JUG 1:4 ZAG | HC Yugra - Medvescak Zagreb (KHL)

KHL

HC Yugra – Medvescak

1:4 (end)

Avtomobilist – Spartak

2:0 (end)

Traktor – Neftekhimik

3:5 (end)

final

HC Yugra

1:4 (1:2, 0:1, 0:1)

Medvescak Zagreb

Saturday 18.01.2014, 12:00 • Arena Yugra, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia • KHL

		Welcome. Game starts at 12:00.
		One big game ahead of us this Saturday. Medvescak will visit Khanty-Mansyisk and the hosts Yugra and try to acquire 3 new points, thus breaking an unbeliveable 5-game winning streak from Yugra.
		Yugra Khanty-Mansyisk Yugra are in a incredible 5-game winning streak they've started back on January 5th when they took away three points from Torpedo in Nizhny Novgorod. They went on to beat Vityaz and Dynamo Moscow on the road, both after the shootout, and then took two home wins over Dinamo Minsk and Donbass. Currently they're 11th in the East and only 10 points shy of Traktor in seed #8, the last one clinching the playoff spot, with ten games left to play. Their record stands at 13-11-21 and they have 53 points. Best players: Vitaly Sitnikov 20 (10+10) Mikhail Zhukov 19 (7+12) Veli-Mati Savinainen 16 (11+5) Goalies: Alexei Kuznetsov – 20 G, 7 W, 91.8 SVS%, 2.25 GAA, 3 SO Mikhail Biryukov – 32 G, 7 W, 89.6 SVS%, 3.35 GAA, 1 SO. Last games: Dynamo Moscow – Yugra 2-3 SO Yugra – Dinamo Minsk 6-0 Yugra – Donbass 3-1.
		Medvescak Zagreb Medvescak tend to play a bit better on the road than at gome and they've won 3 of their last 5 games, but throughout the season they've struggled with consistency, so it wouldn't be a wonder that they play a slow, poor game. They won in Astana two days ago, and thus took a big leap towards clinching the playoff berth, but it's still a long way. Medvescak is currently within range, placed 7th before Lokomotiv who is 6 points behind. Their record being 19-14-12 keeps them in a solid position, with 75 points and they still have to play against Lokomotiv and Atlant, their opposition for that final playoff spot. Best players: Jonathan Cheechoo 33 (19+14) Ryan Vesce 32 (14+18) Matt Murley 31 (14+17) Goalies: Barry Brust – 24 G, 12 W, 93 SVS%, 2.03 GAA, 4 SO Mark Dekanich – 22 G, 8 W, 92.8 SVS%, 2.36 GAA, 2 SO Last games: Spartak – Medvescak 1-3 Avangard – Medvescak 4-3 SO Barys – Medvescak 1-3.
		The last times these two played was September 26th 2013 in Zagreb, Medvescak took the win 2-1 with Jonathan Cheechoo and Brian Willsie scoring for the Croatian team. Nikita Gusev was the one to open the scoring for the visitors. Barry Brust was in net for the home side, recording 95.8 SVS%, saving 23 of 24 shots. Alexei Kuznetsov let in two on 35 shots and had 94.3 SVS%. Medvescak did score a powerplay tally, they had 5 opportunities. Yugra went 0 for 7. They were also heavily outshot, 35-24 in favor of the Croatian newcomers to the KHL.
		All this guarantees for a special treat! Yugra want to continue their winning-streak, Medvescak want to escape from Lokomotiv and Atlant in their quest to reach the playoffs in their debut season. The game starts at 12:00 CET, 15:00 MSK and 06:00 EDT. Be sure not to miss it!
		Medvescak are already on the ice, Yugra are just skating into the rink, the anthems will follow and then finally we'll get to the faceoff to start the game.
		Starting lineups: HC Yugra: Kuznetsov (Kukin) – Dixon, Bulyansky, Melart, Smolenak, Starosta – Sokolov, Sitnikov, Khvostov, Zhukov, Knyazev – Dyakov, Magogin, Kruchinin, Shvidenko, Gusev – Tyulyapkin, Plotnikov, Lesnukhin, Yatsenko, Putilov Medvescak Zagreb: Brust (Dekanich) – Popovic, Thomas, Cheechoo, Murley, Martinovic – Linglet, Svarny, Vesce, Foster, Ellison – Klubertanz, Glumac, Ryan, Letang, Iggulden – O'Connor, Nystrom, Walker, Murray, Bjorkstrand Referees: Nalivaiko, Romasko – Putilin, Raming.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:08	Medvescak win the opener and immediately want to go down the ice, though the defense takes it out.
	00:37	Icing on Medvescak as they dump the puck over the left wing.
	00:56	Barry Brust leaves the net to intercept the Yugra forwarding entering the zone on the left and manages to tip the puck off his stick.
	01:38	Currently Medvescak can't organize anything offensively, they're mostly on the boards and the home players control the game.
	01:48	Brust is forced to freeze the puck so the faceoff will come in their zone.
	02:00	Matt Ellison was going on the offense over the right and Dmitry Shvidenko (YUG) hooked him so he gets called to the box.
	02:31	Yugra good on the penalty kill, they've cleared twice so far.
	02:46	Vitaly Sitnikov made the interception in the offensive zone and went on the net from the left boards, but Kyle Klubertanz (MED) slashed him on the stick before Brust, so it will be 4-on-4.
	03:33	It will be 4-on-3 as Kurtis Foster (MED) gets called for interference in his defensive zone. Yugra on the powerplay.
	04:00	Yugra is back at full strength, getting a 5-on-3 powerplay, Medvescak clear the danger.
	04:37	Goal for Yugra! Yugra take advantage of the 5-on-3 powerplay, ALEXEI KRUCHININ got the opener as he was left all alone in the slot just before the crease, got a fine pass from Nikita Gusev from the left post and deked Brust getting him out of balance. Assists: Nikita Gusev, Igor Magogin.
	05:33	Brust finally caught the puck and freezed the play, there were at least 5 or 6 shots fired at him during this single powerplay following the goal, Yugra want to take the momentum. Medvescak back to 5 on the ice.
	06:28	Yugra a lot better so far in the opening period. Sergei Lesnukhin took the puck behind the net and exitted on the right getting the pass back to the point, but the shot gets right into Brust's chest.
	06:46	Medvescak take the puck in the zone, but only with a dump from the right wing, so it's an easy job for Kuznetsov who claims it behind the net.
	07:47	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! This is what hockey brings to you! Medvescak level the score through MICHAEL RYAN who breaks out from the left and skates towards the goal, no one seeming to try to cover him so he keeps his head cool and beats Kuznetsov with ease. Assists: Kyle Klubertanz, Barry Brust.
	08:17	Another shot on Kuznetsov, he freezes the puck and forces a faceoff in the zone.
	09:21	Luke Walker gets tripped by Kiril Putilov (YUG) when trying to get the puck from the right boards to the slot.
	09:46	Yugra cleared the zone, Medvescak will restart from behind their net.
	10:02	Another clearance, Brust comes out to play the puck.
	10:24	Medvescak struggle to enter the zone, the get stopped at the blue and Melart now clears diagonally to the other side.
	10:59	Brust comes out to play the puck once again, but gets pressured, though the defense helps him out.
	11:21	Yugra is back at full strength, and Medvescak finish their powerplay without a single shot on goal. They were restarting the offensive play all the time, great penalty kill by Yugra.
	12:29	Tomas Starosta intercepts the pass as Medvescak try to get into the zone, and then gets it on the blue again entering the zone, but in the end Brust manages to deflect the shot.
	13:26	Magogin takes two shot from the slot, the first coming from the right edge and aiming for it, and the other on the rebound off Brust, who for now keeps Medvescak from trailing two or three behind.
	14:23	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! Yugra play, Medvescak score! Another good offensive display creating the extra man on the break, Matt Murley entered the zone with the puck and it was BILL THOMAS on the other side to flip it in on the feed. Assist: Matt Murley.
	15:05	Charles Linglet (MED) gets called to the box for slashing behind his own net.
	15:47	Yugra on the powerplay try to get the puck from the point to the slot, they've been doing it the whole game, but no one covers the centers inside the slot, though Brust is ready for the flips.
	16:16	Magogin on the right side skates in and takes the shot from the circle, Brust deflects it off to the left wing with his pads.
	16:57	Nikita Gusev gets the pass from the point slightly to the right and is all alone on the left coming to the post, though his one-timer gets missed, and he misses the net wide.
	17:05	Medvescak back at full strength.
	18:25	Yugra still keep the puck within Medvescak's zone, though they can't beat Brust who is in a great form.
	19:00	One minute left in the first period.
	19:03	It remains a mystery why the refs blew the whistle now, as Brust left the net to try to tip the puck off another forward's stick, though the whistle was blown and the faceoff signaled within the Medvescak zone.
	19:49	Yugra dump the puck in, but can't win the race.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Even though Yugra had more of the play throughout the whole first period, Medvescak are the one to lead after the first 20 minutes. With breaks by Michael Ryan and Bill Thomas, they're up ahead 2:1.
		Shots on goal: YUG 21, MED 5 Faceoffs: YUG 6, MED 17 Penalties: YUG 4, MED 6 Powerplay: YUG 1/3, MED 0/2 Ice leaders: YUG – Evgeny Khvostov and Tomas Starosta – both 6:40 MED – Mark Popovic – 9:07.
		The statistics show how Yugra play, but unfortunately for them they're highly inaccurate. We'll be back at approx. 12:52 CET, 15:52 MSK, 06:52 EDT.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:39	Yugra start strong to open the period, but the shot from the point gets deflected by Brust.
	21:48	Kiril Knyazev gets the puck into the zone from the middle and stretches to the right, dropping the pass the Mikhail Zhukov whose flip shot from outside the circle goes over the bar into the glass.
	22:49	Interesting enough, Yugra dump it in, Brust plays it from behind, and suddenly Medvescak put a shot on Kuznetsov who has to cover it and forces a stoppage.
	23:43	Kuznetsov end up in his own net, as Mike Glumac tries to send the feed in from the right, but misses the puck and then him and the defenceman up front collide with Yugra goalie.
	24:03	Medvescak ice the puck and Thomas couldn't win the race to beat out the icing call.
	24:07	A shot right off the faceoff from the blue, Brust is focused.
	24:38	Yugra going on the offense over the left wing, though no feed gets to the slot and Medvescak can clear it and go for the line change.
	25:09	A shot on the opposite side, coming from the right boards by Medvescak, wide to the left and Yugra take over.
	25:44	Brust plays the puck from behind on another dump in.
	26:40	Medvescak trying to combine something within the zone, but they can't get to find a gap and shoot.
	27:39	Icing Medvescak over the right, Iggulden was on the clearance.
	28:01	Yugra can't get to organize the offense lately, Medvescak look a bit firmer on the defense midway through the second frame.
	28:01	Timeout Medvescak.
	28:23	The play continues inside the Medvescak zone, but they only clear it.
	29:46	Matt Ellison had the puck behind the net and then drove out to the right taking a shot while spinning, wide to the left.
	30:14	Yet another icing by Medvescak. It could be the timeout was called due to constant dumping, but nothing changed afterwards, besides that Ellison shot.
	30:48	Patrick Bjorkstrand with the shot on net from the left, directly into Kuznetsov who deflects it off to the right.
	31:31	Barry Brust plays the third defenceman as he closes the angle on the oncoming forwards skating out of the net a long way, and then Yugra circled and got the puck back to the point for Starosta, though his shot gets stopped on the way, while Brust had returnet previously.
	32:17	Knyazev fires from the right circle coming to the net, Brust deflects off his pads to the left though no one can pick up the rebound and flip it in.
	33:37	Yugra controlling the puck constantly trying to get it across the blue.
	34:16	Kirill Dyakov (YUG) gets called to the penalty box for tripping on Matt Ellison in the left circle.
	34:29	Medvescak circle with the puck around the zone pretty quick, Bill Thomas tries to fire from the left circle, it gets stopped somewhere on the way and Yugra claim it back.
	35:11	With :54 left on the powerplay, Medvescak in the zone with the puck, though keeping it at the sideboards, with no real powerplay offense.
		Today's attendance is 4050.
	35:48	Linglet intercepts the puck in the neutral zone, gets it to Ellison on the left, but they lose it and Yugra break over the right, though no shots fired.
	36:16	Yugra are back at full strength.
	36:34	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! Medvescak score with the pass from behind the net to the slot and MIKE GLUMAC beats Kuznetsov on sight before the crease. Assist: Erik Nystrom.
	37:42	Alan Letang (MED) will visit the box after cross-checking on the blueline. Stupid penalty, totally not needed. The puck was way off.
	38:28	The puck finds itself in the slot for another powerplay action, they've been doing it the whole game. but Brust saves the day.
	39:00	One minute to go.
	39:32	5-on-3 coming up for Yugra as Luke Walker (MED) gets called for slashing.
	39:40	Medvescak clear the zone immediately off the faceoff.
	39:42	Letang skates back onto the ice, a single powerplay.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Yugra still with more of the play, but Medvescak look consolidated on the defense and together with Brust managed to keep the net clean through the second period. Yugra will have to go for all or nothing in the final period to get anything here, Medvescak will have to persist in the final frame and take the win.
		Shots on goal: YUG 11 (32), MED 11 (16) Faceoffs: YUG 10 (16), MED 13 (30) Penalties: YUG 2 (6), MED 4 (10) Powerplay: YUG 1/4, MED 0/3 Ice leaders: YUG – Evgeny Khvostov – 13:27 MED – Mark Popovic – 18:07.
		We'll be back at around 13:48 CET, 16:48 MSK, 07:48 EDT for the third period. Stay tuned!
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:18	Yugra win the draw and will have the first offense, Medvescak still a man short.
	40:45	Ilari Melart fired from the blue, and there was Stephen Dixon in the slot trying to get the rebound, though Brust claims the puck.
	41:32	Medvescak is back at full strength, while Yugra had their worst powerplay today.
	42:20	The puck gets cleared by the Russian side, Medvescak regroup from behind the net.
	43:30	Kirill Knyazev driving to the zone over the right, but the shot from the point gets blocked by the defence and fliped in the air, Medvescak claim possession.
	44:04	Another clearance by Yugra, no icing whatsoever.
	44:22	Kurtis Foster (MED) stopped Mikhail Plotnikov who was about to go circle the net, and Foster is called for slashing.
	45:01	So far so good for Medvescak, cleared the puck twice.
	45:31	A huge break by Medvescak over the left by Bill Thomas who finds Micheal Ryan inside the slot onskating towards the net, but Kuznetsov somehow makes the save and stones him cold.
	46:22	Foster is back, Medvescak with five players.
	47:11	Not the first time Yugra get a free offense as Medvescak commit a mistake in transition, though this time they corrected the fault quick enough.
	47:39	Glumac in the other end firing after having deked out a defenceman, but the shot is deflected into the netting from the left edge of the crease.
	48:19	Ryan O'Connor taking a shot from the blue on the right, Kuznetsov makes the save with his glove as the puck was headed to the right post, glove side and closer angle.
	48:54	It was Foster on the right shooting or feeding, but whichever it was, the defense cleared the zone. Medvescak looking good and solid this far into the period.
	50:28	Yugra control the puck lately but Medvescak keep them at safe distance, no real offense coming from them.
	51:22	Bulyansky by the endboards, circles the net with O'Connor covering him. In the end a shot from the right gets deflected by Brust and the rebound picked up by the goalie.
	52:08	Slashing call against Medvescak, Jonathan Cheechoo (MED) now called for cooling.
	53:52	Nothing significant on the powerplay by Yugra, they can't organize or produce.
	54:08	Medvescak back to full strength.
	54:45	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! After Brust deflected a shot from the slot, Medvescak won the battle at the boards for the puck, sent it down the ice and it was RYAN VESCE who took the puck just outside the slot to the left, went to the left edge and on the net, deking the goalie out and fliping it high just beneath the bar. Assists: Matt Ellison, Mark Popovic.
	56:16	Cheechoo fires from the right edge of the slot, Kuznetsov catches it and plays the puck to the left.
	57:02	Popovic getting the puck inside the zone over the right, circles and gets the backward pass to the left circle, the shot comes out wide to the right.
	58:00	Two minutes left in the third period.
	58:22	Sitnikov feeds from behind the goal to the middle, though the shot from the slot only gets to Brust who denies it and keeps the net clean.
	59:39	The game is over, the play has calmed as both teams realize there's nothing to be done.
	60:00	Game over.
		After being pretty much sterile offensively in the first, but still scoring twice, Medvescak double it through the second and the third frame, take the 3 points and still crawl to secure their spot in the playoffs. Yugra played the first period and scored in a 5-on-3 powerplay, but other than that, they were clearly trailing to Medvescak.
		Shots on goal: YUG 11 (43), MED 10 (26) Faceoffs: YUG 5 (21), MED 7 (37) Penalties: YUG 0 (6), MED 4 (14) Powerplay: YUG 1/7, MED 0/3 Ice leaders: YUG – Tomas Starosta – 21:31 MED – Mark Popovic – 25:15.
		Thank you for following today's KHL action with us, we were glad to have you! For more KHL action check our schedule. Until next time, goodbye. (14:17:47)

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 5. Kruchinin (Gusev, Magogin) – 8. Ryan (Klubertanz, Brust), 15. Thomas (Murley), 37. Glumac (Nystrom), 55. Vesce (Ellison, Popovic)

HC Yugra: Kuznetsov (Kukin) – Dixon, Bulyansky, Melart, Smolenak, Starosta – Sokolov, Sitnikov, Khvostov, Zhukov, Knyazev – Dyakov, Magogin, Kruchinin, Shvidenko, Gusev – Tyulyapkin, Plotnikov, Lesnukhin, Yatsenko, Putilov

Medvescak Zagreb: Brust (Dekanich) – Popovic, Thomas, Cheechoo, Murley, Martinovic – Linglet, Svarny, Vesce, Foster, Ellison – Klubertanz, Glumac, Ryan, Letang, Iggulden – O'Connor, Nystrom, Walker, Murray, Bjorkstrand

Referees: Nalivaiko, Romasko – Putilin, Raming

Attendance: 4050

1st period
	02:00
	02:46
	03:33
	04:37
	07:47
	09:21
	14:23
	15:05
	19:03
1st intermission
2nd period
	34:16
	36:34
	37:42
	39:32
2nd intermission
3rd period
	44:22
	52:08
	54:45
Final