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after shootout (0:1)
Medvescak Zagreb
1:2 (0:0, 0:0, 1:1)
Severstal Cherepovets
Monday 27.01.2014, 19:30 • Zagreb Arena • KHL
     
    Severstal rode their luck in overtime, but largely thanks to their heroic goalkeeper Jakub Stepanek they held out and claimed the extra point with a 2-1 victory after penalty shots! They were much the better team for the first two periods before Sergey Monakhov struck early in the third, only to then be immediately pegged back by Bill Thomas's effort for Medvescak. The Russians weren't to be denied though and Linus Videll struck the winning penalty shot. Severstal claim the two points, whereas Medvescak get the one. Thanks for following the game with us, until next time! (22:12:13)
     
    Game over.
     
    The winning penalty shot is scored by LINUS VIDELL
     
    Matt Ellison has to score, but he can't find the net! Jakub Stepanek is the hero and it's Severstal's victory!
     
    Linus Videll goes for the left hand corner and finds it, 1-0!
     
    Bill Thomas steps up now for the hosts, but again Stepanek is there!
     
    Vadim Berdnikov is denied by Dekanich!
     
    Medvescak shoot first with Mike Glumac, but his attempt up close at the left hand post is covered with ease by Stepanek
     
    Start of shootout.
     
    Somehow Severstal have survived, and this game is going to have to be decided by penalty shots! The winner today will get two points, whereas the loser will still get one
     
    65:00
    Overtime finished.
     
    64:58
    Stepanek has to make another excellent pad save!
     
    64:41
    Stepanek makes an unbelievable double save at his near post from Ryan and Veske! How did he keep the puck out!
     
    64:30
    If we don't see a goal in these last 30 seconds of overtime, we are heading to a penalty shootout
     
    64:01
    Berdnikov from he right hand boards puts in a slapshot which Dekanich sees well
     
    63:35
    Thomas puts in a great shift for Medvescak, finds Cheechoo on the crease who can't even hit the target!
     
    62:59
    Dekanich covers up a loose puck trickling along towards his goal
     
    61:34
    Evgeniy Mons skates away on a fast breakaway for Severstal, but his snapshot from the left looking for the top left hand corner flies off target
     
    60:43
    Cheechoo! He battles for the puck hard at Stepanek's near post and flashes a pass across the face of the goal!
     
    60:01
    Overtime began.
     
    It's overtime! The sides couldn't be separated after 60 minutes with the score locked at 1-1
     
    60:00
    3rd period finished.
     
    59:00
    It's now into the last minute of normal time, we will see a winning goal or are we heading into overtime?
     
    58:50
    Severstal have now taken a timeout
     
    58:50
    Cheechoo's fierce wrist shot is only partially saved by Stepanek and he has to reply on his defenders to help him out!
     
    58:21
    Kalashnikov drives the puck into Dekanich's pads from the point
     
    57:32
    Ryan dives in front of Stepanek trying to deflect the puck home, but the goalkeeper does well and manages to hold on
     
    57:03
    And offside again from the visitors
     
    56:45
    Offside from Severstal
     
    56:19
    There isn't long left, and both teams are starting to play much more cautiously
     
    54:42
    The attendance today inside the Zagreb Arena is 13200
     
    53:48
    Severstal right on the crease miss a superb chance to go ahead! And on that note Medvescak call a timeout
     
    53:22
    Videll makes himself available on the left, goes for the near post but the goalkeeper doesn't have to make a save
     
    52:55
    Nikontsev gets free on the right, skates in up close but his backhand is fielded well by Dekanich
     
    52:21
    Severstal have survived and are now back to full strength
     
    52:15
    Monakhov once again skates through one on one, but this time the Medvescak defenders manage to get back and prevent him from getting a shot away
     
    52:01
    Foster! Hard one timer from the right faceoff circle and he only just misses!
     
    51:37
    Murley takes up the puck, looks for Cheechoo on the crease but Stepanek manages to freeze first
     
    50:01
    Videll! Shorthanded he gathers the puck, skates out to the left and from an awkward angle can't beat Dekanich!
     
    49:11
    Chernov is now back on the ice
     
    49:08
    Medvescak are holding the puck well but the final pass is lacking
     
    48:21
    Severstal are now running into penalty trouble, Roman Berdnikov for high sticking has been ordered to have four minutes out of the game
     
    47:53
    Nikontsev is now back into the action
     
    47:51
    But for tripping in that episode Pavel Chernov has been penalised for Severstal
     
    47:51
    The goal hasn't been given, so we play on with the score still level at 1-1
     
    47:51
    Ryan Veske has the puck in the Severstal net for a second time, but the referees are going to review the play to see if the net had already come off its moorings
     
    46:33
    Fast and strong attack by the home side, but at his near post Stepanek sends the puck away well with his pads
     
    45:53
    Medvescak have a powerplay opportunity for themselves here, Anatoliy Nikontsev for tripping has been called by the referees
     
    44:58
    Those goals have sprung both teams into life, and the pace has once again quickened
     
    43:10
    Goal for Medvescak! We've waited all this time for a goal and just like that we have two at once! BILL THOMAS rips a one timer from the right into the top far left corner and it's 1-1! Assists- Matt Murley and Jonathon Cheechoo
     
    42:58
    Goal for Severstal! Medvescak cough up the puck on the blue line in the attack and SERGEY MONAKHOV skates away one on one and beats Dekanich five hole, it's 1-0!
     
    41:51
    Stepanek's net gets dislodged and we have a short stoppage
     
    41:11
    Severstal are now back at full strength
     
    41:10
    Murley! Right on the doorstep he smashes the puck against the right hand post! We were close to the opening goal there
     
    40:31
    The Croatians go offside
     
    40:05
    Medvescak are playing right now with a 5 on 4 powerplay after the penalties at the end of the second period
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play-

    Shots (on target)- 17 (10)- 28 (17)
    Faceoffs- 23-7
    Hits- 12-12
    Penalty minutes- 10-4
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:59
    Cheechoo! Thomas sets him up right on the slot, he twists and aims to go five hole on Stepanek but the visiting netminder makes an excellent save!
     
    39:08
    Mike Glumac for roughing gets sent to the penalty box, but Dedunov gets four minutes for roughing and hooking, so it's a 5 on 4 Medvescak powerplay
     
    39:00
    It's now the last minute of the second period
     
    38:12
    Alexander Gogolev strides into the zone, and fires a wrist shot into Dekanich's glove
     
    36:19
    The puck is flying around the Severstal zone, but it comes to nothing
     
    35:31
    The visitors battle for the puck hard in the attack, eventually get a shot away from the blue line but it's well wide
     
    33:14
    The home side are now back at full strength
     
    32:04
    Severstal are only shooting from distance despite showing neat combination play, and Dekanich is solid
     
    31:34
    Evseenkov winds up for a big slapper, but it's only right into the goalkeeper's glove
     
    31:14
    It's another penalty against Medvescak, Michael Ryan for tripping has been penalised now
     
    29:01
    Medvescak try to get set up in the opposing zone, but Severstal push them out well
     
    27:21
    Jessiman! The puck is loose on the crease, he manages to poke it on target but Stepanek is there!
     
    27:08
    Finally the hosts make Stepanek work, Jonathon Cheechoo cuts inside and sends the puck into his chest
     
    26:34
    Dekanich holds on for a faceoff following a long pass towards his net. Medvescak are yet to have any dangerous attacks in the period as yet
     
    25:16
    Mons! He spins around the home defender well, gets into a great position at the top of the crease but shoots directly into Dekanich's midriff!
     
    24:19
    The Croatians are now back at full strength
     
    23:45
    Severstal keep the puck in the zone really well, but they're only shooting from the point and the puck isn't staying on target
     
    22:42
    Murray is now back on the ice for the home side
     
    22:19
    Medvescak are getting into a bit of penalty trouble in this period already, now Bill Thomas for tripping has been called
     
    21:37
    Sergey Monakhov gets the puck at the point and slaps it towards the left hand post, but it hits the boards behind the net
     
    20:42
    For hooking Andrew Murray has been sent to the penalty box and at the start of the second period Severstal go on the powerplay
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period-

    Shots (on target)- 7 (4)- 14 (7)
    Faceoffs- 11-3
    Hits- 6-5
    Penalty minutes- 2-0
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:37
    Kovyrshin between his opposing defender's legs forces Dekanich into a pad save at his near post
     
    19:00
    We're now already into the final minute of a fast paced first period
     
    18:06
    Severstal commit icing
     
    15:58
    Pavel Buchnevich skates into the zone with purpose, and from the right faceoff circle wrists it into the goalkeeper
     
    15:04
    Medvescak are now back to full strength
     
    14:52
    Vadim Berdnikov drives the puck in first time from the right hand boards and it's low into the pads of Dekanich
     
    14:22
    Mistake by the visitors in their own zone and they cough up the puck to Ryan, but they manage to make amends
     
    14:04
    The net has come of its moorings and we have a short stoppage
     
    13:12
    Dekanich watches a pacy slapshot from the point go wide of the post
     
    13:04
    Curtis Foster for roughing has now been given the first penalty of the game and Severstal have the first powerplay opportunity
     
    12:24
    Icing from Medvescak
     
    11:19
    After a couple of hairy moments Severstal are now trying to control the puck better
     
    09:51
    Ellison races clear on the right flank, but flashes his far post effort wide! The tempo is beginning to rise for sure now
     
    09:19
    The puck is bouncing all around the Severstal crease and they just manage to clear!
     
    08:36
    Sasha Martinovic is found at the right hand post with an excellent pass but from close range he fails to beat Stepanek!
     
    07:16
    Zemchenko! Great chance for Severstal! He finds himself all alone on the crease with Dekanich, he's denied first time and then his rebound from an awkward angle goes only just off target!
     
    05:33
    Videll skates through the home defence, but his shot aimed for the top left hand corner gets deflected up and out of play
     
    03:54
    Mark Katic receives the puck on the right flank, gets in a good shooting position and fires right into Stepanek's middle
     
    03:21
    No shots on goal as yet, both teams are looking solid at the back at the start
     
    01:28
    Lukas Videll gets in a decent position on the left hand side of the crease, but he pass to the center gets deflected wide
     
    01:05
    The first icing of the game is from Severstal. Medvescak are already trying to keep the puck as much as they can in the attack
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Croatian and Russian national anthems we will be underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Medvescak Zagreb: Dekanich (Brust)- O'Connor, Kluberantz, Popovic, Svarny, Martinovic, Foster, Katic- Thomas, Nystrom, Glumac, Murray, Cheechoo, Veske, Ryan, Murley, Kane, Jessiman, Iggulden, Bjorkstrand, Ellison

    Severstal Cherepovets: Stepanek (Tryanichev)- Stasenko, Andersen, Caslava, Kalashnikov, Popov, Kiselevich, Evseenkov- Kuvaev, Berdnikov, Zemchenko, Videll, Mons, Chernov, Nikontsev, Gogolev, Monakhov, Kovyrshin, Buchnevich, Dedunov

    Referees: Zakharov, Kulakov, Maytak, Pronskyh.
     
    The first match between these two teams this season in Cherepovets finished with a thumping 6-2 victory for Severstal.
     
    Medvescak have already confirmed that they will be in the end of season playoffs, and they sit in 6th place of the Western Conference with 84 points. Severstal have all but lost their playoff hopes with being in 10th place of the same conference with 63 points, but they won't be willing to wave their white flag just yet.
     
    Good evening everyone, and welcome to this KHL regular championship match between tonight's hosts Medvescak Zagreb, and their Russian visitors Severstal Cherepovets. Both teams play entertaining hockey, and we should be in for an exciting encounter.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 44. Thomas (Murley, Cheechoo) – 43. Monakhov, dec. p.s. Videll

    Medvescak Zagreb: Dekanich (Brust)- O'Connor, Kluberantz, Popovic, Svarny, Martinovic, Foster, Katic- Thomas, Nystrom, Glumac, Murray, Cheechoo, Veske, Ryan, Murley, Kane, Jessiman, Iggulden, Bjorkstrand, Ellison
    Severstal Cherepovets: Stepanek (Tryanichev)- Stasenko, Andersen, Caslava, Kalashnikov, Popov, Kiselevich, Evseenkov- Kuvaev, Berdnikov, Zemchenko, Videll, Mons, Chernov, Nikontsev, Gogolev, Monakhov, Kovyrshin, Buchnevich, Dedunov
    Referees: Zakharov, Kulakov, Maytak, Pronskyh
    Attendance: 13200