KHL
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final
SKA St. Petersburg
3:1 (1:1, 1:0, 1:0)
Ak Bars Kazan
Monday 13.01.2014, 16:30 • Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL
     
    And that's the final buzzer, it's a vital 3-1 victory for SKA Saint Petersburg! And what a fantastic match we've seen today, the quality of the hockey has been excellent from start to finish. Dmitriy Kalinin put the hosts ahead with a powerplay goal before Artem Lukoyanov quickly replied for Ak Bars. Late in the second period Alexander Kucheryavenko once again put SKA ahead, and right at the end Ilya Kovalchuk iced it after the visitors had pulled their goalkeeper. Thanks for following the game with us, see you tomorrow for more KHL action! (18:47:11)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:54
    Goal for SKA! ILYA KOVALCHUK skates away to the empty net, gets chopped down and in these instances a goal is always given, it's 3-1!
     
    59:09
    Empty net for Ak Bars!
     
    58:00
    It's the final two minutes of the third period, can SKA hold on or will Ak Bars force overtime?
     
    57:15
    Another wraparound attempt this time from Vladimir Tkachev, but the home defenders manage to get in the way
     
    56:19
    Wraparound attempt from Jakub Petruzalek gets stopped by the pads of Salak
     
    55:58
    Counterattack for SKA, but Kovalchuk loses his footing at the crucial moment!
     
    55:07
    Both teams are now back to full strength
     
    54:38
    Kalinin! Slapshot from the point, and the puck goes inches wide!
     
    53:12
    Barabanov is back in the action for SKA, just under seven minutes left
     
    53:07
    And now penalties for both teams. Tim Stapleton has got four minutes for two offences, and Ketov is off for roughing as well but only for two minutes
     
    52:08
    Medvedev waits with the puck, shoots sharply towards the right hand corner but is denied by Salak's shoulder
     
    51:12
    Powerplay chance for the visitors now. Barabanov for delaying the game has left SKA on the penalty kill
     
    49:53
    Ketov tries to find room for a shot on goal, spins around the net but in the end gets crowded out
     
    49:25
    Pass from the right hand boards towards Garipov's goal from Skachkov, and he with ease covers up
     
    48:13
    Tkachev finds the space to shoot amongst opposing defenders but the puck goes high and wide
     
    47:41
    Ak Bars go offside
     
    47:34
    The tension is building and the referees just manage to stop a squabble before it turned into a fight
     
    47:16
    Svitov is back on the ice for Ak Bars and they are at full strength
     
    46:55
    Martensson tries to block Garipov's sight, but Panarin's effort goes only into the goalkeeper's chest
     
    46:07
    Kovalchuk goes for the near post up close but again he just can't find the target!
     
    45:16
    Alexander Barabanov is completely taken out by the boards by Svitov and the Ak Bars man is off to the penalty box for checking
     
    44:57
    Martensson breaks into the zone on the right, winds up for a big slapshot but Garipov sees it all the way
     
    44:32
    Offside from SKA
     
    44:20
    Good start to the period from Ak Bars, they're starting to have the initiative in the game
     
    42:45
    Golubev has a low wrist shot sent away by Salak, he then picks up the puck and dishes it to a defender on the blue line, who fires into the goalkeeper's chest
     
    41:42
    Obukhov! Two chances which are both taken away by Alexander Salak!
     
    40:29
    SKA have the first shot of the third and crucial period, but Maxim Chudinov's effort doesn't reach the net
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods-

    Shots (on target)- 41 (30)- 30 (17)
    Faceoffs- 19-22
    Hits- 13-12
    Penalty minutes- 8-4
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:38
    Skachkov! Garipov gives up a big rebound, Skachkov has an empty net to aim at but he puts the puck too high!
     
    39:00
    We're into the final minute of the second period
     
    38:15
    Medvedev manages to effectively deflect a Panarin pass towards the crease wide
     
    36:09
    Tim Stapleton skates away on a fast breakaway, but Salak makes a beautiful pad save and manages to lay on the puck to freeze it!
     
    35:25
    Garipov is keeping his team in the game with some solid saves! SKA upping the pressure even more having just gone ahead for the second time today
     
    34:05
    Goal for SKA! ALEXANDER KUCHERYAVENKO gets away what looks like a harmless effort, but Garipov reacts too slowly and the puck goes off the post and in the net, 2-1! Assists- Maxim Chudinov
     
    33:54
    Artemiy Panarin tries his luck from the point with a weak wrist shot that Garipov grabs hold of
     
    33:00
    Kovalchuk sends a drive towards the far post, but it goes off target
     
    32:30
    SKA cough up the puck in their own zone, but Kalinin with a good challenge saves the situation
     
    30:38
    Icing is committed by SKA
     
    30:23
    SKA are attacking with real power but the puck so far is staying out of the Ak Bars net!
     
    28:41
    And just after rejoining the action Martensson is picked out by Kovalchuk with a fantastic pass but from close range he can't find the net!
     
    28:35
    Martensson is back on the ice
     
    28:03
    Clever pass towards Burmistrov who's charging through on the left but he just can't reach it and it's icing
     
    26:35
    Martensson for high sticking has given Ak Bars a powerplay opportunity
     
    26:31
    2 on 1 breakaway for Ak Bars, Tereschenko has almost an empty net to aim at but just misses the target!
     
    26:25
    Wrister from Roman Cervenka that Garipov can't hold on to, but just before the puck crosses the line he manages to cover up!
     
    26:11
    SKA go offside
     
    24:39
    Panarin spins around the net as he always brilliantly does, dishes the puck to Tony Martensson but Garipov uses his pads to good effect
     
    23:55
    SKA are now back at full strength
     
    23:45
    Shorthanded breakaway for SKA, Kovalchuk feeds Andrey Kuteikin who just can't gather the puck in!
     
    23:18
    Evgeniy Medvedev shoots into the crowd of bodies on the crease and the hosts clear
     
    22:49
    Weak effort from the right and Salak easily holds on to freeze the puck for a faceoff
     
    21:55
    Powerplay for Ak Bars coming up now, Kucheryavenko for interference is penalised
     
    21:24
    Varnakov! Skates through on the left flank, Salak sends his first attempt away and on the rebound the puck somehow stays out of the SKA net!
     
    21:01
    Kovalchuk hits the puck into Panin who looks in real pain, after treatment on the bench we'll see if he can return to the game
     
    20:39
    Ketov holds the puck up well behind the Ak Bars net, but his pass into the crease is cleared
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 20 minutes-

    Shots (on target)- 21 (12)- 15 (7)
    Faceoffs- 8-10
    Hits-6-8
    Penalty minutes- 4-4
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:30
    Last 30 seconds of a highly eventful first period
     
    19:26
    Icing from the hosts
     
    19:11
    SKA are back to full strength
     
    18:50
    Tereschenko and co. are all on the SKA crease, but no one can get any kind of clean contact on the puck and SKA clear!
     
    17:56
    Shipachyov robs a visiting defender of the puck, hands Kalinin a pass who shoots from the point but it's deflected wide
     
    17:11
    Ketov has once again put his team on the penalty kill. For holding his opponent he's been handed a two minute minor
     
    16:36
    Roman Cervenka holds the puck well, drives to the net but can't break through the defence!
     
    16:08
    And Ak Bars are also now back to full strength
     
    15:40
    Ketov is back on the ice
     
    15:12
    Obukhov picks up a rebound on the crease, but can't force the puck home! Big chance there for the visitors to take the lead
     
    14:28
    Alexandrov! He's picked out free on the right flank by Kovalchuk, shoots first time but Garipov is alert!
     
    14:08
    It didn't last for long though. Tim Stapleton for slashing has evened the numbers up
     
    13:40
    First powerplay of the game for Ak Bars now. Evgeniy Ketov has been sent to the penalty box for high sticking
     
    13:01
    After that equalising goal the Kazan side are effectively closing down SKA's attacks
     
    11:21
    Ak Bars go offside
     
    11:03
    Malyshev drives into the zone, but his wrist shot is right into the chest of the goalkeeper
     
    09:39
    Goal for Ak Bars! ARTEM LUKOYANOV deflects a big shot from the point with his stick and it deceives Salak, it's a tied game already 1-1! Assists- Vasiliy Tokranov and Denis Golubev
     
    08:18
    Medvedev has a slapshot from the blue line deflected by Shipachyov and it falls into Salak's glove
     
    08:01
    First icing of the game is from SKA
     
    07:44
    First real attack from Ak Bars but Salak deals with the danger easily. Pesonen then from the point has an attempt which flies wide of the right hand post
     
    06:01
    Ak Bars just cannot grab hold of the puck, great first period so far from the hosts
     
    04:04
    Goal for SKA! The puck is rolling around the crease, DMITRIY KALININ picks it up and with ease sends it into the net, a powerplay goal and it's a deserved lead for the hosts 1-0!
     
    03:45
    SKA still putting the pressure on and have a powerplay, Evgeniy Medvedev is off to the penalty box for high sticking
     
    03:40
    Shipachyov goes with a low shot into the left hand corner, but Garipov denies him with a pad save! We play on with the score still 0-0
     
    03:40
    Vadim Shipachyov is sent clear with Garipov, but the goalkeeper comes out on top! But it's a penalty shot!
     
    02:04
    SKA certainly the more aggressive so far. Yury Alexandrov finshes off an attack with a shot from the point which gets deflected out of play
     
    00:41
    Kovalchuk! Good chance for SKA at the start of the game! Evgeniy Ketov drives the puck into the crease, Garipov gives it up to Kovalchuk who fires inches wide!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are out on to the ice, and it's time for the Russian national anthem. The opening faceoff is now moments away!
     
    Starting lineups:

    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ezhov)- Kalinin, Dallman, Kovalchuk, Shipachyov, Ketov- Kuteikin, Chudinov, Panarin, Kucheryavenko, Tikhonov- Ryasensky, Alexandrov, Cervenka, Martensson, Skachkov- Yudin, Ponikarovskiy, Malyshev, Barabanov

    Ak Bars Kazan: Garipov (Barulin)- Korneev, Heshka, Pesonen, Tereschenko, Petrov- Medvedev, Panin, Stapleton, Burmistrov, Varnakov- Tokranov, Zakharchuk, Petruzalek, Svitov, Obukhov- Lukoyanov, Tkachev, Golubev

    Referees: Bulanov, Ravodin, Medvedev, Shelyanin.
     
    The first match between these two sides was a tight affair that ended with a 3-1 SKA triumph.
     
    SKA have won only two of their last six matches, and are in desperate need of a confidence booster tonight. Ak Bars had been on good form but then lost their last two matches at home, and are now sitting in only 3rd place of the Eastern Conference. SKA are in 2nd of the Western.
     
    Hello everyone, and welcome to Saint Petersburg for the showdown of the day. The hosts SKA welcome Ak Bars Kazan, in a match up between two real heavyweights. Both teams have had indifferent results of late, and both will be looking to get back on track tonight. We're in for a real thriller.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 16:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 5. Kalinin, 35. Kucheryavenko (Chudinov), 60. Kovalchuk – 10. Lukoyanov (Tokranov, Golubev)

    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ezhov)- Kalinin, Dallman, Kovalchuk, Shipachyov, Ketov- Kuteikin, Chudinov, Panarin, Kucheryavenko, Tikhonov- Ryasensky, Alexandrov, Cervenka, Martensson, Skachkov- Yudin, Ponikarovskiy, Malyshev, Barabanov
    Ak Bars Kazan: Garipov (Barulin)- Korneev, Heshka, Pesonen, Tereschenko, Petrov- Medvedev, Panin, Stapleton, Burmistrov, Varnakov- Tokranov, Zakharchuk, Petruzalek, Svitov, Obukhov- Lukoyanov, Tkachev, Golubev
    Referees: Bulanov, Ravodin, Medvedev, Shelyanin
    Attendance: 12194