DON 0:1 LEV | HC Donbass Donetsk - Lev Praha (KHL)

KHL

Donbass – Lev

0:1 (end)

final

HC Donbass Donetsk

0:1 (0:0, 0:0, 0:1)

Lev Praha

Friday 28.03.2014, 19:00 • Druzhba Arena, Donetsk • KHL

		Lev Praha have won the series 4 games to 2, and they will face Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Western Conference Final, with game 1 going in Prague on Wednesday. What a game here in Donetsk. Donbass's season is over, but their fans, grateful for the chance to watch them play one last time after an extended period away, give them a huge ovation for a great season. It was quite a series between two evenly-matched team, but in the end, Lev was just a little bit better, and are the deserving winners. Ondrej Nemec scored the only goal of this game on a third-period power play, and Atte Engren made 20 saves for the shutout in just his second KHL playoff game. (21:23:47)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:43	Donbass hit the goalpost!
	59:34	Lev clear the zone again . . .
	59:12	Donbass enter the Lev zone, Laco goes back to the bench . . .
	59:00	Icing Donbass. Laco will again return to the net.
	58:47	Donbass enter the zone, Lev clear . . .
	58:17	Timeout Donbass.
	58:17	Offside Donbass on the pass, faceoff at centre ice. Jan Laco will come back into the net for the faceoff.
	57:54	Jan Laco coming out of the Donbass net and on the bench for a 6th attacker. They're going for it already.
	57:54	Icing Lev.
	57:33	Offside Donbass.
	56:17	Backhander from Ridderwall, stick save Laco, and he finally covers it.
	54:52	Puck again goes out of play in the Lev zone after a rush from Yakutsenya into the zone, faceoff inside.
	53:56	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	53:23	Play is stopped as the puck is frozen along the board in the Lev zone. Faceoff outside.
	52:35	Right off the draw a wrister from Tuomas Kiiskanen and Atte Engren barely gets a pad on that to keep his team in the lead.
	52:29	Icing Lev.
	52:10	Jiri Sekac circles the net and fires through traffic that hits Laco and stays out. I don't think he saw it. Very nearly 2-0.
	51:06	Offside Donbass.
	50:25	Gragnani from the point, deflected to the corner.
	49:26	Goal for Lev! Azevedo with the cross-point pass to ONDREJ NEMEC and his wrister through traffic gets through everybody and in. It doesn't look like it was tipped. Power-play goal. Assist: Justin Azevedo.
	48:50	One-timer from Kapanen, kicked away by Laco.
	48:09	Lev putting on pressure in the Donbass zone but Yuri Silnitsky chops down Jiri Sekac and is called for slashing. Lev to their first power play of the game.
	47:29	Quickly back the other way, the puck is deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	47:15	Sevc from the point, deflected wide.
	46:36	Now a shot from the point and a glove save by Engren, who holds on. Normally a backup, what a game he's had in the Lev net.
	45:15	Donbass pressure, Engren with the save and Kiiskinen slides the rebound just wide of the far post.
	44:07	Wrister from Cingel, caught and held by Laco.
	43:20	Lev back at full strength and they start out of their own zone.
	42:47	Scramble around the Lev net in the dying seconds of the penalty. The puck was finally put in the net and Donbass sticks were raised but the referee emphatically waved it off, having blown the whistle. :01 remains in the penalty.
	41:40	Podhradsky from the point, deflected wide.
	40:48	Jiri Sekac is getting called for hooking, as he hauled down a Donbass player in front of his own net. In the third period, Donbass is getting the game's first power play.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		The teams are on the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
		Another scoreless period between these two teams. Several more great scoring chances both ways, with the biggest one being an apparent Lev goal being washed out because the net was dislodged by a Donass player sliding into it a split-second before. Game 6 is 0-0 after 2. Shots on goal in the 2nd period: Donbass 8 (16), Lev 13 (19). Quality scoring chances: Donbass 2 (5), Lev 2 (4). 3rd period begins at 20:47 CET, 15:47 EDT.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	38:50	Puck deflected out of play in the Donbass zone, faceoff inside.
	38:15	Donbass rush, Wirtanen's shot is blocked, Lev start back.
	37:42	The other way, Thornberg's centring attempt goes off the skate of a Donbass defenceman and to Laco, who covers.
	37:10	Kaspar to Belukhin, shoots wide.
	35:54	Wrister from Novotny from the right wing, right on Laco, who holds on.
	35:46	Offside Lev.
	35:05	Slapper from Podhradsky, pad save Engren.
	34:48	Laco makes a save, then another Lev attempt is deflected out of play. Faceoff inside.
	35:30	Slapper from Repik sails just wide.
	31:53	Jiri Novotny the pass from the top of the circle is one-timed by Jiri Sekac off the far post and in, just as the net is dislodged. Following a video review, it was ruled no goal, despite the fact the net was dislodged by a Donbass player sliding into his own net. An unfortunate turn of events for Lev, and causes one to speculate that the rule should be re-examined. According to NHL rules, it would have been a goal.
	31:05	Yakutsenya the wrister from the left wing boards, directed to the corner by Engren.
	29:53	Slapper from Repik from just inside the line, right on Laco, who covers.
	28:45	Thornberg the wrister from the right wing, kicked out by Laco.
	28:12	Donbass quickly head up ice, long shot from Peter Podhradsky is right on Engren, and he holds on.
	27:57	Lev shot right off the draw, Laco catches it and hangs on.
	27:54	Icing Donbass.
	27:44	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff outside.
	27:15	Icing Lev.
	26:50	Donbass get two shots from the point, Engren stops them both, then a wraparound attempt by Fedotenko fails with Engren down.
	26:27	Offside Lev.
	25:39	Thornberg centres for Birner, just wide.
	23:58	Puck misplayed in the Lev zone, Tuomas Kiiskinen gets a chance but Engren makes another big pad save.
	23:13	Icing Donbass.
	22:48	Michal Repik from the right wing finds Calle Ridderwall coming down the left side, but Jan Laco makes a big save on his one-timer and hangs on.
	20:59	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		The teams are on the ice and the 2nd period will start shortly.
		Donbass was pumped up that first period, finally getting a chance to play in front of their home fans and desperate to avoid elimination. Lev was pumped up to try to advance to the next round. Add those together and you get one emotional period, with lots of physical play. Not a lot of shots on goal but some very good chances. Lev missed the target with their best chances, while Atte Engren made some very good saves for Lev, including one off Yevgeny Dadonov that has to be a candidate for save of the season. We're scorless after 1 period. Shots on goal in the 1st period: Donbass 8, Lev 6. Quality scoring chances: Donbass 3, Lev 2. 2nd period begins at 19:51 CET, 14:51 EDT.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:17	Icing Donbass.
	18:10	Another save by Engren, this one with the glove on a wrister from Laine, and he holds on.
	17:05	Offside Donbass.
	16:34	Maenpaa from the point through a crowd, butterfly save Laco.
	14:25	Puck centred from behind the net by Yakustenya out front to Dadonov, somehow Engren keeps out his one-timer from point blank. Upon seeing that replay, it was an absolutely incredible save. Hit hit him in the elbow, rolled up his arm, and then Engren flipped it over his own back with the tip of his catching glove. Onlookers gasp in disbelief when they see the replay.
	12:33	Nemec from the point, stick save Laco.
	12:05	Repik tris to find Birner going to the net, he one-times it just wide.
	11:55	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	11:40	Offside Lev.
	08:59	Icing Donbass.
	08:30	And now the other way, shot from Dadonov hits Engren's glove and goes off the goalpost before being cleared away.
	07:56	Big scramble around the Donbass net, Vrana just fires wide from the side with Laco slow to get across.
	07:24	Long shot from Teemu Laine, stick save Engren, who covers.
	06:10	Save by Jan Laco and he holds on for a faceoff in the Donbass zone.
	06:00	Great chances for Ruslan Fedotenko getting past the Lev defence, but a bigger save by Atte Engren.
	04:49	Offside Lev.
	03:20	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
	02:46	A great chance for Lev, Thornberg beats a player wide and centres for Nemec, but he fires it wide from the slot.
	02:31	Early Donbass pressure this game, Clay Wilson the shot from the point, caught and held by Engren. Lev still without a shot on goal.
	01:32	It appears Michal Repik and Dmitri Kagarlitsky are getting coincidental minors, so we'll play 4-on-4. Faceoff outside the Lev blueline, as the play was offside.
	01:32	Offside Donbass, and we get some fisticuffs after the whistle. We'll surely have penalties out of this as several players pair off. I'm not sure what instigated it, perhaps a shot on goal after the whistle.
	00:27	The puck quickly goes down into the Lev zone and Atte Engren is forced to make his first save and covers.
	00:14	Offside Lev on the early shoot-in, faceoff at centre ice.
	00:01	Game started.
		The national anthems of the Czech Republic and Ukraine have been played, and the game will start shortly. Donbass Donetsk, finally playing at home, are wearing their home red uniforms with white, black and silver trim, black pants and helmets. Lev Praha is wearing their road white uniforms with blue and red trim, red NY Rangers-style pants and white helmets.
		Starting Lineups: HC Donbass Donetsk: Laco (Leighton) – Kolář, Koněv, Podhradský, Wilson, Silnitsky, Razin – Laine, Wirtanen, Kiiskinen – Dadonov (A), Fedotěnko (C) , Yakutsenya (A) – Kagarlitsky, Robitaille, Kašpar – Toryanik, Belukhin, Varlamov – Zakharov. Lev Praha: Engren (Lukáš) – Mäenpää, Ševc, Němec, Oystrick (A), O´Byrne, Gragnani, Nakládal – Zackricsson, Novotný (C), Azevedo- Sekáč, Vrána, Thörnberg – Řepík, Kapanen (A), Birner – Kubalík, Cingel, Matai – Ridderwall..
		The big shock in the lineups is no Petri Vehanen for Lev, not even as the backup, so he must be injured or sick. Starting is Atte Engren, with Jan Lukas backing him up. Otherwise, it seems Lev are going with the same lineup as game 5. As for Donbass, they are going with six defenceman with Tuomas Kiiskinen returning to the top line.
		Playoff stats Lev scoring leaders: 1. Martin Thörnberg – 9 games – 8 pts (4+4) 2. Petr Vrána – 9 games – 7 pts (6+1) 3. Justin Azevedo – 9 games – 7 pts (4+3) Lev goalies: 1. Petri Vehanen – 8 games – 1.98 GAA, .925 sv% 2. Atte Engren – 1 game – 1.63 GAA, .939 sv% Donbass scoring leaders: 1. Yevgeny Dadonov – 12 games – 11 pts (7+4) 2. Maxim Yakutsenya – 12 games – 11 pts (4+7) 3. Teemu Laine – 12 games – 9 pts (6+3) Donbass goalies: 1. Ján Laco – 7 games – 1.83 GAA, .929 sv% 2. Michael Leighton – 8 games – 2.57 GAA, .908 sv%
		The first two games were in Prague, then three in Bratislava. After Wednesday´s fifth game, everyone thought Friday´s game would be there as well. But the news came on Thursday that Donbass would get to play a second-round game in their home rink after all. The change in venue doesn´t change the situation surrounding it, though. Lev leads the series 3-2 and can clinch a spot in the Western Conference Final with a win. If Donbass wins, then both teams will go back to Prague for a seventh game on Sunday. Lev will try to become the first team in this series to string together two straight wins -- they won games 1, 3 and 5 while Donbass has prevailed in games 2 and 4. The most recent two games were both by 3-1 scores -- Donbass in game 4 with two Lev players suspended and Lev in game 5 with both returning players getting points. So what was the difference between the games? "I think that first of all our start was excellent," said defenceman Martin Ševc. "We really played as a team. We didn´t make any mistakes. To me, that was the main difference between us and Donetsk." "Defensively we played really well," said fellow defenceman Nathan Oystrick. "When we needed, we had the puck under control. In addition, up front we developed a lot of great scoring chances." The scoring chances came early for Lev, who scored two goals in the 13th minute, chasing Donbass starter Michael Leighton from the game. Donbass has played Leighton and Ján Laco roughly evenly throughout the playoffs, though a few eyebrows were raised when Leighton started after Laco had stopped 36 of 37 shots in game 4. "Actually, I thought it would be Laco, after he played so well against us on Monday," said Oystrick. "But Leighton didn´t play bad, we just had a lot of luck and deflections helped us a lot." "Truth be told, I didn´t notice," admitted Ševc. "Only when the announcer said that Donbass was making a goaltending change." After stopping all 20 shots in relief, it would seem a fairly safe bet that Laco will start in game 6. An even safer bet would be Petri Vehanen starting for Lev. He has been the team´s established starter all season long, and he was solid on Wednesday, especially in the third period when Donbass was pressing for the equaliser. Although it´s surely on their minds, none of the Lions want to talk about advancing. Their minds are just on the game to be played on Friday," said a focused Ševc."Every game starts 0-0 and so does Friday´s. We have to be ready." "I really couldn´t say if we advance on Friday, but I hope so," pondered Oystrick. "They have no choice but to win, so they´re going to go at us from the beginning to try to send it to a seventh game."
		Welcome. Game 6 of this best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal starts at 20:00 EET local time in Donetsk, 19:00 CET in Prague, 14:00 EDT.

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 50. Nemec (Azevedo)

HC Donbass Donetsk: Laco (Leighton) – Kolář, Koněv, Podhradský, Wilson, Silnitsky, Razin – Laine, Wirtanen, Kiiskinen – Dadonov (A), Fedotěnko (C) , Yakutsenya (A) – Kagarlitsky, Robitaille, Kašpar – Toryanik, Belukhin, Varlamov – Zakharov.

Lev Praha: Engren (Lukáš) – Mäenpää, Ševc, Němec, Oystrick (A), O´Byrne, Gragnani, Nakládal – Zackricsson, Novotný (C), Azevedo- Sekáč, Vrána, Thörnberg – Řepík, Kapanen (A), Birner – Kubalík, Cingel, Matai – Ridderwall.

1st period
	01:32
1st intermission
2nd period
2nd intermission
3rd period
	40:48
	48:09
	49:26
Final