SIB 6:5 NOV | HC Sibir Novosibirsk - Metallurg Novokuznetsk (KHL)

KHL

Admiral – Khabarovsk	4:1 (end)	\|	Novosibirsk – Novokuznetsk	6:5 (end)	\|	Traktor – Ak Bars	2:3 (0:1 after SO)
Metallurg M – Torpedo	4:2 (end)	\|	Salavat Yulaev – Vityaz	3:2 (end)	\|	Neftekhimik – Dynamo	2:4 (end)
Lokomotiv – Barys	4:1 (end)	\|	Cherepovets – Avangard	1:2 (end)	\|	Mytishchi – Avtomobilist	2:3 (end)
SKA St. Petersburg – HC Yugra	1:2 (end)	\|	CSKA – Dinamo Minsk	3:0 (end)	\|	Riga – Donbass	0:1 (end)
HC Slovan – Medvescak	2:3 (end)	\|	Lev – Spartak	2:3 (0:1 after SO)

final

HC Sibir Novosibirsk

6:5 (3:1, 3:1, 0:3)

Metallurg Novokuznetsk

Tuesday 04.03.2014, 13:00 • Sibir Ice Palace • KHL

		Welcome. Game starts at 13:00.
		Good afternoon everyone and welcome to this KHL regular championship match between Sibir Novosibirsk and Metallurg Novokuznetsk. It's the final match of the regular championship for both sides, and both will be wanting to sign off on a good note.
		Sibir with 84 points have already long made sure that they will be taking part in the end of season playoffs, and they will look to cap off a superb regular season by securing 6th place of the Eastern Conference with a win here today in front of their own fans. On the other hand Metallurg are in second last of the same conference with 50 points and have long lost hope of making it to the playoffs, but in recent weeks they have shown real promise.
		The hosts have won four games out of the last six, while their opponents Metallurg have broken even with three wins and three losses in their last six matches, but their 7-2 victory against Amur at the weekend guaranteed that they will not finish in last place of the Eastern Conference.
		The first meeting between these teams this season finished with a 3-2 win for Metallurg.
		Starting lineups: HK Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Bespalov)- Alekseev, Belov, Hrabal, Kutuzov, Martynov, Lekomtsev, Ozhiganov- Shumakov, Monya, Lehtera, Karamnov, Kugryshev, Gubin, Kopeikin, Enlund, Romanov, Sannikov, Koskiranta, Kvartainov, Ignatushkin Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Sorokin (Lozhkin)- Giroux, Mantyla, Aksyonenko, Kanarsky, Kapotov, Skutar, Kuklev, Kamalov- Kurepanov, Velichkin, McLean, Gareev, Valuisky, Galimov, Yemelin, Lapenkov, Skladnichenko, Mityarkov, Kosourov, Zhafyarov Referees: Kiselyov, Belyaev, Nazarov, Chubykin.
		The teams are out on to the ice and after the Russian national anthem we will be getting underway!
	00:01	Game started.
	02:00	After problems with the connection from Novosibirsk I am pleased to tell you that everything now seems to be in order
	02:30	Big early chance for Sibir to take the lead! Jori Lehtera hits the post when Ilya Sorokin in the Metallurg net was taken out of position!
	04:00	Metallurg ice the puck
	04:25	Metallurg commit icing for the second time in quick succession. And just before that they coughed up the puck in their own zone, but Lehtera couldn't seek out his attacking partner at the right post!
	04:53	Goal for Sibir! The hosts have made the much better start and they have their early reward! JONAS ENLUND is found on the doorstep from behind the net and he one times the puck home, it's 1-0! Assists- Dmitriy Monya
	05:20	It's yet another mistake by the visitors in their own zone, but the eventual wrist shot is driven wide with Sorokin stretching!
	05:50	Icing from Sibir
	06:33	Jarno Koskiranta backhands the puck across the Metallurg crease and after a moment's panic they manage to push away the danger
	07:10	Metallurg are now slowing the game down a bit with some solid puck possession in their own zone
	09:48	The puck is worked behind Sibir's net, eventually it's put across the crease but with Igor Velichkin hacking away at it no one can make clean contact
	10:13	Sannikov! Cutting in from behind the net he attempts a wraparound, but as the net gets dislodged the referees blow on the play
	10:31	Icing now from Metallurg
	11:05	Enlund! Sorokin finds a slapshot from the point too hot to handle, and as the puck pops out to Enlund Sorokin sticks out a big pad to save his team excellently!
	11:25	Right off the faceoff draw a wrister is fired into Sorokin's body who this time can hold on easily
	12:40	Oleg Gubin just can't get on the end of a pass right across the face of goal! The hosts today are really full of energy
	14:44	Vadim Mityarkov wins the puck up against the boards, sharply turns in towards Koskinen's near post glove side but the goaltender stays alert to just keep out Mityarkov's attempt!
	15:05	Goal for Metallurg! Out of nothing the visitors are back on terms! The Sibir defence poorly gives up the puck to SERGEY YEMELIN who makes them pay with a rasping wrist shot into the right hand corner of the net, it's 1-1!
	15:31	Enlund is found charging through into the zone with the Metallurg defence out of position, he goes for it early but finds only the body of Sorokin! The hosts will be looking to get back on track after surprisingly conceding that equaliser
	16:01	Dmitry Kugryshev is down on the ice looking in some pain, and after he has received medical treatment we will see if he can continue
	17:03	Gubin looks to catch out Sorokin blocker side with a low wrister, it hits the goalkeeper's pad and with Sibir sniffing around for a rebound the young goalkeeper freezes the puck
	18:12	Metallurg commit icing with Sibir looking to try and grab the upper hand again
	19:08	Goal for Sibir! Just as we enter the final minute of the first period Sibir take the lead again! OLEG GUBIN is found with a cross ice pass free at the left hand post and he makes no mistake with Sorokin already beaten, it's 2-1! Assists- Sergey Shumakov
	19:50	Goal for Sibir! They really didn't want to go into the break level and with two quickfire goals they've seized complete control of the game! Sorokin is being pulled from pillar to post, JONAS ENLUND is fed unmarked on the left and with ease he sends the puck home, it's 3-1 already! Assists- Ivan Lekomtsev
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Statistics after the first period of play- Shots (on target)- 23 (16)- 7 (6) Faceoffs- 12-12 Hits- 9-8 Penalty minutes- 0-0
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:05	As the puck is dumped into Metallurg's zone Sorokin covers up for a faceoff. Sibir will be looking to carry on from where they left off with those two late first period goals
	21:25	The puck almost pops out to Enlund on the crease who is looking for a hat trick!
	21:49	Semyon Valuisky attempts to fire into Koskinen's left hand post with a wrister from distance, but it's deflected out of play
	22:20	A hard rush from the home side is finished off with a rasping shot that just flies over Sorokin's cross bar!
	23:01	Metallurg commit icing
	23:18	Koskiranta! Free on the slot he's found with a quick pass from behind the net but with the goal gaping he one times the puck into Sorokin's chest!
	24:08	Two on one breakaway for the visitors, but Velichkin instead of passing shoots himself and forces Koskinen into a useful save at his near post!
	26:10	Sibir keep the puck in the zone well but can't find any openings in which to take aim and Metallurg clear
	26:20	We have the first penalty of the day and it's against Sibir, Igor Ozhiganov for checking to the head has received a 2+10 penalty and we won't see him again on to the ice for another ten minutes
	27:15	Zhafyarov! Fantastic chance for the young forward to get his team back into the game! He cuts through the entire Sibir defence at ease, but Koskinen denies him!
	28:20	Sibir are now back at full strength despite Ozhiganov still sitting in the penalty box
	28:48	Kurepanov from the right faceoff circle hits Koskinen's body who saw it through traffic
	30:07	The puck is bobbling all around Sorokin's crease but with Lehtera and co. battering away at it Metallurg manage to somehow clear!
	31:33	Mikhail Kuklev swings his stick into Dmitry Monya's face and sure enough the referees have noticed it, Kuklev is off to the penalty box for two minutes and Sibir have a powerplay opportunity
	31:37	Goal for Sibir! It didn't take them long to make use of that powerplay! Jonas Enlund is denied by Sorokin's left pad as he tries to find the far corner but the puck lands right on to the stick of JORI LEHTERA who taps into the empty net, powerplay goal and it's 4-1! Assists- Jonas Enlund
	32:24	Goal for Sibir! Just like in the first period Sibir really dig the knife in! JARNO KOSKIRANTA is found on the crease unmarked and he gives Sorokin no chance, it's now 5-1! Assists- Sergey Shumakov and Alexey Kopeikin
	32:24	And Sorokin's night is done after that, he's now been pulled in favour of Nikita Lozhkin
	33:00	We have a fight on our hands! Igor Velichkin inexplicably takes down his opponent, throws some heavy punches and he's been sent to the locker room for that with a 5+20 penalty, and Sibir will have an extended powerplay
	34:20	Metallurg are really falling apart. For tripping Nikita Kamalov has been sent to the penalty box and for now it's a five on three powerplay for the home side
	35:05	Sibir are working the puck well around Lozhkin's net but the final pass is lacking so far
	35:34	Goal for Sibir! JORI LEHTERA is found unmarked at the right faceoff circle and he one times the puck into the net with feeling, powerplay goal and it's 6-1! Assists- Alexander Kutuzov and Jonas Enlund
	36:40	Scramble on Lozhkin's crease and the puck is sent away out of danger! You do have the feeling that Sibir can score as many goals as they want today
	37:05	Lozhkin fields a low effort from distance well to cover it with his glove
	38:00	Metallurg are thankfully for their sake now back at full strength
	38:26	Now we have a real fight! And what a fight! Artem Gareev and Vitaliy Karamnov drop the gloves and really go for it, and the referees finally manage to break them up with Karamnov's head bleeding heavily!
	38:26	Karamnov and Gareev has predictably both got five minute penalties each for fighting, while Nikita Kvartalnov for roughing also in that incident has been penalised
	38:50	Goal for Metallurg! EVGENIY LAPENKOV is fed a pass free on the right with Koskinen out of position and he sends the puck into the near post unchallenged, powerplay goal and it's 6-2! Assists- Curtis McLean
	39:28	Galimov! One on one he seems to have beaten Koskinen who is already laid on the ice, but he fails to lift the puck above the goalkeeper's outstretched right pad!
	39:52	We're now into the final seconds of an action packed second period as Koskinen comfortably holds on to a wrist shot
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Statistics after the first two periods- Shots (on target)- 47 (31)- 22 (15) Faceoffs- 26-22 Hits- 18-20 Penalty minutes- 19-34
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:35	The third period starts off with a long and drawn out battle for the puck up against the boards and after what seemed an eternity Sibir win it back
	41:21	Kutuzov forces his way into the Metallurg zone but with no options around him he plays the puck into the boards. And then Sibir move offside
	41:45	Icing from Metallurg who will be looking to build on that powerplay goal that they scored at the end of the second period
	43:05	The puck is worked to Lozhkin's right hand post but as a mini scramble threatens to ensue the visitors clear their lines
	44:50	Koskinen plucks the puck out of the air as it travels towards his net from the left flank. The tempo in the game has certainly dropped
	45:01	We have a penalty here though, Igor Ozhiganov for holding has been called and Metallurg are going on the powerplay
	45:50	Sibir are defending this powerplay well so far, not giving their opponents any openings in which to shoot
	47:03	Goal for Metallurg! Just as Sibir are back at full strength TUUKKA MANTYLA fires a snapshot directly through Koskinen when cutting in from the right, it's now a three goal game at 6-3!
	47:20	Sibir's head coach really does look irritated by that goal, but Sibir at 6-3 up still have the game very much in their own hands
	48:55	Sibir commit icing
	48:57	Right off the faceoff draw Metallurg push to drive to the net, but their attackers are just outnumbered
	49:01	The home side are starting to pick up needless penalties, Vyacheslav Belov now has been called for slashing
	49:28	Lehtera takes control of the loose puck center ice, skates into the zone shorthanded but only finds the boards behind the net
	50:07	And Lehtera himself has now been sent to the penalty box for holding, and for just under a minute it's a five on three powerplay for Metallurg
	51:07	Goal for Metallurg! What a game! NIKITA KAMALOV stuffs the puck under Koskinen as panic erupts in the Sibir defence and it's now only a two goal game! Powerplay goal and it's 6-4! Assists- Artem Gareev
	51:07	Sibir take a well needed timeout straight after that goal and they have decided to pull Koskinen for Nikita Bespalov as they look to change the momentum
	52:28	This game is becoming littered with penalties and this time it's against Metallurg, for high sticking Raymond Giroux has been punished
	53:15	Martynov! He winds up for a fearsome slapper from the point and the puck shaves the right hand post!
	53:46	Kutuzov! Just like Martynov he takes aim from the blue line and this time Lozhkin gets everything behind it!
	54:28	Metallurg are now back at full strength
	54:52	Dmitry Kugryshev just can't get his stick on the puck as it bounces towards him with Lozhkin out of position!
	55:15	McLean skates hard into the zone beating his defender for pace, backhands the puck looking for the far post but Bespalov expertly takes it into his glove!
	57:10	As the puck comes into the crease from behind the net Bespalov dives on it to freeze with Zhafyarov lurking. Metallurg are trying to force the issue with time running down
	57:32	A quick counterattack from Sibir puts them through two on one, but with Lozhkin slipping around the place they contrive to put the puck wide!
	58:11	The attendance in the Sibir Ice Palace today is 7400
	58:28	Goal for Metallurg! This is simply an unbelievable match! From five goals down the visitors are within one! SEMYON VALUISKY forces the puck home on the slot to make the home fans worry, it's 6-5!
	59:45	With now just 15 seconds remaining Metallurg have pulled their goalkeeper for the extra skater!
	60:00	Game over.
		Sibir have just managed to hold out for a simply thrilling 6-5 victory against Metallurg Novokuznetsk! It's not every day that you see a game filled with eleven goals but these sides decided to serve us up a real treat. Jonas Enlund for Sibir was the star of the show with a double and an assist to his name but Jori Lehtera also got a brace, and Oleg Gubin and Jarno Koskiranta also managed to get their names on the scoreboard for Sibir. Metallurg were at one point losing by five goals but efforts from Sergey Yemelin, Evgeniy Lapenkov, Tuukka Mantyla, Nikita Kamalov and Semyon Valuisky made it a nervy finish for the home fans. Thanks for following the game with us, and join me again soon for SKA Saint Petersburg against Yugra! (15:34:15)

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 5. Enlund (Monya), 20. Gubin (Shumakov), 20. Enlund (Lekmotsev), 32. Lehtera (Enlund), 33. Koskiranta (Shumakov, Kopeikin), 36. Lehtera (Kutuzov, Enlund) – 16. Yemelin, 39. Lapenkov (McLean), 48. Mantyla, 52. Kamalov (Gareev), 59. Valuisky

HC Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Bespalov)- Alekseev, Belov, Hrabal, Kutuzov, Martynov, Lekomtsev, Ozhiganov- Shumakov, Monya, Lehtera, Karamnov, Kugryshev, Gubin, Kopeikin, Enlund, Romanov, Sannikov, Koskiranta, Kvartainov, Ignatushkin

Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Sorokin (Lozhkin)- Giroux, Mantyla, Aksyonenko, Kanarsky, Kapotov, Skutar, Kuklev, Kamalov- Kurepanov, Velichkin, McLean, Gareev, Valuisky, Galimov, Yemelin, Lapenkov, Skladnichenko, Mityarkov, Kosourov, Zhafyarov

Referees: Kiselyov, Belyaev, Nazarov, Chubykin

Attendance: 7400

1st period
	04:53
	15:05
	19:08
	19:50
1st intermission
2nd period
	26:20
	31:33
	31:37
	32:24
	33:00
	34:20
	35:34
	38:26
	38:50
2nd intermission
3rd period
	45:01
	47:03
	49:01
	50:07
	51:07
	52:28
	58:28
Final