Lev – Metallurg M 3:2 (end)
final
Lev Praha
3:2 (1:0, 0:1, 2:1)
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Tuesday 22.04.2014, 19:00 • O2 Arena, Prague • KHL
     
    O2 Arena and this KHL-record crowd are absolutely rocking.

    So Lev now leads the series 2-1, with game 4 on Thursday. We'll see what an emotional lift this is for them, and if it's any kind of let down for Magnitogorsk. (21:26:05)
     
    I don't know what to say right now. The last 10 minutes of that game were absolutely unbelievable, and that game-winning goal by Justin Azevedo defies explanation. You'll see it on highlight reels for sure, though, so don't miss it.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:36
    Goal for Lev!
    Are you kidding me?? A turnover at the Lev blueline, Mikko Maenpaa carries the puck through the neutral zone, then feeds JUSTIN AZEVEDO streaking to the net. As he's tripped from behind, he goes upstairs with it under the crossbar and flies through the air like Bobby Orr! I can't believe what I just saw.
    Assist: Mikko Maenpaa.
     
    58:42
    Goal for Metallurg!
    Pare and Mozyakin pass back and forth at the point, and Mozyakin shoots. Vehanen makes the pad save but FRANCIS PARE is there to put in the rebound. Wow. I'm not sure what they were reviewing, but we've got a tied game.
    Assists: Sergei Mozyakin, Chris Lee.
     
    58:42
    Metallurg puts the puck in the net, Francis Pare it appears, but they're reviewing it upstairs. For what, exactly, I'm not sure.
     
    58:25
    Now Martin Thornberg is down face-first in the neutral zone. Play is stopped. I didn't see what happened to him, but it doesn't seme like there's any penalty. Faceoff just outide the Lev zone. Metallurg net remains empty.
     
    58:15
    Koshechkin goes to the bench for an extra attacker.
     
    57:54
    Metallurg having trouble entering the zone, finally a shoot-in goes out of play as the wave rides around the arena. Faceoff outside.
     
    57:17
    Osala's centring pass is deflected away.
     
    56:00
    The fans in the lower bowl all dressed in white are hopping now, creating a rippling effect, play continues in the Lev zone.
     
    Attendance is 16 437, a KHL record.
     
    54:42
    Puck out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
     
    54:00
    Lev back at full strength, they've killed off the penalty.
     
    53:01
    Mozyakin to Zaripov again, tried to beat Vehanen before he could get across and just missed
     
    52:28
    One-timer from Lee is blocked in front, then iced.
     
    52:10
    Slap pass from Mozyakin from the top of the circle is re-directed by Zaripov down low, tries to sneak it in the short side but Vehanen keeps it out. 1:35 left in the penalty.
     
    51:45
    Time out Metallurg. They see this as their big chance.
     
    51:45
    Now Martin Sevc is called for hooking trying to contain Mozyakin along the boards. He's furious with the call and the whistling from the crowd is deafening. After giving up a power-play goal, Metallurg now with a huge chance to tie this game on the power play.
     
    50:59
    Goal for Lev!
    They keep at it on the power play, trying to break down the box, and finally JUSTIN AZEVEDO sneak in the back door and Oystrick finds him with a perfect pass and he re-directs it in. Power-play goal.
    Assists: Nathan Oystrick, Mikko Maenpaa.
     
    50:50
    Thornberg with a wrister, deflects wide, looks like he's hurt his hand.
     
    50:18
    Now a blast from Maenpaa deflects wide.
     
    49:32
    One-timer from Oystick, kicked out by Koshechkin.
     
    49:09
    Matai gets the puck in the slot but he's hooked by Tim Brent, who goes right back to the box. That one a much better penalty to take though. Lev to the power play, 0/2 today.
     
    48:52
    Jaakola's long backhander hits the side of the net.
     
    48:05
    Thornberg's wrister from the point deflects wide.
     
    47:20
    Lev back at full strength with play in their zone.
     
    46:50
    Metallurg now on the power play, Sevc dumps it the length of the ice on the penalty kill.
     
    45:45
    Zackrisson with a long-lead pass to Thornberg, his shot from the right wing is caught and held by Koshechkin. :56 left in the penalty to Brent, then Magnitika to the power play.
     
    45:12
    The Lev power play is now over as Jiri Novotny is called for high sticking, so we'll play 4-on-4 for 1:29, faceoff in the Lev zone.
     
    44:41
    Tim Brent trips a player deep in the attacking zone, Lev move the puck up ice on the delay, but he's finally going off and Lev go to the power play.
     
    43:20
    Now Zackrisson out front to Azevedo, robbed by Koshechkin from point-blank. Azevedo then digs for his own rebound but the puck squirts to the corner.
     
    42:55
    Justin Azevedo just misses Patrik Zackrisson with a breakaway pass, and it goes for icing.
     
    42:12
    Sevc's shot gets deflected wide, Metallurg back the other way, Lee's long wrister is kicked out by Vehanen.
     
    40:34
    Lev back the other way quickly, Novotny's pass attempt from the boards gets deflected right on Koshechkin, who covers.
     
    40:15
    Magnitka go right to the attack, Mozyakin carries it in, feeds Zaripov but Vehanen denies him.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    The teams are returning to the ice and the 3rd period will start shortly.
     
    Lev continued to play most of that period the way they wanted, but Metallurg really came on in the late going and they finally tied it with a power-play goal with a minute left in the period. The scorer, of course, was Sergei Mozyakin. So with the series tied 1-1 after 2 games, this game is tied 1-1 after 2 periods. Whoever wins this period takes the series lead.

    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Lev 14 (28), Metallurg 11 (15).

    Quality scoring chances: Lev 4 (6), Metallurg 5 (5).

    3rd period begins at 20:46 CEST, 00:46 YEKT, 14:46 EDT.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    38:57
    Goal for Metallurg!
    SERGEI MOZYAKIN is an amazing player. He got the puck on the boards, then curled out to the top of the circle and fired an absolute rocket top corner, using a Lev penalty killer as a screen. Power-play goal.
    Assist: Danis Zaripov.
     
    38:18
    Michal Birner is called for a trip in the neutral zone, so Metallurg goes to the power play late in this period, which may be inopportune for Lev. Metallurg 0/1 today.
     
    37:20
    Now Lev with the chances, Thornberg centres for Sekac, Koshechkin denies him from point blank, then the puck comes back to Thornberg again and Koshechkin makes another save.
     
    36:46
    Now a break for Lev but the puck is deflected out of play, faceoff in the Metallurg zone.
     
    36:22
    Platonov the shot, hits Vehanen in the chest, then Kosov the rebound on the backhander and Vehanen stops that too. He's in the zone.
     
    36:06
    Metallurg keep up the pressure, this time it's Oscar Osala with the shot, and Vehanen makes another save. It hasn't been the most inspiring effort from Metallurg this game but they're starting to come on now.
     
    35:29
    Now Potekhin with the wrister, caught and held by Vehanen. And you should here the ovation that the Finnish netminder is getting now, and no wonder for that save off Zaripov a moment ago. Grand larceny!
     
    34:03
    Mozyakin holds the puck forever, seems to have Vehanen committed to the shot and dishes to Danis Zaripov, but his quick shot is knocked away by a diving Petri Vehanen. He does it again!
     
    32:50
    Yunkov from the corner out front to Pare, and his one-time backhander goes just wide. That would have been pretty.
     
    32:23
    Lev with possession again off the draw, O'Byrne shoots from the boards, through the legs of Kapanen and right on Koshechkin, who covers again.
     
    32:23
    Lev with possession again off the draw, O'Byrne shoots from the boards, through the legs of Kapanen and right on Koshechkin, who covers again.
     
    32:12
    Faceoff win for Kapanen, shot from the point by Gragnani caught and held by Koshechkin, so we'll do it again.
     
    32:08
    Puck deflected out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
     
    31:20
    Big hit by Kosov on Nemec, and the two of them battle for the puck in the corner in the Metallurg zone, finally Lev get possession.
     
    30:51
    Lev back quickly the other way, stopped and held by Koshechkin.
     
    30:38
    Zaripov blasts it in from the neutral zone, stick save Vehanen.
     
    29:33
    Khabarov's shot from the point goes through several sets of legs but finally deflects wide.
     
    28:17
    And now another chance for Lev, Jiri Sekac makes a great move to beat a defenceman and gets a shot, then gets to his own rebound and tries to go upstairs over a fallen Vitaly Koshechkin, but goes over the crossbar, over the glass and out of play. Faceoff outside. And this crowd gives Lev a huge ovation for that shift.
     
    27:39
    Martin Sevc the blast from the point, had Koshechkin commited but deflects just wide of the post.
     
    26:33
    Oystick does a good job to keep it in at the blueline and fires a high wrister, deflected wide.
     
    26:18
    Icing Metallurg.
     
    25:55
    Another long shot from Repik, stick save Koshechkin although it might have been heading wide anyway.
     
    25:10
    Repik a wrister from the left wing, kicked out by Koshechkin.
     
    23:24
    Back and forth action. A Metallurg chance at one end, then Lev come back the other way 2-on-1, the one-timer from Maenpaa right on Koshechkin, who holds on.
     
    22:51
    Lev keep the pressure on, Koshechkin covers the puck, then Jakub Matai and Yaroslav Khabarov mix it up after the whistle. They are each sent off for 2 minutes, so we'll play 4-on-4.
     
    22:51
    Lev keep the pressure on, Koshechkin covers the puck, then Jakub Matai and
     
    22:30
    Nadladal the wrister from the point, pad save Koshechkin and the rebound's finally cleared.
     
    21:24
    Metallurg go back the other way quickly, Vehanen makes the save and we've got some pushing and shoving behind the net after the whistle. Faceoff outside, as I guess the Metallurg defence came in too deep.
     
    21:15
    Shot from the boards by Thornberg, the rebound gets away from Koshechkin and is cleared.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The teams are back on the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly. :16 still remains in Jan Kovar's penalty, so Lev will start the period on a brief power play.
     
    A good first period from Lev's perspective, getting the all-important first goal right away. Metallurg then got a power play and put on some pressure, but couldn't score and then Lev held the edge the rest of the way. They still have :16 left in a power play to start the 2nd.

    Shots on goal in the 1st period: Lev 14, Metallurg, 4.

    Quality scoring chances: Lev 2, Metallurg 0.

    2nd period begins at 19:53 CEST, 23:53 YEKT, 13:53 EDT.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:48
    Wrister from Nemec caught and held by Koshechkin.
     
    19:00
    Oystrick's shot deflected just wide.
     
    18:43
    Wrister from Sekac, caught by Koshechkin and put back in play.
     
    18:16
    First Azevedo took a slash on the wrist that went uncalled, but then Jan Kovar delivers a cross-check to Martin Sevc and he's called. Lev to the power play, 1/4 in the series.
     
    17:35
    Koshechkin now scoops up another puck and holds on for another faceoff.
     
    16:56
    Michal Birner tries to put a long shot on net but Koshechkin gets a stick on it and deflects it out of play. Faceoff in the Metallurg zone.
     
    16:23
    Puck goes back to the point to Khabarov, he fires a big slapper that looked like it was tipped but goes right on Vehanen, who holds on for another faceoff.
     
    16:14
    Lev breakout pass is deflected out of play, faceoff back deep in their zone.
     
    15:39
    Slapper from Zackrisson, right on Koshechkin and he holds on.
     
    14:53
    Shot from the point by Sevc through traffic, hits Koshechkin and he stops the rebound too.
     
    14:35
    Now Yaroslav Khabarov absolutely hammers Tomas Kubalik with an open-ice hit at the Lev blueline. Talk about a suicide pass. Kubalik got up and gave him a cross-check as he didn't like it, but that looked like a good clean hit and play continues.
     
    13:20
    Mozyakin tries to weave his magic again in the Lev zone, but his pass attempt to Kovar is blocked. Lev start the other way.
     
    12:04
    Big hit by Azevedo on Khabarov in the neutral zone -- the fans like that.
     
    11:34
    Puck out of play in the Lev zone, and after a discussion the faceoff is inside. I thought the shot was straight out, but oh well.
     
    10:54
    Now Lev to the attack, shot from Thornberg is right on Koshechkin, who hangs on.
     
    09:23
    Puck centred to Osala but he can't get a shot away and Lev get the puck out to neutral ice, now back at full strength.
     
    09:07
    Chris Lee the wrister from the point, right on Vehanen and he covers with :09 left in the penalty.
     
    08:53
    Slapper from Mozyakin is deflected out of play with :23 left in the penalty, faceoff in the Lev zone.
     
    08:10
    Topi Jaakola sends the puck the length of the ice, Metallurg regroup.
     
    07:42
    Mozyakin's wrister deflected wide.
     
    07:16
    Ondrej Nemec is getting the game's first penalty for holding the stick in front of his own net, so Metallurg goes to the power play. They were 1/3 in game 2, 1/7 in the series.
     
    06:42
    Offside Metallurg.
     
    06:07
    Long wrister from Nemec, turned to the corner by Koshechkin.
     
    05:20
    Zaripov digs through the Lev zone and takes a shot, blocker save Vehanen.
     
    03:00
    Metallurg's top line buzzing, shot from Mozyakin, right on Vehanen who holds on to thunderous applaus from this large crowd.
     
    01:25
    Goal for Lev!
    The original shot came from the point by Nemec. Koshechkin stopped it but the rebound was loose for a while, JIRI SEKAC picked it up in the slot, circled the net and scored. Fantastic individual effort.
    Assist: Martin Thornberg, Petr Vrana.
     
    00:10
    Jiri Novotny attemptd the first shot for Lev, whistled just wide.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The national anthems of the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic were played by a brass band from Usti nad Labem, and now game 3 will start shortly.

    Lev Praha is wearing their home red uniforms with blue and white trim, red NY Rangers-style pants and blue helmets. Metallurg Magnitogorsk is wearing their road white uniforms with navy blue, red and silver trim, navy blue pants and white helmets. The fans are all wearing white and ready to go.
     
    And now Lev Praha take to the ice to a thunderous roar.
     
    The arena lights are dim and Metallurg Magnitogorsk is taking to the ice to a chorus of whistles from the Lev fans. There is a contingent of Metallurg fans here though.
     
    Starting Lineups:

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

    Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Koshechkin (Pekhursky) – Antipin, Biryukov, Khabarov, Tereschenko, Lee, Ibragimov, Malenkikh – Mozyakin, Kovář, Zaripov – Potekhin, Grigorenko, Paré – Kosov, Yunkov, Platonov – Osala, Brent, Timkin – Malinovsky.

    Referees: Olenin, Rönn Linesmen: Sivov, Shelyanin.
     
    After spitting the two games in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg and HC LEV come to Prague, where game 3 will be played at O2 Arena on Tuesday night. Metallurg will try to continue the groove they found in game 2, while Lev will try to return to their game 1 form.

    Game 1 was a masterpiece from a Prague standpoint, shutting down the dangerous Magnitogorsk team, but in game 2 the Metallurg offence came alive and evened the series.

    After keeping Metallurg off the scoresheet for the first four periods of this series, they broke out for three goals in the second period of game 2 and one more in the first minute of the third. Sergei Mozyakin, Jan Kovář and Danis Zaripov combined for 7 points.

    As the game fell out of reach from a Lev perspective, tempers flared and emotions boiled over. There were two main skirmishes in the game, from which Ryan O'Byrne collected a total of 33 penalty minutes -- he picked up six minutes from a battle with fellow Canadian defenceman Tim Brent in the second period, then 27 minutes, which included a major penalty and a game misconduct for manhandling Vladimir Malenkikh with just 9 seconds on the clock.

    "It´s the Finals and everyone wants to win, so hard checks and pushing and shoving after the whistle is normal," said winger Michal Řepík, who was right in the middle of the second-period fracas, paired off with Francis Paré. "In my opinion, the aggression will only grow."

    For fans of tough hockey, that could be good news, and could make for quite the atmosphere inside O2 Arena, where a KHL-record crowd is anticipated. The game starts at 7pm CEST, but for fans who want their picture taken with the Gagarin Cup, it will arrive at the main entrance at 5:30.
     
    Welcome. Game 3 of the Gagarin Cup Finals starts at 19:00 CEST local time in Prague, 23:00 YEKT in Magnitogorsk, 13:00 EDT.
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 2. Sekac (Thornberg, Vrana), 51. Azevedo (Oystrick, Maenpaa), 60. Azevedo (Maenpaa) – 39. Mozyakin (Zaripov), 59. Pare (Mozyakin, Lee)

    Lev Praha: Vehanen (Engren) – Ševc, Mäenpää, Oystrick, Němec, Gragnani, O'Byrne, Jaakola, Nakládal – Zackrisson, Novotný, Azevedo – Sekáč, Vrána, Thörnberg – Birner, Kapanen, Řepík – Matai, Cingel, Kubalík.
    Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Koshechkin (Pekhursky) – Antipin, Biryukov, Khabarov, Tereschenko, Lee, Ibragimov, Malenkikh – Mozyakin, Kovář, Zaripov – Potekhin, Grigorenko, Paré – Kosov, Yunkov, Platonov – Osala, Brent, Timkin – Malinovsky.
    Referees: Olenin, Rönn Linesmen: Sivov, Shelyanin