Netik tries to break in 1-on-2 but is pinched off in the middle without getting a shot away.
	21:14	Icing Slovan.
	21:22	Long shot by ex-Lion Michel Sersen on a Slovan rush, Vehanen re-directs it to the corner.
	21:40	Puck out of play in the Slovan zone, faceoff inside.
	21:50	Slovan getting their first penalty of the game as Mario Bliznak upends Jiri Novotny in the corner. Lev to the power play.
	22:52	Offside Lev with :58 left in the power play. Still without a shot.
	23:14	Shorthanded 2 on 1 for Slovan, Peter Olvecky elects to shoot and hits the crossbar and it goes out of play. :36 left in the penalty, faceoff outside the Lev line.
	23:55	Bliznak comes out of the box and almost receives a breakaway pass but has to turn back to get it, by that time his forward momentum was stopped. But Slovan back at full strength and they got the best scoring chance on that Lev power play.
	25:14	Lev dump-in attempt hits a player hopping over the boards and goes into the bench. Faceoff at centre ice.
	25:44	Topi Jaakola gets Lev's best chance this game, pinching in from the point, taking a pass in the slot and firing. Not sure if it hit Janus, who was down, or the player in front.
	29:04	Puck squirts out of the corner toward the Lev net and Petri Vehanen puts a glove on it and covers for a faceoff.
	29:30	Puck slides the length of the ice right on Janus in the Slovan goal, now Lev with possession in the zone.
	30:29	Line of Birner, Vrána, Řepík buzzing right now. Vrana fires a high wrister that hits Janus in the shoulder.
	31:22	Back the other way, Sersen takes a long wrist shot that Vehanen catches and holds, and we get a bit of pushing and shoving after the whistle. Nothing comes of it.
	31:47	Puck goes out of play in the neutral zone. Faceoff just outside the Slovan line.
	32:01	Lev enters the zone as Azevedo takes a long slapper from centre that hits Janus, and he holds it against his chest for a whistle.
	33:10	Long Slovan shoot-in goes on Vehanen, and he covers.
	34:00	Punishing hit by Danielsson in the corner in the Slovan zone, followed by a 2-on-2 battle for the puck.
	34:40	The puck is cleared into the Lev bench. Faceoff goes back in the Slovan zone.
	35:15	Vrana the one-time slapper hits Janus in the shoulder, then Birner's rebound deflects over top of the net and Birner attempts a wraparound, which is also kept out by Jaroslav Janus--his most difficult work of the night so far.
	36:01	Now the puck slides down into the Lev zone and Vehanen covers.
	36:33	Goal for Slovan! Just after that great chance by Lev, Slovan comes back to take a commanding 3-0 lead. From the boards, Vondrka passed into the slot where PETER OLVECKY one-timed it past Vehanen. This line has been Slovan's best today. Assists: Michal Vondrka Mikel Miklik.
	37:49	Lev comes back again as Nicklas Danielsson gets a couple shots from weak angles, Janus covers.
	39:09	Jaroslav Janus goes into the corner to play the puck and loses his footing, almost getting caught, but the puck is deflected up into the netting to stop play. Faceoff in the Slovan zone.
	39:54	Martin Thornberg centres in front to Patrik Zackrisson, and his one-timer from the slot is kicked out by Janus.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Another defensive period of hockey, and one would have to say that Lev probably had a slight edge as far as quality chances but Slovan got the only goal and now have a commanding 3-0 lead after 40 minutes. Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Slovan 6 (15), Lev 6 (13). Faceoffs: Slovan 16/36 (Bliznak 6/12), Lev 20/36 (Zackrisson & Christensen 5/7). Icetime leaders: Slovan – Mojzis 14:01, Lev – Sevc 16:32. 3rd period begins at 20:38 CEST, 14:38 EDT.
		The teams are on the ice and the 3rd period will start shortly.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:26	Icing Lev.
	41:57	The puck slides to Vehanen, and he covers for a faceoff in the Lev zone.
	42:13	Jiri Novotny almost gets in clear, backhands on Janus, who makes a great save and we have a pile up of players after the whistle and at least one penatly coming.
	42:13	We're going to have 4-on-4 hockey as Slovan's Martin Skoula and Lev's Nicklas Danielsson go off for cross-checking and slashing, respectively.
	43:09	Now Martin Thornberg is upended by goaltender Jaroslav Janus at the side of the Slovan goal and Janus is called for tripping. His penalty is being served by Michal Vondrka and Lev is going to the 4-on-3 power play.
	43:48	Sevc shoots from the point, hits Janus in the chest.
	44:18	Now a shot from Gragnani at the point, Janus catches it and holds as we're now 5-on-4 with :51 left in the penalty.
	44:43	Tomas Netik does a good job of ragging the puck on the PK.
	45:12	Vrana gets a shot away just at the penalty ends, Janus stops it and now Slovan starts back up ice at full strength.
	46:25	Goal for Lev! CALLE RIDDERWALL fanned on his first shot attempt, but Jiri Sekac recovered the puck and got it back to him, and the Swede made no mistake on his second offering, beating Janus with a wrister to the glove side. Assist: Jiri Sekac.
	47:20	Offside Lev.
	48:10	Hudacek fires a slapper wide, Lev starts back . . .
	50:07	Tomas Mojzis the wrister, Vehanen gets a glove on it and play continues in the Lev zone.
	51:42	Offside Lev.
	52:08	Lev caught with too many players on the ice, a common affliction for the team this year, and they'll have to kill off a penalty before resuming their comeback attempt. Slovan will attempt to put the game away here.
	53:30	Lev ices for the third time, Slovan still without a shot this power play.
	54:30	Lev back at full strength and they're now going to try to go to the attack.
	54:53	Michal Birner with the shot and it's gloved and held by Jaroslav Janus.
	55:05	Martin Sevc fires a big slapper from the point, not sure if it was stopped by Janus or blocked in front.
	55:09	Big chance for Lev now as Peter Olvecky goes off for interference. A goal here is imperative.
	55:50	Klepis the wrister from the left wing side, hits Janus and it's iced.
	56:40	Long shot from Danielsson deflected to the corner.
	57:06	Repik attempts a slapper but it hits a stick and goes wide.
	57:25	Slovan back at full strength but play still in their zone.
	57:33	Chance for Novotny right in front but Janus makes another big save. The Slovan crowd now on its feet, smelling victory.
	57:33	Timeout Lev. Petri Vehanen is going to the bench for a 6th attacker.
	57:56	A bit of overpassing there, finally Thornberg shoots and hits Janus in the shoulder.
	58:24	Goal for Slovan! TOMAS NETIK puts this game away as he scores his second of the game, winning a race to the puck in the neutral zone and shooting from just outside the Lev blueline. Unassisted.
	58:48	Goal for Lev! MICHAL BIRNER was stationed at the top of the slot and he one-timed the pass when it came to him and it beat Janus through traffic to bring Lev back within 2. Still an uphill climb, though. Assist: Michal Repik.
	58:48	We've got off-setting penalties to Michal Repik and Jonathan Sigalet, who mixed it up after the goal, so we'll likely finish this game 4 on 4.
	59:01	Goal for Slovan! The Lev net was empty again, and MICHEL MIKLIK jumped on a turnover right at the side of the net for the easy goal. Unassisted.
	59:42	Play is stopped now as Lev's Martin Sevc and Slovan's Peter Olvecky bump in the corner and take whacks at each other. They're given 2 minutes each--surprisingly they're going to the box instead of the dressing rooms.
	60:00	Game over.
		A goal by Ridderwall gave Lev some life in that 3rd period, but 2 late empty-net goals around a 2nd Lev goal late put this one away for Slovan Bratislava.
		Thank you for following the only KHL game today, but check back tomorrow for a full slate of action. (21:17:03)

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 5. Vondrka (Olvecky, Miklik), 19. Netik (J.Mikus, Kutlak), 37. Olvecky (Vondrka, Miklik), 59. Netik, 60. Miklik – 47. Ridderwall (Sekac), 59. Birner (Repik)

HC Slovan Bratislava: Janus (Kopřiva) – Škoula, Kutlák, Mojžíš, Sersen, Štajnoch, Sigalet, Mihálik – Netík, J. Mikúš, Bartovič – Miklík, Vondrka, Ölvecký – Kukumberg, Bližňák, Hudáček – Daňo, Matoušek, T. Mikúš – Mráz.

Lev Praha: Vehanen (Lukáš) – Jaakola, O'Byrne, Gragnani, Ševc, Němec, Nakládal, Humphries – Klepiš, Zackrisson, Thörnberg – Ridderwall, Azevedo, Sekáč – Novotný, Christensen, Danielsson – Birner, Vrána, Řepík – Cingel.

Referees: Wiegand, Sergeyev – Golovlyov, Shelyanin

1st period
	04:42
	13:23
	17:18
	18:26
1st intermission
2nd period
	21:50
	36:33
2nd intermission
3rd period
	42:13
	43:09
	46:25
	52:08
	55:09
	58:24
	58:48
	58:48
	59:01
	59:42
Final