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final
Severstal Cherepovets
2:1 (0:0, 0:1, 2:0)
Lev Praha
Monday 28.10.2013, 16:00 • KHL
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 19:00 MSK local time in Cherepovets, 16:00 CET in Prague, 11:00 EDT.
     
    Severstal was a good team last year, finishing 5th in the Western Conference with 85 points -- 9 above 7th-place Lev. Nonetheless, the Lions had a fair bit of success against them, taking 5 of 6 points in a pair of closely-contested games -- including their biggest win of the season. In the team´s second-ever KHL road game, they won 3-2 in a shootout. They met again in the stretch run, with the Lions mired in a four-game losing streak, and after falling behind 3-0 after one period they came back to win 5-4 to kick-start a five-game winning streak that got them into the playoffs. Michal Řepík had 3 points and Michal Birner´s first KHL goal was the game-winner.

    In goal for Lev that game was Jakub Štěpánek, who now wears Severstal colours. Lev has already faced him once this season -- the teams opened up their pre-season schedules against each other in Finland and the Czech goalie beat his former Czech team 3-2. During the season, Štěpánek has been Severstal´s go-to guy between the pipes, starting 19 of the first 21 games, including a 2-0 shutout of Slovan Bratislava in his last game, so he´ll likely get the nod against his former mates again.

    "I must say that we did a great job. The guys in front gave me a lot of help, for which I thank them," the goalie said after recording his second shutout of the season.

    It´s been rare that Štěpánek has been able to speak highly of the help he´s gotten from the team. Severstal has surrendered 65 goals through 21 games -- the second-worst total in the league. They remain in the playoff hunt, however, due to some timely offence -- their 51 goals for has them tied for 12th in that department. The scoring is led by Linus Videll and Nikolai Bushuyev with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Overall, they have six players with at least 8 points.

    As for Lev, they are also coming off a 2-0 victory, in which Petri Vehanen also recorded his second shutout of the season and gave credit to the team in front of him for their stellar defensive play. On Saturday in Yaroslavl they scored twice on the power play and played a stellar team game that impressed all who saw it, including head coach Kari Jalonen.

    "It was the best game since I took over," the Finnish coach said about his sixth game behind the bench.

    The power-play goals on Saturday were scored by Marc-André Gragnani and Patrik Zackrisson, while assists by Martin Ševc and Jakub Klepiš make them the first two Lions to hit double digits in points this year. They and the rest of the team -- including defenceman Mikko Mäenpää, playing his first game of the regular season after injuring his knee during the pre-season -- will look to add to those totals in Cherepovets on Monday.
     
    Starting Lineups:

    Severstal Cherepovets: Štěpánek (Kasutin) – Andersen, Laakso, Čáslava, Kalashnikov, Kiselevich, Svyazov, Yevseyenkov – Kuvayev, Berdnikov, Kazakovtsev, Bushuyev, Zemchenko, Videll, Antipov, Medvedev, Nikontsev, Stolyarov, Bumagin, Kovyrshin, Buchnevich.

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

    Referees: Anisimov, Soin – Golyak, Dedyulya.
     
    The national anthems of the Czech Republic and Russian Federation have been played and the opening faceoff is moments away.

    Severstal Cherepovets is wearing their black home uniforms with orange and yellow trim, white numerals, black pants, yellow Boston Bruins-style socks and black helmets.

    Lev Praha is wearing their road white uniforms with blue and red trim, red numerals, red NY Rangers-style pants and white helmets.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:57
    Lev's Topi Jaakola gets the game's first decent chance, firing a shot just wide of the post.
     
    01:26
    Severstal's Gennady Stolyarov is getting the game's first penalty for high sticking, putting Lev to the power play.
     
    01:56
    Gragnani passes across to Azevedo, but he fires just wide.
     
    02:30
    Jiri Novotny is called for interference in the neutral zone, so Lev is off the power play and we'll have 4-on-4 hockey for 1:04.
     
    03:26
    Severstal is back at full strength and now have a brief power play.
     
    03:50
    Petri Vehanen with his first test of the game as Laakso fires from the point, but he makes a nice glove save.
     
    04:31
    Kazakovtsev with a quick shot off the draw but Vehanen comes across to make another nice save. Lev back at full strength but Severstal had a couple of chances.
     
    05:14
    2 on 1 Lev, Sekac with the pass across to Thornberg for the quick one-timer that hits Jakub Stepanek, then the former Lev goalie covers it in a scramble. First good chance for Lev.
     
    06:09
    Lev on the rush agan, Klepis passes to Azevedo at the line and he fires a long one that again hits Stepanek and he holds on.
     
    08:33
    Yevseyenkov shoots from the boards, but can't hit the net from the sharp angle.
     
    09:24
    Sekac shoots on the backhand, but doesn't get much on it and Stepanek makes an easy stick save.
     
    10:00
    Lev top line putting on some pressure, Novotny works the puck into the slot to Azevedo who shoots, not sure if it got through to Stepanek or was blocked in front.
     
    10:31
    Severstal 3 on 2, Petr Caslava with the shot and Petri Vehanen makes a pad save.
     
    11:16
    Laakso with a blast from the blueline that sails wide.
     
    11:40
    Jiri Sekac is now getting called for roughing, so Severstal is going back to the power play. They got a couple of shots on their first attempt but are 0/1 so far.
     
    12:41
    Lev clears the zone for the second time . . . now more than halfway through the penalty with Severstal still shotless.
     
    13:10
    After some trouble, Severstal finally able to get possession back in the Lev zone. Moving it around the perimeter but no shooting lanes opening up.
     
    13:40
    Lev now back at full strength with the impressive kill.
     
    16:09
    Icing Severstal.
     
    17:06
    Antipov with a nice move at the Lev blueline and fires a shot that Vehanen catches and holds.
     
    17:40
    Battle along the boards between Ryan O'Byrne of Lev and Linus Videll of Severstal, play continues . . .
     
    18:09
    Bumagin with the shot hits Vehanen in the chest and he traps it.
     
    18:50
    Michal Repik shoots from a sharp angle -- it goes through Stepanek but out the far side untouched. Petr Vrana was in front but wasn't able to get his stick on it to knock it into the unguarded far side of the net.
     
    19:19
    Ondrej Nemec shoots from the point, Stepanek knocks it down and then covers it in a scramble.
     
    19:25
    Now it's Jaakola with a big blast from the point but another save by Stepanek.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    A fairly even first period of hockey. Neither Jakub Stepanek or Petri Vehanen were particularly overworked, but both made some nice saves when called upon. Each had to face an odd-man rush once.

    Shots on goal in the 1st period: Severstal 8, Lev 10.

    Faceoffs: Severstal 9/21 (Berdnikov 3/5), Lev 12/21 (Azevedo 5/7).

    Icetime leaders: Severstal – Yevseyenkov 7:21, Lev – Jaakola 7:15.

    2nd period begins at approximately 16:52 CET, 11:52 EDT.
     
    The teams are returning to the ice and the 2nd period will start shortly.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:30
    Novotny with the first shot of the period from far out, Stepanek holds on for a faceoff.
     
    20:50
    Birner with a quick one-timer from the slot, hits Stepanek and goes to the corner.
     
    21:02
    A collision in the slot between Ryan O'Byrne and Alexander Bumagin. The latter goes down and play is stopped, though it's tough to tell exactly how he was hurt. No penalty on the play and eventually he's helped to his feet.
     
    22:00
    Now Taticek with a quick shot from the top of the circle turned away by Stepanek. All Lev so far this period.
     
    23:40
    Videll tries to cut in from the corner and gets a shot on Vehanen, he goes down and keeps it out, and the puck is cleared.
     
    24:33
    Long shot by Vrana deflected to the corner by Stepanek, then the puck is deflected over the glass. Faceoff in the Severstal zone.
     
    24:55
    O'Byrne with the shot from the point, save Stepanek and then it's cleared.
     
    25:26
    Icing Severstal.
     
    25:40
    Taticek and Ridderwall with shots, Stepanek stops them both and finally covers it. Lev coming on this period.
     
    26:17
    Offside Lev, couldn't hold the puck in at the line.
     
    26:50
    Shot by Videll is blocked by Nemec, who's slow to get up but seems alright as play continues.
     
    27:00
    Puck goes behind the net then passed back in front to Videll, who shoots again. This one hits Vehanen and he hangs on for a faceoff.
     
    27:27
    O'Byrne shoots from the point, hits Stepanek in the shoulder and goes out of play. Faceoff inside.
     
    27:48
    Lev shoot-in goes out of play. Faceoff outside.
     
    28:53
    Goal for Lev!
    Nice work in the attacking zone by Sekac and Taticek. Sekac wins a battle for the puck, Taticek feeds it back to JIRI SEKAC for a one-timer from the slot and it goes through a crowd and in for the first goal of the game. Assist: Petr Taticek.
     
    29:43
    Not long after the goal Bogdan Kiselevich is called for boarding, so Lev will try to increase the lead on the power play, they're 0/1.
     
    31:12
    Topi Jaakola with the wrister from the point, Stepanek catches and holds on with :31 left in the penalty.
     
    32:00
    Kiselevich comes out of the box, takes a pass and takes a long shot on goal, Vehanen kicks it to the corner and the play is now in the Lev zone.
     
    32:08
    With the play in their own zone, Petr Vrana takes a holding penalty, so Severstal goes to the power play looking to even the score.
     
    23:14
    Justin Azevedo gets a shorthanded breakaway but is stopped by Stepanek. He was a bit rushed on the shot but nonetheless did a good job of killing some time.
     
    34:20
    Lev back at full strength, play in the neutral zone.
     
    35:23
    Kazakovtsev keeps the puck in at the line and then works it down low and there's a wild scramble in front of Vehanen. Several players whack away at it, including Kazakovtsev and Buchnevich, but the whistle finally goes and then we get some pushing and shoving. No penalties though.
     
    36:37
    Vehanen makes a nice glove save off Nikoali Bushuyev from the slot and holds on.
     
    37:00
    Another glove save for Vehanen. He's suddenly the busier of the two goalies lately.
     
    38:20
    Thornberg shot from a weak angle and missed, which led to a Severstal rush the other way. Shot attempt is blocked.
     
    38:53
    Finally Vehanen catches the puck with the glove again and holds it.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Some back and forth action in the dying seconds, first a Severtal rush and a shot by Andersen is stopped by Vehanen, then Lev went quickly back the other way on a 2 on 1 and Stepanek made a save off a shot from a sharp angle just before the horn.
     
    A lot more action in that middle frame. Lev was more dominant early and got the game's only goal so far courtesy of Jiri Sekac, but Severstall put on some late pressure and Petri Vehanen was called upon to make some fine saves.

    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Severstal 15 (23), Lev 16 (26).

    Faceoffs: Severstal 18/42 (Kovyrshin 6/13), Lev 24/42 (Azevedo 9/13).

    Icetime leaders: Severstal – Yevseyenkov 14:27, Lev – Gragnani 13:41.

    3rd period begins at approximately 17:41 CET, 12:41 EDT.
     
    The teams have returned to the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:13
    Offside Severstal.
     
    41:00
    Repik with a low wrister from just inside the line, Stepanek goes down and makes a pad save.
     
    42:46
    Nikolai Kazakovtsev is called for slashing in the attacking zone as his team is applying pressure, so Lev now goes to the power play.
     
    44:10
    A turnover gives a chance to Anatoli Nikontsev shorthanded, Vehanen had to be sharp and he holds on.
     
    44:46
    Severstal with the best chance shorthanded and now they're back at full strength.
     
    45:36
    Goal for Severstal!
    They've come out strong this period and on a rush into the Lev zone Bushuyev passes across to ANATOLI NIKONTSEV, whose shot through traffic beats Vehanen to the near side. Assist: Nikolai Bushuyev.
     
    46:42
    Icing Lev.
     
    47:07
    Lev going back to the power play, though the last one didn't do them much good. .Alexander Yevseyenkov is called for hooking in his own zone.
     
    48:27
    Ridderwall tries to sneak it in the near side but Stepanek giving him no room. :20 left in the penalty . . . Lev passing a lot around the perimiter but not generating shots.
     
    49:30
    Severstal back at full strength and Lev back in their own zone to retreat.
     
    50:05
    A race for the puck down low in the Lev zone, both players go down and Jakub Nakladal called for hooking. Severstal to the power play.
     
    50:22
    Goal for Severstal!
    A strange play where the initial shot hit Ondrej Nemec and the Lev defenceman fell ontop of the puck. Players dug away at it and just when it seemed the whistle might go, captain VADIM BERDNIKOV banged it in. Unassisted, power-play goal.
     
    51:32
    Martin Thornberg with a glorious chance to tie it--Sekac passed across to Thornberg, who unleashed a quick one-time wrister but Jakub Stepanek slid across to rob him. His biggest save of the game.
     
    52:43
    Puck goes out of play in the Severstal zone, faceoff inside.
     
    53:22
    Offside Lev.
     
    53:22
    Timeout Severstal. Interesting. They seem to be having a good period, but I guess the coach sees Lev coming with some pressure since that last goal.
     
    55:14
    Korvyshin with a one-timer that goes just wide of the post. It was a goal if he'd got it inside the post. Then Lev ices.
     
    56:50
    Jakub Klepis called for hooking in the corner in attacking zone, which really puts Lev in a tight spot now. He argues the call, but Severstal to the power play Severstal.
     
    57:30
    Serverstal doing an effective job of maintaining possession in the Lev zone. If nothing else, they don't want to turnover the puck.
     
    57:35
    Shot goes over the glass and into the netting, faceoff outside with 1:15 left in the Severstal power play.
     
    58:56
    Lev is back at full strength and Vehanen goes to the bench on the fly for a 6th attacker.
     
    59:09
    Strange turn of events. Thornberg whistled a shot just wide and Severstal rushed back up the ice and put the puck into the empty net. However, the whistle went before the puck went into the net because Lev had too many players on the ice. 7 players, apparently. Severstal doesn't like the call because they had the puck, so officials shouldn't have stopped play.
     
    59:09
    As I said, too many players on the ice against Lev. The fans aren't happy and are whistling, but either way it looks like Severstal has this game in hand as they have the faceoff in the Lev zone with Vehanen now back in and a power play for the rest of regulation time.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    For the most part, Lev played a strong road game, but Severstal made the most of their chances in the 3rd period and scored twice to win this game 2-1. (18:25:08)
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 46. Nikontsev (Bushuyev), 51. Berdnikov – 29. Sekac (Taticek)

    Severstal Cherepovets: Štěpánek (Kasutin) – Andersen, Laakso, Čáslava, Kalashnikov, Kiselevich, Svyazov, Yevseyenkov – Kuvayev, Berdnikov, Kazakovtsev, Bushuyev, Zemchenko, Videll, Antipov, Medvedev, Nikontsev, Stolyarov, Bumagin, Kovyrshin, Buchnevich.
    Lev Praha: Vehanen (Lukáš) – Ševc, Nakládal, Jaakola, O'Byrne, Gragnani, Němec, Mäenpää, Humphries – Klepiš, Azevedo, Novotný – Řepík, Vrána, Birner – Thörnberg, Zackrisson, Sekáč – Cingel, Tatíček, Ridderwall.
    Referees: Anisimov, Soin – Golyak, Dedyulya