Severstal keep up the pressure, though they can't find a way to the net while Metallurg find time an ally in these final moments.

Two minutes remain in the third period and possibly the game.

Severstal seek to put more pressure and keep the puck inside Metallurg's zone, but Pechursky doesn't seem to allow anything in.

Alexander Pechursky covers the puck in front of the crease as the shot comes from the right side and forces a stoppage in play.

It must be a horrible feeling for Severstal now as they kept the game even until the final five minutes but still don't hesitate to go on the attack and possibly bring another surprise.

Icing Severstal.

Severstal dump the puck and it could have gone in as Pechursky missed where it was going but luckily there is no one behind the net to take advantage on the play.

Pavel Zdunov intercepts the pass in the neutral zone but can't find the way through Stepanek going down to the net.

Bumagin misses the goal a bit too wide too high as he is alone at the right post, but the one-timer is missed.

Severstal will get on the powerplay as Berdnikov is back on the ice.

Severstal manage to clear the danger away, but Metallurg are right back into it.

Mozyakin and Kovar play a few passes with the latter sending a feed to the slot which goes through and out of the zone with the skaters being late for a second.

Mozyakin and Biryukov play a couple of back and forth passes at the blueline, and then a feed to the slot slides through finding no one to finish the play.

Nothing significant going on as neither team is able to pose a serious threat on their opposition's net.

In a battle on the boards someone of Metallurg lost their helmet and will have to be replaced while Severstal continue their offense.

A feed is sent to the slot from the right but the puck ends up behind Metallurg's forwards's back and he can't scoop it to continue the attack.

Alexander Bumagin gets the puck into the zone over the right, but can't outskate the defense and get a proper shot on net.

Metallurg don't give the possession away and force Severstal to defend again causing another icing call. The hosts are eager to dominate and win the game.

Yet another icing call against Severstal. Desperate defending in this opening minute of the third.

After an initial shot by Metallurg and the faceoff in Severstal zone, the visitors ice the puck again and the faceoff comes back deep into their zone.

Severstal have their flashes with a shot from the right of the slot, only wide to the left.

The final minute of the second period.

Severstal clear the puck from their zone but Pechursky stops it before it's iced and wants to get it quickly down the ice again.

Metallurg is back at full strength.

Gleb Klimenko hits the bar off a hard shot from the blueline, aimed one-timed and Pechursky can only be too happy Metallurg doesn't find themselves trailing right now.

Severstal take good use of the powerplay so far firing a couple of times, but don't seem to find their way to the net.

Pechursky forces a stop as the puck hits him in the head and his helmet comes off on a hard shot by Severstal.

Jakub Stepanek has to be really focused now as there was a surprise shot with the puck coming to him out of nowhere with a shot from the left boards.

Caslava waits for his team mates to change lines and organize down the ice as they try to calm the game down and break Metallurg's pressure.

Sergei Tereshchenko takes a shot from the right, Stepanek makes a pad save.

Icing against Severstal as they want to clear the danger away.

Severstal try to get the most of the momentum change and keep attacking their shocked opponents.

Immediately they get back on the attack as Sergei Mozyakin in the slot gets a backhander just over the bar.

Metallurg is back at full strength.

Dmitry Kazionov gets a shot shorthanded as Metallurg put on a great penalty killing unit, but Stepanek is there to make a save on a difficult shot.

Metallurg clear the danger away and keep their net untouched for now.

Pechursky is forced to make another save off Pets Calsava's strike from the blue, but covers only after a deflection before Nikontsev coming from the left side wanting to get his grip on it.

Severstal finally get some offense in the zone and keep possession for a longer period and there is a delayed penalty coming.

Metallurg go on the offense once again and Chriss Lee gets a pass skating towards the net, gets out on the right edge of the crease and fires a backhander but Stepanek makes a pad deflection and keeps the score unchanged.

With a little delay the referees whistle for icing against Metallurg although it seemed someone touched the puck before it crossed the line.

Alexander Pechursky records his first save of the second period as he forces the stoppage and the faceoff comes deep in his zone.

Evgeny Timkin tries to lead another offense but combines too much and can't keep up with the pressure losing the puck at the right circle.

Evgeny Timkin tries to get back into the zone for Metallurg, but someone on the other side si too quick and they're stopped with an offside call.

Metallurg continue their pressure from the first period with a couple of shots so far.

Right at the start Severstal is ice the puck and will have to restart from their zone.

One minute to go in the first.

Evgeny Grigorenko receives a pass from the defensive zone and on the left blue, takes a few strolls and then fires a wristshot a bit too high that goes over the bar.

Metallurg keep the pressure up on Severstal not leaving the zone.

Metallurg can't get a good offense organized as Severstal keep clearing the danger away with :57 left on the penalty.

Jakub Stepanek makes a huge save as Chris Lee takes the puck over the left wing and fires from the circle outskating the defenseman, but Stepanek is focused.

Gleb Klimenko drives the puck around the zone and tries to outskate his counterpart at the blueline but the linesman sees the puck go out and whistles for offside.

Viktor Antipin makes a good move stopping the puck from exiting the zone on the attack but then can't find anyone to send the pass to and gives possession away to Severstal.

The game comes coast-to-coast with neither team being able to organize any concrete attack in the zone.

Severstal find themselves back into their zone again after another icing.

Seems like we have some talk between the refs and Metallurg's bench before the play continues.

Jan Kovar gets back in play as his penalty ends and immediately finds himself in an opportunity to get on the board but in the waning moments the puck slicks from his stick and Severstal can restart.

Severstal dump the puck but then can't get a clear possession.

Severstal fire a barrage against the net coming from all angles, though most of it comes wide or stopped.

Severstal continue to pressure the hosts with Caslava getting a hard wrister from the blueline which forces Pechursky to make a glove save and bring a stoppage to the play.

Severstal will continue on the powerplay as the previous penalties come to an end.

Metallurg find themself in a better spot as Severstal struggle to keep any possession or get into the zone, while Metallurg managed to create a few chances.

Severstal get down the ice and into the zone trying to fire a shot on net, but the shot coming from a wrister before the left circle is wide to the left and Metallurg take over.

Icing against Severstal as they try to get on the attack, so the faceoff gets back deep into their zone.

Dmitry Kazionov tries to get the puck into a shooting opportunity after circling the net from right to left but loses balance coming out and can't make a pass.

Justin Hodgman gets the first shot of the game as he fires off the blue but Stepanek is there to make the save.

Anatoly Nikontsev wants to get the first attack for Severstal early on but after getting into the zone on the right, misses the puck trying to stop and shoot.

Starting lineups:

Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Pechursky (Koshechkin) – Antipin, Mozyakin, Zaripov, Kovar, Biryukov – Lee, Shenfeld, Tereshchenko, Kazionov, Gulas – Hodgman, Timkin, Malenkikh, Kosov, Khabarov – Metlyuk, Zdunov, Malinovsky, Grigorenko, Kamenev

Severstal Cherepovets: Stepanek (Grigoryev) – Bushuyev, Laakso, Videll, Caslava, Nikontsev – Serkin, Berdnikov, Yevseyenkov, Bumagin, Klimenko – Stasenko, Kazakovtsev, Popov, Kovyrshin, Buchnevich – Kuvayev, Gimbatov, Fedoseyev, Gogolev, Dedunov

Referees: Bulanov, Buturlin – Gordenko, Tomilov.

The players hit the ice, the Russian anthem is being played and the opening faceoff is moments away.

The game starts at 13:00 CET, 15:00 MSK, 05:00 EDT, don't miss it.

H2H:
Metallurg won three times and severstal took three wins as well in their last six clashes. One of those came in overtime. Their next match is scheduled for December 12. 2013.

Severstal saw their four-game winning streak end in Ufa Friday as they were crushed 8:3 by the hosts. They haven't been doing well this season as they currently sit in the 11th spot of the West with a negative record of 6-4-8 and 24 points.

Their leading scorers include Linus Videll (5+6), Nikolay Bushuyev (5+5) and Evgeny Kovyrshin (3+5). On the defense Bogdan Kiselevich snapped 5 points (1+4).

Jakub Stepanek is their #1 goalie with 16 games in net and 92.4 SVS% allowing 2.49 GAA. All of their four goalies in the roster have had at least one game with Ivan Kasutin and Artyom Artemyev featuring in two. Lisutin allowed 7.01 on average, while Artemyev is at 8.89 GAA but only in 20 minutes.

Warm welcome everyone to today's KHL action featuring Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Severstal Cherepovets.

Metallurg currently holds 4th seed in the Eastern conference standings with 31 points out of 17 games, 10 points less than the leader Ak Bars. They have a positive record of 8-5-4.

Metallurg scores a lot, especially their Danis Zarilov who has snapped 24 points so far dividing it equally to 12 goals and 12 assists. Sergei Mozyakin follows with 24 points as well (9+15). Jan Kovar recorded 22 (6+16). Their top-scoring D-man is Chris Lee with 15 points (5+10).

Between the pipes Vasily Koshechkin recorded 92.3 SVS% and 2.40 GAA in 16 games.

Welcome. Game starts at 13:00.