LEV 4:1 DON | Lev Praha - HC Donbass Donetsk (KHL)

KHL

Traktor – Dynamo	3:5 (end)	\|	Metallurg M – Vityaz	0:2 (end)	\|	Salavat Yulaev – Torpedo	2:1 (after OT)
Ak Bars – Neftekhimik	7:3 (end)	\|	Lokomotiv – Avtomobilist	5:3 (end)	\|	Cherepovets – HC Yugra	4:1 (end)
Mytishchi – Barys	5:1 (end)	\|	SKA St. Petersburg – Avangard	4:5 (after OT)	\|	CSKA – Spartak	2:1 (end)
Riga – Medvescak	5:1 (end)	\|	HC Slovan – Dinamo Minsk	4:3 (1:0 after SO)	\|	Lev – Donbass	4:1 (end)

final

Lev Praha

4:1 (3:1, 1:0, 0:0)

HC Donbass Donetsk

Wednesday 26.02.2014, 19:00 • KHL

		Welcome. This game starts at 19:00 CET local time in Prague, 20:00 EET in Donetsk, 13:00 EST.
		The last time HC LEV Praha took to the ice for a KHL game was four long weeks ago, back on January 28, when they defeated Vityaz 4-3 in a shootout. In the Olympic break that followed, captain Jiří Novotný went to Sochi with the Czech national team, while the rest of the Lions went to Dubai and then Switzerland, where they played two re-tuning games against Swiss national league clubs to get ready for the game coming up on Wednesday night. This game has been a long time coming and, make no mistake, it is huge. The Lions enter the game with 90 points, tied for third place in the Western Conference with Donbass Donetsk -- Wednesday´s opponent. The winner of the game will have sole possession of third place and have a leg up on finishing in the top four of the conference, and may even set their sights on second-place SKA St Petersburg, who have 98 points. The loser will have to start worrying about the teams in the rear-view mirror -- Dinamo Riga is 3 points back with 87 points, Medveščak Zagreb is 5 back with 85, and CSKA Moscow is 7 back with 83. With four games left on the schedule, both of these teams could potentially finish as high as second place or as low as seventh. The Lions won 12 of their last 15 games before the break, including five straight at home. Donbass went into the break hot, too, winning seven of their last nine. Since their last game, a 3-2 shootout win on home ice against Atlant, two of their players went to Sochi -- goaltender Ján Laco with Slovakia and defenceman Oskars Bartulis with Latvia. While Laco represented his country, it will likely be Canadian Michael Leighton who gets the start in goal on Wednesday. He´s played in 39 of Donbass´s 50 games this season with a 1.76 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and 5 shutouts. As a team, Donbass has 8 shutouts this season, which is a large reason why they are the best defensive team in the league with just 92 goals against. On the offensive side, Donbass is tied for 9th in the league with 130 goals scored. Czech Lukáš Kašpar leads the team in goals (16), assists (20) and points (36). He´s followed by Maxim Yakutsenya with 30 points and Yevgeni Dadonov and Canadian Randy Robitaille with 28 each. Other dangerous forwards include Finn Teemu Laine, Czech Václav Nedorost and Ukrainian team captain Ruslan Fedotenko. The defensive corps is led by Canadian Clay Wilson with 22 points and Slovak Peter Podhradský with 21 and a team-best plus-22 rating. While Donbass´s plus-38 goal difference is fourth-best in the league, Lev is pretty close to that at plus-37. That starts in goal, where Petri Vehanen has been brillant this year with a 1.71 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and 4 shutouts. The offence has been spread around -- Martin Thörnberg and Jiří Sekáč are co-scoring leaders with 26 points, followed by Novotný and Justin Azevedo with 24 each. Next is defenceman Martin Ševc with 21 points, and Finnish d-man Topi Jaakola has a team-best plus-17 rating. It was a long time ago, but Lev opened their regular season in Donetsk way back on September 8. In that game, the Lions got goals from Calle Ridderwall and Michal Řepík to take a 2-0 lead before Donbass came back to win 3-2 on an overtime goal by Yakutsenya. Unlike a lot of KHL teams, the rosters of these two teams have not changed significantly since that time.
		Starting lineups: Lev Praha: Vehanen (Engren) – Ševc, Mäenpää, Oystrick, Gragnani, Jaakola, O'Byrne, Mikuš, Nakládal – Azevedo, Novotný, Ullström – Sekáč, Vrána, Thörnberg – Zackrisson, Kapanen, Řepík – Ridderwall, Cingel, Matai. HC Donbass Donetsk: Leighton (Laco) – Kolář, Piganovich, Podhradský, Wilson, Bartulis, Razin, Silnitsky – Dadonov, Nedorost, Yakutsenya – Kagarlitsky, Robitaille, Kašpar – Kiiskinen, Varlamov, Zakharov..
		The national anthems of Ukraine and the Czech Republic are complete, and the game will start momentarily. Lev Praha is wearing their home red uniforms with blue and white trim, red NY Rangers-style pants and blue helmets. Donbass Donetsk is wearing their road white uniforms with red, black and silver trim, black pants and white helmets. Donbass also sporting black bands on their right arms in recognition of the tragic events in Ukraine in the past week.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:26	Goal for Lev! That was quick! From a battle for the puck in the corner, Jiri Novotny fed JUSTIN AZEVEDO, who was all alone in front of the net and he made no mistake, one-timing it inside the post from close range. Assist: Jiri Novotny.
	01:30	They almost got another. Ryan O'Byrne's shot from the point was stopped by Leighton, then Repik was tied up trying to get to the rebound.
	03:12	Fedotenko tried to get to a loose puck in front of the Lev net but was tied up and couldn't get his stick on it.
	03:20	Puck out of play in the Donbass zone, faceoff inside.
	05:00	Goal for Lev! Lev with possession in the Donbass zone, Zackrisson at the half-boards passed back to the point to TOPI JAAKOLA, and his high wrister found its way through traffic and past Leighton for the second Lev goal. Assist: Patrik Zackrisson.
	05:00	Donbass making a goaltending change. After Lev scored 2 goals on 5 shots, Michael Leighton is out and Jan Laco is in, so a short night for Leighton.
	06:48	Offside Lev.
	07:30	Nedorost from the corner tried to find Dadonov streaking to the net, but the pass missed. Donbass still without a shot on goal.
	10:48	Dadonov was trying to lead a Donbass rush, Mikko Maenpaa forced him wide but put too much of a grab on him and is called for holding. Donbass is getting the game's first power play, and they are still looking for their first shot.
	11:15	Donbass's first shot on goal is a pretty good chance, as the dump-in went off the end boards and out front to Vaclav Nedorost, but Petri Vehanen denied him from point blank.
	12:30	Podhradsky from the point, pad save Vehanen, battle in front for the rebound but it's cleared.
	12:53	Lev kills off the penalty and now they're going to the power play, as Donbass captain Ruslan Fedotenko is called for slashing.
	13:14	Icing Lev with 1:39 left in their power play.
	13:17	Goal for Donbass! Donbass is on the board with a shorthanded goal. Nedorost won the draw back to OSKARS BARTULIS, and his slapper hit a Lev player and changed direction, giving Vehanen no chance to react. Assist: Vaclav Nedorost.
	14:52	Sevc from the point, kicked away by Laco. It might have been headed wide anyway.
	15:00	Donbass back at full strength, play in their end.
	16:19	Offside Lev.
	16:27	Puck loose in the Donbass zone, Laco comes out of his net and covers for a stoppage.
	16:50	Virtanen feeds Fedotenko in front, he tries a quick one-timer with an open side of the net but fans on it, otherwise this was probably a tied game.
	17:27	Puck out of play in the Donbass zone, faceoff inside. Lev had the first 5 shots in this game and Donbass the next 5. Shots now 5-5.
	18:20	Goal for Lev! Lev with control off the draw and Sekac made a nice pass to PETR VRANA, who made an absolute beautiful move to beat Laco on a backhand deke. Assists: Jiri Sekac, Martin Thornberg.
	19:31	Icing Donbass.
	19:37	Gragnani from the point off the draw, pad save Laco.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		An interesting period with a couple of momentum swings. Lev scored 2 goals on 5 shots and were up 2-0 after 5 minutes. After making a goaltending change, Donbass then had the next 5 shots and scored a shorthanded goal, but Lev restored their 2-goal lead late and it's 3-1 after one period. Shots on goal in the 1st period: Lev 11, Donbass 8. Quality scoring chances: Lev 4, Donbass 3. 2nd period begins at 19:48 CET, 13:48 EST.
		The teams are back on the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:45	Offside Donbass on the pass, faceoff back in their own zone.
	21:07	Thornberg from the boards finds Sekac right in front, tries to deke Laco but the puck just slides wide of the far post.
	22:13	Icing Lev.
	22:36	Donbass going to the power play as Jakub Matai upends Wirtanen in the neutral zone.
	23:30	Lev ices for the second time on the PK, Donbass still shotless.
	24:25	Shorthanded rush for Lev, Novotny's wrister hits Laco in the shoulder, Donbass start back late in the PP.
	25:00	Lev back at full strength and control the puck in the Donbass zone.
	25:28	Thornberg with a low slapper, toe save Laco.
	25:43	Icing Donbass.
	25:58	Sergei Varlamov with a slapper, right on Vehanen, who holds on.
	26:40	Novotny feeds Ullstrom, can't get the shot away, then a shot from the point is kicked out by Laco.
	26:56	Niko Kapanen was knocked down in front of the Donbass goal but for some reason is the one getting the penalty for high sticking. The Lev bench is confused by the call and the referee is explaining it. In any event, Donbass is headed to the power play, they're 0/2.
	28:31	Puck comes out of the corner and right on Vehanen, who covers with :25 left in the penalty.
	29:03	Jan Kolar shoots from the point, stick save Vehanen, Lev back at full strength.
	29:43	Jiri Sekac tugs at the arm of Gennady Razin, and is called for holding. Donbass right back to the power play, 0/3 in the game.
	30:25	Lev with a shorthanded 2-on-1, Novotny tries to pass to Kapanen but he's tied up and doesn't get a shot away.
	31:10	Nedorost the high backhander hits the arm of Petri Vehanen, scramble in front of the Lev net but the puck stays out, play continues.
	32:03	Lev back at full strength as the puck goes out of play, faceoff in the Lev zone. Donbass now 0/4 on the power play.
	32:37	Goal for Lev! Oystrick feeds MARTIN THORNBERG down low, and his shot from the corner somehow beats Jan Laco on the near side, off his skate and in. That's a lucky Lev bounce for sure and a tough break for Donbass. Assist: Nathan Oystrick.
	33:55	Big hit by Maxim Yakutsenya on Juraj Mikus at the point. The Lev fans whistle in disapproval but that was a nice hit.
	34:40	Offside Lev.
	37:23	Shot from O'Byrne from the point deflected high and off the glass.
	37:45	Zackrisson feeds Repik in front, great save by Jan Laco at point-blank range.
	38:45	Podhradsky along the boards tries to find Wirtanen at the far side, doesn't get much on his one-timer and it's turned away by Vehanen.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Randy Robitaille was in all alone in the dying seconds but had to rush his shot with time running out in the period, shoulder save Vehanen a split second before the horn.
		Things settled down somewhat in the second period, the only goal was scored on a shot by Martin Thornberg from the corner that Jan Laco would certainly like to have back, and Lev now has a 4-1 lead after 2 periods in this battle for third place in the West. Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Lev 6 (17), Donbass 10 (18). Quality scoring chances: Lev 4 (8), Donbass 2 (5). 3rd period begins at 20:43 CET, 14:43 EST.
		The teams are on the ice and the second period will start shortly.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	41:13	Ruslan Fedotenko knocks down Justin Azevedo in front of the net, and following a delay with the goalie out, he's called for interference. Lev to the power play, they're 0/1 with a shorthanded goal against.
	42:30	Sekac tries to shoot through a crowd, doesn't get through.
	42:45	Now Azevedo's shot is deflected wide by Sekac.
	43:10	Finally Jiri Sekac manages to get a shot through to Jan Laco but he makes a glove save and holds on with just :03 left in the penalty.
	43:29	Donbass kill off the penalty and now go to the power play as Topi Jaakola is called for high-sticking in his own zone. They're 0/3 today.
	44:42	Jiri Novotny tries to take a long shot while shorthanded but it's deflected out of play, faceoff in the Donbass zone with :47 left in their power play.
	45:27	Now Justin Azevedo takes a shot from the corner that hits Laco and falls behind him. He didn't know where it was but finally fell backward and covered it, getting a whistle with just :02 left in the Donbass power play. Shots from the corner have been trouble for Laco today.
	46:14	Now Vehanen covers a loose puck in the Lev zone, they're back at full strength.
	47:00	Loose puck in the neutral zone, Randy Robitaille almost got another breakaway but couldn't get the puck to settle down and Patrik Zackrisson made a nice play to knock it away from him.
	47:15	Now Laco makes the save and Ridderwall tries to dig for a rebound that wasn't there. Donbass took exception to that and there's a bit of pushing and shoving, but no penalties coming.
	47:23	Now Calle Ridderwall is getting a penalty, though, for tripping. Donbass back to the power play, 0/4 today.
	49:17	Clay Wilson with a wrister from the point for Donbass's first shot of this power play, right on Vehanen, who holds on with just :07 left in the penalty.
	49:30	Lev at full strength, Donbass 0/5, play in the Lev zone.
	50:20	Yevgeni Dadonov drives to the net, he's slashed by Mikko Maenpaa and Lev is getting another penalty.
	51:20	Lev ices, Donbass really struggling on the power play tonight.
	51:37	Now the puck is played by a Donbass high stick and they're backed up in their own zone with :43 left in the power play.
	52:30	Robitaille centres in front to Lukas Kaspar, but Petri Vehanen slides across and robs him just seconds after the penalty expires.
	53:17	Icing Lev.
	53:50	Dadonov attempts a wraparound but Vehanen gives nothing and covers it.
	54:10	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	56:47	Oleg Piganovich with a wrister from the point, right on Vehanen, who holds on.
	57:50	Oystrick the low slapper from the point, stick save Laco.
	58:17	Big collision in the corner between Sekac and Yakutsenya, and they have words with each other as they skate up ice.
	59:49	Offside Donbass.
	59:57	The puck now goes into the Lev bench, faceoff outside again with Lev fans on their feet.
	60:00	Game over.
		It was the two goals in the first five minutes of this game that chased Donbass starter Michael Leighton and really gave Lev the advantage in this game. With the win, they are now alone in 3rd place in the Western Conference, 6 points behind SKA and 3 points up on both Donbass and Dinamo Riga. (21:14:49)

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 1. Azevedo (Novotny), 5. Jaakola (Zackrisson), 19. Vrana (Sekac, Thornberg), 33. Thornberg (Oystrick) – 14. Bartulis (Nedorost)

Lev Praha: Vehanen (Engren) – Ševc, Mäenpää, Oystrick, Gragnani, Jaakola, O'Byrne, Mikuš, Nakládal – Azevedo, Novotný, Ullström – Sekáč, Vrána, Thörnberg – Zackrisson, Kapanen, Řepík – Ridderwall, Cingel, Matai.

HC Donbass Donetsk: Leighton (Laco) – Kolář, Piganovich, Podhradský, Wilson, Bartulis, Razin, Silnitsky – Laine, Fedotěnko, Wirtanen – Dadonov, Nedorost, Yakutsenya – Kagarlitsky, Robitaille, Kašpar – Kiiskinen, Varlamov, Zakharov.

Referees: Bulanov, Kiselyov – Streltsov, Tarasov

1st period
	00:26
	05:00
	10:48
	12:53
	13:17
	18:20
1st intermission
2nd period
	22:36
	26:56
	29:43
	32:37
2nd intermission
3rd period
	41:13
	43:29
	47:23
	50:20
Final