KZN 3:2 SIB | Ak Bars Kazan - HC Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)

KHL

Metallurg M – Admiral	5:3 (end)	\|	Barys – Avtomobilist	5:4 (after OT)	\|	Salavat Yulaev – Torpedo	0:1 (end)
Ak Bars – Novosibirsk	3:2 (after OT)

final/OT

Ak Bars Kazan

3:2 (0:1, 0:1, 2:0 - 1:0)

HC Sibir Novosibirsk

Sunday 09.03.2014, 14:00 • TatNeft Arena, Kazan • KHL

		Thank you for following today's KHL Eastern Conference action with us. It was utterly entertaining, one has to admit. We continue our coverage tomorrow with the West, so until then, goodbye! (16:51:26)
		Shots on goal: AKB 4 (35), SIB 3 (27) Faceoffs: AKB 3 (34), SIB 4 (39) Penalties: AKB 0 (10), SIB 2 (8) Powerplay: AKB 1/4, SIB 1/5 Ice leaders (end of game): AKB – Ilya Nikulin – 26:32 SIB – Alexander Kutuzov – 26:25.
		Ak Bars need 67:25 to win tonight and tie the series at 1 before going to Novosibirsk. Alexander Osipov is the new Kazan hero as Ak Bars come from behind trailing 2:0 but winning 3:2 in the end in overtime.
		Game over.
	67:25	Goal for AK Bars! ALEXANDER OSIPOV led the offense into the zone, passes to the left wing and Bars build up for the shot, Koskinen deflects into the slot and there is no one to cover Osipov who stirkes the rebound in and turns the game around for Ak Bars. It's over!
	66:42	Sibir back at full strength.
	66:32	Sibir managed to clear another puck out, Ak Bars are quick to return in and feed from the right post to the left into the slot, only to Sibir's players.
	65:28	Kirill Petrov takes a shot from the right outside the circle, blocked on the way and cleared away.
	65:13	After a clearance from Sibir, Ak Bars are quickly back in.
	64:42	Alexei Kopeikin (SIB) gives Ak Bars a huge opportunity on the powerplay as he gets called for high-sticking. Ak Bars were showing signs of good offensive play lately, this could be the game-changer.
	63:52	Sibir show sparks of offense going down the ice, but struggle to keep possession in the zone.
	62:36	Both teams started cautious and they feel a bit tired.
	61:26	Ak Bars going down the ice over the right, Alexander Burmistrov can't beat Koskinen who holds on from the right of the slot.
	60:24	After the initial faceoff win from Sibir, Ak Bars intercept the puck in their zone and ice it down, faceoff back in their zone.
	60:01	Overtime began.
		Overtime coming up, 2:2 after regulation, 20 minutes, sudden death. Those are playoff rules for overtime, we'll be back at around 16:32 CET, 19:32 MSK, 10:32 EDT.
		Shots on goal: AKB 13 (31), SIB 5 (24) Faceoffs: AKB 7 (31), SIB 13 (35) Penalties: AKB 2 (10), SIB 2 (6) Powerplay: AKB 1/3, SIB 1/5 Ice leaders after regulation: AKB – Ilya Nikulin – 23:30 SIB – Alexander Kutuzov – 22:54.
		After three periods of play, we don't have a winner. A wild end to the game sees the home team score in the waning moments to level the score and lead the game to overtime! Mikhail Varnakov prolongs the hopes of the home crowd Ak Bars could get a win to tie the series before departing for Novosibirsk.
	60:00	3rd period finished.
	59:02	Goal for AK Bars! Alexander Burmistrov passes the puck up to Tim Stapleton behind the net who on the right side centers the puck to before the crease for MIKHAIL VARNAKOV who slides a one-timer high below the bar and ties the game!
		Sibir playing tight defence on Ak Bars keeping them at the boards and forming scrambles, Bars struggle to pass around.
	58:00	Pass from the netural zone back in by Bars through the middle, good anticipation from the defence. Two minutes to go.
		Some pushing and shoving on the faceoff draw now, but the referees calm the situation.
	57:25	Ak Bars back in over the left, Jakub Petruzalek gets the puck before the net and fires, Mikko Koskinen pulls off another save and holds on.
	57:05	A scramble behind the Sibir's net ends up in Sibir gaining possession and clearing the zone.
	55:58	A fine pass over the open ice into the lead for Burmistrov, but he can't deke the defence out and keep possession at the right boards.
	55:38	Sibir block another shot by Ak Bars and clear on sight.
	55:00	After Janne Pesonen's shot got blocked from the left and was fed back in from the right boards, somehow Sibir take it in the scramble, lead the offense down the right alley and get into the zone too quickly, offside.
	54:24	Sibir on one of their rare expeditions to the offensive zone, again Dmitry Monya strikes from the left edge of the circle, blocked on the way.
	53:24	Alexander Burmsitrov sends the dump in over the left thus icing the puck. Faceoff deep before Garipov.
	52:40	Sibir clear the zone down the right alley, Ak Bars retain possession and will come back soon.
	51:46	Another shot from the blue line on Koskinen with a spinning move, wide to the left after the deflection.
	51:19	Another deflection by Koskinen, Sibir are back into defence and want to hold onto their lead looking for breakaway opportunities down the ice. It's possible it will be only Ak Bars for most of the remainder of the game tonight.
	50:52	Kirill Petrov gets into the zone, dekes a defenceman in front and fires on the net, Koskinen again has to deflect.
	50:28	Kirill Petrov sends a cross-ice pass to Alexei Tereshchenko on the left who jumps into the zone and releases a shot, Koskinen again saves the net with his chest.
	49:34	And as they get back to five aside, Artyom Lukoyanov fires a slapper on a drop pass from the left circle, Mikko Koskinen stones him cold.
	49:18	Ak Bars back to full strength.
	48:51	Mistake passing the puck into the slot from the right could have resulted in something serious by Ak Bars, but they were offside on the 2-on-2 rush over the right.
	47:52	Another save by Garipov, his third so far in the powerplay, Vyacheslav Belov was on the shot from the left.
	47:36	Sibir build patiently with the man up, Monya gets the pass back to Lekomtsev who fires from the right circle, Garipov saves.
	47:18	Mikhail Varnakov (AKB) will get the call for boarding, putting Sibir to another powerplay opportunity. Commercial break.
	46:08	Dmitry Monya gets the pass into the slot coming off the left boards, strikes a one-timer, but Garipov is in place to deflect it!
	45:17	Goal for AK Bars! Powerplay tally cuts Sibir's lead to half! ALEXANDER OSIPOV receives a pass at the blueline waiting in the middle from the right wing, fires a hard one-timed slapper and beats Mikko Koskinen who couldn't react quick enough. Assists: Kirill Petrov, Ilya Nikulin.
	44:37	Bars are quickly back into the zone, circle the net from the left and feed into the slot, but the onskating forward can't bury the one-timer. Mikko Koskinen with a huge save.
	44:21	And immediate clearance from Sibir.
	44:14	Oleg Gubin (SIB) gets called to the box for boarding on Ilya Nikulin behind Garipov. 2 minutes of powerplay for Ak Bars.
	43:44	Ilya Nikulin keeps the puck at the endboards behind his own net, forecheck by Sibir and on the check from the back draws a delayed penalty.
	43:26	Bars are back in the zone as Lukoyanov sends a lead pass in for Nikulin, he forwards it to the endboards where they lose possession.
	42:32	Alexander Svitov sends the puck from the left boards towards the right post, something between a shot and a feed in is wide to the right.
	42:16	And Sibir ice it making the job easier for Bars.
	42:10	Evgeny Medvedev leads the offense in the middle, dumps it in and Bars go for a change, change of possession as well.
	41:18	Team Sibir are playing at full strength.
	41:16	Kirill Petrov on the right wing in the zone returns the pass to the point for Jakub Petruzalek, but it slips away and the PP will come to its end.
	40:43	A one-timer from the blue line after a backward pass from the left slides wide to the left.
	40:13	Ak Bars win the opener and continue on the powerplay from the second period.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Third period set to start at around 15:40 CET, 18:40 MSK, 09:40 EDT.
		Shots on goal: AKB 6 (18), SIB 10 (19) Faceoffs: AKB 13 (24), SIB 11 (22) Penalties: AKB 4 (8), SIB 2 (4) Powerplay: AKB 0/2, SIB 1/4.
		After two periods of play, Sibir are up ahead 2:0 and setting the road for another upset. The powerplay goal late in the period was of big importance to lift them above and they will have to rely on defence in the final period like always and just hold onto it. Ak Bars have to push it even harder and hope for the best.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:32	Ak Bars are back at full strength.
	39:18	4-on-4 which will result in Ak Bars getting on the powerplay soon as Konstantin Alexeyev (SIB) is called to the box for delaying the game.
	39:07	Goal for Sibir! A single powerplay tally doubles the lead. It was DMITRY KUGRYSHEV with the puck on the left wing, skates straight towards the net and before being marked lifts the puck into the near post and beats Garipov.
	38:28	Sibir are back to a single powerplay as Korneyev is back on the ice.
	38:28	Kopeikin with the puck on the left, feeds into the middle, though the one-timer hits Garipov falling down and ricochets out.
	38:01	And now finally Ak Bars clear it away, but Sibir are quick back in.
	37:55	Another shot by Sibir, after two passes the puck stretches from the left wing to the point on the right, though the shot is directed into Garipov.
	37:43	Alexei Kopeikin is all alone on the left post with the puck taking a lot of time to set up and instead of feeding, which was his first intention, tries to fire on Garipov, but he stones him cold.
	37:32	Alexander Osipov (AKB) fires the puck outside the rink from his zone trying to clear it and Sibir will have a huge chance to double on the 5-on-3 powerplay.
	36:49	After the initial clearance, Ak Bars manage to get two, the second counting as a shot on net from their own zone.
	36:28	Konstantin Korneyev (AKB) will get called for holding, after he held Jonas Enlund by the endboards behind his own net. Enlund had delivered a check on Korneyev moments before.
		Barys Astana have just won Game 2 of the series with Avtomobilist, again in overtime, this time in the first. Final result: BAR – AVT 5:4 F/OT.
	34:53	Tereshchenko makes a defensive mistake and the puck gets in possession by Sibir who fire one up from the blue, over the bar into the glass.
	33:40	Tkachyov never gives up, there is no such thing as lost possession for him skating after it when he lost possession entering the zone on the right at the blue line, delivered some checks and went back to defenece.
	33:13	Dmitry Monya fires one up after the faceoff, Emil Garipov could deflect it.
	32:59	Icing Bars dumping the puck in.
	32:28	Ak Bars with a lot of pressure on Sibir, keeping possession and looking for a shot, firing a few, but Koskinen keeps the clean sheet.
	31:17	Ak Bars can't keep possession as Sibir intercept, but they're quickly back and Alexei Tereshchenko finds a gap from the right circle firing towards the opposite corner, pad save by Mikko Koskinen.
	30:23	After repeating the faceoff drop three times, the game finally continues, but Sibir can't execute a shot on the offense getting in over the middle and finishing behind the goal line on the left.
	30:03	Alexander Osipov fires a hard slapper from the middle rink line towards Koskinen, who is forced to stop the play handling this long-ranger.
	29:39	Belov in chase for the puck behind the net following the faceoff win, gets checked from behind, they call for a penalty, the play continues.
	29:34	Icing Ak Bars as they go on the offense.
	28:26	Ak Bars getting in over the right, but just handing the puck over to Sibir who go down the ice, Lehtera finds Enlund onskating to the slot,slightly to the left edge and his shot meets Garipov on the way.
	28:10	Another icing by Sibir, they dump the puck for Dmitry Monya but he can't beat the defence to it.
	27:58	Clearance by Sibir is ruled as icing so the faceoff will be droppen deep in their zone.
		Sibir lead the shots 4-1 thus far in the second period.
	27:39	Evgeny Tkachyov exits the wrap around on the left, spins and takes a shot high, Mikko Koskinen finds it easy to deflect.
	26:53	Sibir clear the puck all the way to the opposing net, no icing whatsoever, then Nikolai Belov comits a mistake in the defensive zone, but Sibir can't regain possession.
	25:42	Mikko Koskinen misses the puck with his glove trying to claim it coming down from high up in the air, Ak Bars retain possession and center from behind the net, though they let it slip away on the blue line.
	24:35	Ak Bars start over from their own zone and patiently enter the offensive zone, building on the attack passing around the boards before Sibir were able to get it back. The home crowd feel there was a penalty behind the net when the home forward was brought down on the ice.
	23:52	Another shot on Garipov from the right, this time by Stepan Sannikov, easy chest save from the point.
	22:57	Offside called on Sibir entering the zone on the right.
	22:20	Stick save by Garipov on Jonas Endlund's shot after he circles the net from right to left and takes fires after a spinning move.
	21:44	Stepan Sannikov somehow finds himself with the puck going into the slot after a few bounces on the left boards but coming in from the left can't put the puck behind Garipov, who deflects the puck to the right with his pads.
	21:06	Alexander Burmistrov takes the puck outside the zone and in on the other side firing a wrister from the perimeter, easy deflection for Koskinen.
	20:19	Sibir again with the first offense of the period, but this time can't find a suitable spot for the shot and Ak Bars take it out.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Second period coming up at approx. 14:50 CET, 17:50 MSK, 08:50 EDT.
		Shots on goal: AKB 12, SIB 9 Faceoffs: AKB 11, SIB 11 Penalties: AKB 2, SIB 4 Powerplay: AKB 0/2, SIB 0/1.
		After the first 20 minutes, it's hard to determine who played better. Offensively Ak Bars are dominant, they spent a lot of time in Sibir's zone and putting pressure on Mikko Koskinen. Sibir had to defend, and they did it magnificently, disciplined and tight in the middle, not allowing many shots aside from the powerplay. Only Sibir is the one ahead since the 15th second of the game and their dream start!
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:17	Alexander Romanov hits the post from close range after a visionary feed from the left, Garipov had a lot of luck on this one.
	19:00	One minute left in the first period.
	18:38	Janne Pesonen from behind the net tries to center the puck into the slot for Bars, but Sibir anticipate the play and intercept the pass.
	17:41	Sibir are back to five on the ice. A school example of powerplay put by Bars, few passes and lots of shots, but neither could find the way to the net. Extremely good PP put on by the hosts.
	17:14	The puck comes to the right outside the slot, the one-timer hits Koskinen and deflects aside.
	16:38	Ak Bars fire a couple now as they commence their powerplay, but Koskinen manages to ricochet them all aside.
	15:41	Alexander Kutuzov (SIB) gets called to the box for tripping near his goal.
	15:32	Mikhail Varnakov starts the rush on the right, Alexei Kopeikin covers him at the boards not allowing him entrance to the middle, but he dangles with the puck to behind the goal line and then with his back turned to the defenceman gets to the post, though Koskinen is there and ready to take it.
	15:19	After restarting from behind their net, Ak Bars can't find the way into the zone and ice the puck on the left.
	14:59	Ak Bars trying to enter the zone for quite some time, but they get denied right at the blue.
	14:12	After some time of possession by Bars inside Sibir's zone, they get out after a clearance, but the possession does not pose a threat for Koskinen in net, mainly keeping the puck at the boards.
	13:12	After the faceoff in the neutral zone Evgeny Medvedev gets in the zone over the middle and shoots from the slot right between the circles, Mikko Koskinen is focused and ready for it.
	13:06	A shot comes from the right on the blue line just as Ak Bars jump into the zone, but there was an offside on the left so it won't count. Commercial break.
	12:26	Ak Bars are back at full strength, Sibir go 0 for 2 on the powerplay.
	12:04	Sibir are back in the zone after Bars cleared, and try to build on the attack as the powerplay winds down.
	11:04	A huge opportunity for Sibir as Alexei Kopeikin fonds himself in the right of the slot receiving a bounced puck off the glass, Garipov throws hismelf to the other side, but can't retrieve and the puck goes wide to the left.
	10:44	Jori Lehtera from outside the right circle tries to find Jonas Enlund in the slot, the puck gets deflected before reaching Endlund and Garipov makes an easy glove save.
	10:26	Another penalty coming up on Bars – Evgeny Medvedev (AKB) gets called for hooking in the left corner of his own zone.
	09:53	Icing Sibir just as their PP expired.
	09:36	Ak Bars are back at full strength.
	09:12	Ak Bars put high forecheck now as they pressurize Sibir in their zone on the penalty kill, but can't get the possession, though killing valuable seconds.
	08:48	After a scramble on the right boards inside Bars' zone, the hosts get to the puck and manage to clear.
	08:00	Jori Lehtera from the high slot in the middle feeds for Ivan Lekomtsev in the right circle, but he can't beat Garipov with a wrister lifting it to chest height.
	07:36	Nikolai Belov (AKB) skates to the box after colliding with Stepan Sannikov and the call is elbowing.
	07:22	Another shot from Ak Bars from the left, Koskinen saves no problem.
	07:12	Evgeny Tkachyov tries to surprise Koskinen from a dead angle on the right by the boards, lifting the backhander up high seeming it was a feed in, but looked more of a shot in the end.
	06:55	Dmitry Monya fires one up from the point just as he jumps in on the left, Garipov deflects the puck up high into the protective net.
	05:44	Sibir gain some courage to go down the ice, Petruzalek takes the puck in and centers a blind pass to the right slot, the first shot gets deflected by Garipov before he successfully handled the rebound from the middle slot.
	05:09	Second shot of the game for Sibir, Emil Garipov records his first save coming from the left circle.
	04:38	Right off the faceoff in the left circle Evgeny Bodrov releases a flipper, Koskinen stones him cold and holds on.
	04:35	Icing Sibir. After a dump in from Bars they can't handle the puck in the zone, Sibir get possession but then trying to clear ice it down.
	03:39	Sibir clear the puck away all the way to the endboards with no icing called, go for the change and Bars are forced to regroup. High-forecheck by Sibir.
	03:07	Janne Pesonen now fires one up with a severe angle from the left boards following the faceoff win by Bars, but Mikko Koskinen handles it with ease.
	02:59	Evgeny Medvedev in the zone for Bars fires from the blueline on the left, blocked on the way and into the nettting.
	02:35	As Sibir clear the zone, Ak Bars are quick back in, but can't establish anything offensive-wise in the zone.
	01:58	Ak Bars come out strong after the goal, not looking a bit shocked, and keep the puck mostly inside the attacking zone, though Sibir find ways to clear the danger.
	01:23	Mikhail Varnakov goes for the wrap-around exitting on the right, but his low shot from the left post gets stopped by Koskinen's pad.
	00:56	The first offense led by Ak Bars, who get stunned once again, sees the puck wide of the net to the left.
	00:15	Goal for Sibir! What a start to the game! Sibir won the opening draw, DMITRY MONYA goes to the zone over the right and from the point fires a shot into the upper right corner of Garipov's net. Assists: Jori Lehtera, Jonas Enlund.
	00:01	Game started.
		Starting lineups: Ak Bars Kazan: Garipov (Barulin) – Nikulin, Korneyev, Tereshchenko, Petruzalek, Petrov – Stapleton, Pesonen, Heshka, Burmistrov, Medvedev – Belov, Svitov, Varnakov, Tkachyov, Osipov – Bodrov, Yarullin, Obukhov, Lukoyanov HK Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Bespalov) – Monya, Lehtera, Enlund, Hrabal, Lekomtsev – Kugryshev, Alexeyev, Kopeikin, Koskiranta, Kutuzov – Shumakov, Karavayev, Gubin, Belov, Sannikov – Romanov, Kvartalnov, Ignatushkin, Ozhiganov, Butuzov Referees: Ronn, Karabanov – Shikanov, Mikhel.
		The national anthems of Russia and Tatarstan will be performed and soon we'll have the opener.
		Can Sibir upset again? Or will the favored Ak Bars take the home win and tie the series? We'll soon find out, so stay with us, the game starts at 14:00 CET, 17:00 MSK, 08:00 EDT.
		Sibir Novosibirsk Solid defensive play, disciplined in their own zone and good execution down the ice brought nothing but joy for the lower seeded visitors to Kazan. They finished the regular season with 13 points less than their opponent, 87 after 54 games. Finnish connection was on the line yesterday with Jarno Koskiranta racking up a tally and Jori Lehtera picking up the assist. Also Oleg Gubin found his way to the net. Magnificent Finn Mikko Koskinen in net finished with 96 % and only a goal allowed.
		Ak Bars Kazan A team that collected 100 points flat in the regular season wasn't expected to have problems with 6th seeded Sibir. A team with so many quality players, some of them Russian national team players, would be extremely surprised and upset if they lost today and found themselves down in the series 2-0. Mikhail Varnakov is the only scorer so far in the playoffs after Game 1, while Konstantin Barulin sits at 86.4 % and 3.09 GAA following yesterday's shocking defeat.
		Hello and warm welcome everyone for another day of hockey in the KHL! It's the playoffs, Day 2 in the East and we're set and ready for some Ak Bars versus Sibir action! After yesterday's upset put on by Sibir having won 3:1 here in Kazan, the hosts will have to attack fiercely and look for a win at home before going on the road to Novosibirsk.
		Welcome. Game starts at 14:00.

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 46. Osipov (Petrov, Nikulin), 60. Varnakov (Stapleton, Burmistrov), 68. Osipov – 1. Monya (Lehtera, Enlund), 40. Kugryshev

Ak Bars Kazan: Garipov (Barulin) – Nikulin, Korneyev, Tereshchenko, Petruzalek, Petrov – Stapleton, Pesonen, Heshka, Burmistrov, Medvedev – Belov, Svitov, Varnakov, Tkachyov, Osipov – Bodrov, Yarullin, Obukhov, Lukoyanov

HC Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen (Bespalov) – Monya, Lehtera, Enlund, Hrabal, Lekomtsev – Kugryshev, Alexeyev, Kopeikin, Koskiranta, Kutuzov – Shumakov, Karavayev, Gubin, Belov, Sannikov – Romanov, Kvartalnov, Ignatushkin, Ozhiganov, Butuzov

Referees: Ronn, Karabanov – Shikanov, Mikhel

1st period
	00:15
	07:36
	10:26
	15:41
1st intermission
2nd period
	36:28
	37:32
	39:07
	39:18
2nd intermission
3rd period
	44:14
	45:17
	47:18
	59:02
After 3rd period
Overtime
	64:42
	67:25
Final/OT