NNO 4:6 KZN | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod - Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

KHL

Cherepovets – SKA St. Petersburg	1:2 (end)	\|	Torpedo – Ak Bars	4:6 (end)	\|	CSKA – Vityaz	5:2 (end)
Spartak – Metallurg M	1:6 (end)	\|	Donbass – Traktor	3:2 (1:0 after SO)

final

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

4:6 (2:3, 1:2, 1:1)

Ak Bars Kazan

Wednesday 25.12.2013, 16:00 • Nagorny concert and entertainment complex, Nizhny Novgorod • KHL

		Welcome. Game starts at 16:00.
		Dear hockey fans! After a ten-day-break Kontinental Hockey League is back and eurolivescores.com is also ready to cover the matches again at first Christmas Day. We are coming with five matches today. At 7:00 pm MSK (4:00 CET, 3:00 GMT) we are having a visit to Nizhny Novgorod, where local Torpedo is going to host the Eastern leader Ak Bars Kazan. Although, visiting team have lost two of their four latest matches they are the favorite this game viewing that they are the leaders and one of the best teams of the whole league. They scored 74 points so far and it means a commanding 2.0 average point/game. However, Barys is just behind them by one point, therefore they need the three points to keep the first position. On the other hand Torpedo is also in good position. They are located on the fifth spot of Eastern Conference with 60 points and they conceded the least goals for the opponents in the whole league (knowing that they played only 35 matches). So, they also need the points to get closer to the 65 points Salavat Ufa for the even better playoffs-positions. Which team will be able to perform their wishes? Follow the live coverage of eurolivescores.com and you will come to know it!
		Starting lineups: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod: Koval (Mashkovtsev) – Hietanen, Bernatsky, Galuzin, Krasnoslobodsev, Kulyomin – Valetenko, Lukin, Parshin, Salminen, Immonen – Grigoryev, Denisov, Wolski, Badyukov, Sentyurin – Belokhvostikov, Zharkov, Maxim Potapov, Tverdokhlebov, Alexei Potapov Ak Bars Kazan: Barulin (Garipov) – Nikulin, Korneyev, Tereshchenko, Vincour, Petrov – Heshka, Medvedev, Stapleton, Varnakov, Burmistrov – Zakharchuk, Panin, Svitov, Pesonen, Obukhov – Bodrov, Svechnikov, Tkachyov, Lukoyanov, Faizulin Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Sergei Kulakov – Konstantin Chubykin, Roman, Shikhanov.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:01	Home team is wearing blue uniform with blue helmet, while visiting team is in green-white kit with white helmet.
	01:45	Goal for AK Bars! After an attack on the right side DMITRY OBUKHOV got the puck and behind teh circle and immediately fired from long distance, the puck found its way to the bottom left corner, 0-1! Assist: Alexander Svitov.
	03:30	Visiting team is still attacking and forcing Torpedo defending.
	04:22	After a scramble in the middle Sentyurin fired from short distance, but home team defended well and a defenseman deflected the puck.
	04:49	In the end of a nice counterattack Wolski made a shot from sharp angle on the left, but Barulin saved and froze the puck.
	05:58	Valetenko got a drop pass on the right side and fired from long distance, but it was no problem for Koval.
	06:57	Wolski put back the puck to Kulyomin who fired from the right side, but Barulin easily denied this attempt.
	08:12	Obukhov gets the first minor penalty of the game for slashing.
	08:59	Parshin was uncovered on the right side got the puck and fired above a lying defenseman, put Barulin made a beautiful save!
	09:31	Goal for Torpedo! Here is the equalizer! Torpedo was coming forward in advantage, then Grigoryev delivered the puck to WOJTEK WOLSKI, who deceived Barulin and fired to the half empty net, 2-2!
	10:08	Goal for AK Bars! Ak Bars was coming down in 3-on-2 and took advantage of this! Varnakov sent a centering pass inside to ILYA NIKULIN, who made a one-timer shot there and it went into the net, 1-2! Assist: Mikhail Varnakov, Alexander Burmistrov
	13:16	Goal for Torpedo! What a crazy match it is, Torpedo equalized again! Kulyomin made a drop pass to VLADIMIR GALUZIN, who did not wait for shooting immediately and the puck went to the left side of the net, 2-2! Assist: Vyacheslav Kulyomin, Mikhail Grigoryev.
	14:26	Bodrov gets a penalty for tripping.
	15:02	Wolski fired from by the left post, but two defensemen harassed him, thus he could not direct the puck well and Barulin saved.
	16:26	Visiting team at full strength.
	17:57	Avitov brought the puck forward on the right and just before the defenseman had reached him fired, but it was not accurate enough.
	19:00	One minute left from the first period.
	19:48	Goal for AK Bars! Varnakov fired from the blue line, in the slot Burmistrov touched the puck and it went wide, but TIM STAPLETON got there from behind the net and scooped it in to the emtpy the, 2-3! Assist: Alexander Burmistrov, Pavel Varnakov
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Incredible! Five goals was scored in the opening third. We could see an interesting, exciting period with not so many scoring chances, but both team was efficient so much. There was many struggling and aggressive plays. Although, Torpedo was able to equalize twice, but one more answer remained from Ak Bars in the end of this twenty minutes, so the result is 2-3 in the first intermission. We are back soon!
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	21:34	Goal for AK Bars! After a face-off in the right circle a shot was coming to the middle, where Medvedev took the puck under control and swept it to the uncovered TIM STAPLETON, who had no problem to pass it to the half empty net, 2-4! Assist: Evgeny Medvedev.
	23:00	This is the largest lead of the match. Can Torpedo get back to the match?
	23:26	Home team is in attack now and plays actively to get closer to visiting team.
	24:29	Goal for AK Bars! Vincour collected the puck on the left side and carried it to the other side behind the net, then suddenly made a perfect pass to SHAUN HESHKA, who's screen shot went into the net from the bottom of the right circle! Assist: Tomas Vincour.
	24:29	Home team timeout.
	25:03	Goal for Torpedo! Unbelievable! One more goal, now for the home team! MIKHAIL GRIGORYEV passed the puck in the slot, but no one touched it, thus it slid into the net under Barulin, 3-5! It was the Ak Bars goalie's foul, he could had denied it by an easy save. Assist: Maxim Potapov.
	26:27	Immonen escaped on the right side and put the puck inside, but Barulin reached for the puck and cleared.
	28:04	Lukin is penalized for two minutes for throwing the puck outside the playing area.
	28:31	Vincour got the puck on the left side and instead of shooting he passed the puck inside, but Koval cleared.
	29:31	Varnakov took under control the puck in the slot, then tried to scooped it on goal, but missed the target.
	30:04	Home team at full strength.
	31:30	Ak Bars holds the game confidently. It seems they will not release this three points for Torpedo.
	32:27	Vincour was striking towards the goal on the left, but Hietanen got back and prevented him to fire. Perfect interception by the defenseman.
	33:17	After a counterattack by home team a shot was arriving on Barulin's goal, but he denied the puck easily.
	33:27	Panin is in the penalty box for two minutes for high-sticking.
	33:32	Hietanen made a hard shot from long distance and just missed the target!
	35:11	Salminen attempted from the bottom of the right circle by a slapshot, but Barulin saved and held onto the puck.
	35:27	Visiting team at full strength.
	36:01	Badyukov returned from behind the net on the right side, and scooped the puck on goal, but Barulin made a nice shoulder-deflection!
	36:38	One more save by Barulin! Wolski fired unexpectedly from sharp angle, but the visiting team goalie deflected the puck.
	38:00	Two minutes left from the second period.
	39:34	Zakharchuk made a shot from the center ice, but it was not dangerous.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Ak Bars holds the lead confidently. In the beginning of the second period they had a three-goal-advantage. Torpedo immediately got closer, but were not able to score more goals, so the result is 3-5 during the second intermission. Torpedo should show some special to score at least one point. We are back soon with the last third!
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	42:02	Parshin fired from the right, but it was deflected by a defender.
	42:19	Krasnoslobodsev was possessing the puck in the right circle, then suddenly turned on goal and fired, but Barulin positioned well and denied the attempt.
	44:00	The first four minutes of the third period was quite eventless. There was no much shooting chances so far.
	44:28	Torpedo is attacking by now. Barulin had to make a deflection after a shot from the slot.
	45:58	Now Ak Bars was going down with a break, but Kolar was ready to save in the end of it.
	47:46	Goal for AK Bars! Stapleton was carrying the puck behind the net to the left, where he put the puck to MIKHAIL VARNAKOV and he skated in front of the net and fired to the bottom left corner, 3-6! Assist: Tim Stapleton.
	48:50	The hand of the referee is up. Delayed call is coming.
	48:57	Nikulin gets a minor penalty for tripping.
	49:51	Salminen centered the puck from the left to Hietanen, who made a one-timer shot, but missed the target.
	51:39	Offside for Torpedo.
	52:20	Galuzin made a shot from the right side, but it was no problem for Barulin.
	53:57	Grigoryev was preparing to fire from sharp angle, but just before he had managed it was checked, so no dangerous opportunity happened.
	55:02	Team penalty for Ak Bars for too many players on the ice.
	56:15	In the end of the match nothing special happens. Ak Bars not forces attacks and Torpedo gave up the game.
	56:29	Wolski got a pass was crossed the slot and fired from the right side, but Barulin made a magnificent save!
	57:02	Visiting team at full strength.
	57:32	Goal for Torpedo! Wolski brought the puck through behind the net making two defensemen to pay attention on him, thus PAVEL LUKIN was left uncovered got the pass by Wolski and fired into the left side of the net, 4-6! Assist: Wojtek Wolski.
	58:27	Empty net for Torpedo!
	59:00	One minute left.
	60:00	Game over.
		In the first half of the match the game was extremely crazy, eight goals was scored. This time Ak Bars insured the winning by their efficient and accurate play. Torpedo was in deficit almost all the game and had not as much force as equalize one more time. With these three points Ak Bars defended their leading position of Eastern Conference and have 77 points, while Torpedo is still on the fifth place with 60 points.
		Stats of the game: Shots on goal: 28-25 Face-offs won: 34-39 Penalty in minutes: 2-10
		Thank you for following this ten-goal-game on eurolivescores.com. We are coming with more KHL matches today. Do not miss them! (02:25:17)

Commentary by

Salacz Bence

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 10. Wolski (Grigoryev, Denisov), 14. Galuzin (Kulyomin, Grigoryev), 26. Grigoryev (Potapov), 58. Lukin (Wolski) – 2. Obukhov (Svitov), 11. Nikulin (Varnakov, Burmistrov), 20. Stapleton (Burmistrov, Varnakov), 22. Stapleton (Medvedev), 25. Heshka (Vincour), 48. Varnakov (Stapleton)

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod: Koval (Mashkovtsev) – Hietanen, Bernatsky, Galuzin, Krasnoslobodsev, Kulyomin – Valetenko, Lukin, Parshin, Salminen, Immonen – Grigoryev, Denisov, Wolski, Badyukov, Sentyurin – Belokhvostikov, Zharkov, Maxim Potapov, Tverdokhlebov, Alexei Potapov

Ak Bars Kazan: Barulin (Garipov) – Nikulin, Korneyev, Tereshchenko, Vincour, Petrov – Heshka, Medvedev, Stapleton, Varnakov, Burmistrov – Zakharchuk, Panin, Svitov, Pesonen, Obukhov – Bodrov, Svechnikov, Tkachyov, Lukoyanov, Faizulin

Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Sergei Kulakov – Konstantin Chubykin, Roman, Shikhanov

Attendance: 5500

1st period
	01:45
	08:12
	09:31
	10:08
	13:16
	14:26
	19:48
1st intermission
2nd period
	21:34
	24:29
	25:03
	28:04
	33:27
2nd intermission
3rd period
	47:46
	48:57
	55:02
	57:32
Final