Lev – Metallurg M 3:5 (end)
final
Lev Praha
3:5 (2:2, 1:1, 0:2)
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Thursday 24.04.2014, 19:00 • KHL
     
    Welcome. Game 4 of the Gagarin Cup Finals starts at 19:00 CEST local time in Prague, 23:00 YEKT in Magnitogorsk, 13:00 EDT.
     
    In front of a KHL-record crowd of 16 435, Lev Praha took a 2 games to 1 lead in this best-of-seven Gagarin Cup Final by beating Metallurg Magnitogorsk in dramatic fashion. It was, quite simply, the greatest game in the club´s short history.

    The author of much of the drama is winger Justin Azevedo who scored two tie-breaking goals in the third period. The first one came on the power play to give his team a 2-1 lead. Then, following a dramatic, late equaliser by Magnitika, Azevedo scored a more dramatic, later game-winning goal as he was being tripped to the ice.

    With 9 goals in 18 playoff games, Azevedo has now equaled his output from the whole regular season, but he insists he´s not doing anything differently. "I´m not really doing anything special," he said after game 3. "I just work hard and play my game."

    As dramatic as Azevedo´s knock-out blow was, Jiří Sekáč opened the scoring in pretty impressive fashion, taking the puck on an almost 360-degree revolution of the net before banking the puck off a skate and in for his first playoff goal after a nearly countless total of golden chances in the first three rounds.

    "He told me (the day before the game) that he was going to score," said Lev coach Kari Jalonen after the game.

    "I´ve been waiting the whole playoffs and I was so glad I could do it in such an important game," he said afterward. In fact, Sekáč almost scored a second goal in the second period that would have been even more beautiful, but he just failed to put the finishing touches on a great individual effort.

    "Mikko Mäenpää sent me a great pass at full speed and I just tried to make a move," he said. In addition to that missed chance, Mäenpää assisted on both of Azevedo´s goals, including a big set-up on the game-winner. Indeed, he was an unsung hero of the game.

    "Mikko deserves the credit for that," Azevedo said of his big goal. "He gave me a perfect stretch pass from the left side of the rink, and then I just took the puck to the net."

    In fact, it was a great all-around team effort, as it seems Lev´s team play just keeps getting better and better.

    "We played our best game yet," agreed Azevedo. "For most of the time we were the better team on the ice."

    "We didn´t make too many mistakes, even though they were pushing hard at us offensively," said Sekáč, bringing to mind that this Metallurg team is hard to defend against. Despite constant attention, Sergei Mozyakin got 2 more points to make 5 in the last two games, and is now the KHL´s all-time leading playoff scorer.

    With Lev now leading the series 2-1, everyone´s attention now shifts to game 4 on Thursday, in which Metallurg will try to regain home-ice advantage with a win and Lev will try to take a stranglehold on the series.
     
    The national anthems of the Russian Federation and Czech Republic are complete, and Game 4 will start shortly.

    Lev Praha are wearing their home red uniforms with blue and white trim, red NY Rangers-style pants and blue helmets. Metallurg Magnitogorsk are wearing their road white uniforms with navy blue, red and silver trim, navy blue pants and white helmets.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    01:10
    Martin Thornberg attempts a long wrister from the blueline, high and wide. Neither team has landed a shot on goal yet.
     
    01:55
    A giveaway in the Lev zone and Francis Pare one-times it from the slot, right on Petri Vehanen, who makes a glove save or the first save of the game and it's a big one.
     
    02:12
    Offside Metallurg.
     
    02:20
    Icing Lev.
     
    03:45
    Nemec attempts a wrister from the point, deflected wide.
     
    03:57
    Goal for Metallurg!
    Yvgeny Timkin led a Metallurg counter attack, circled the net and fed back to YAROSLAV KHABAROV, who blasted it from the point and just inside the post, with Denis Platonov providing a nice screen in front.
    Assist: Yevgeny Timkin.
     
    06:18
    Metallurg 2-on-1 rush and Danis Zaripov one-times it off the goalpost! Very nearly 2-0.
     
    06:37
    Lev rush back the other way and the Metallurg net is dislodged, stopping play. Faceoff inside.
     
    06:45
    Puck was loose in the slot off the draw, Sekac tried a shot but was blocked.
     
    06:57
    Metallurg rush up ice and Vehanen makes a save, forcing a faceoff in the Lev zone.
     
    07:10
    Goal for Lev!
    What a start to this game. Lev rush up ice off the draw, the puck was dumped in but Metallurg couldn't clear the zone. Kapanen kept it in at the line and fed DAVID ULLSTROM in the slot, who fired a rocked blocker side on Koshechkin to tie this game.
    Assist: Niko Kapanen.
     
    08:25
    Now Sevc tries to find Repik driving to the net, but he's wrapped up and can't get a shot away.
     
    08:58
    Puck out of play in the neutral zone, faceoff at centre ice.
     
    09:25
    End-to-end action continues. First Timkin nearly gets a break for Metallurg but is forced off the puck, then Lev go 2-on-1 the other way, Petr Vrana holds the puck and tries to beat Koshechkin but is stopped, and he finally covers the puck.
     
    10:30
    Ridderwall attempts a shot from a sharp angle, turned away by Koshechkin.
     
    10:43
    Puck out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
     
    11:27
    Huge hit by Sevc on Zaripov just inside the Lev blueline.
     
    11:55
    Slapper from the point by Ondrej Nemec, pad save Koshechkin.
     
    12:14
    Now the puck is cleared into the Lev zone and Vehanen is forced to cover it.
     
    12:23
    Faceoff win by Yunkov and another slapper from the point by Khabarov, this time Vehanen saw it all the way and holds on.
     
    12:23
    Faceoff win by Yunkov and another slapper from the point by Khabarov, this time Vehanen saw it all the way and holds on.
     
    16:00
    Apologies for technical difficulties. Pare and Osala with shots for Metallurg, Repik for Lev.
     
    17:13
    Goal for Lev!
    Long, lead pass to Patrik Zackrisson on the left wing, he posts up just inside the line and feeds JUSTIN AZEVEDO, whose long wrister beats Koshechkin low glove side for his 5th goal of the series.
    Assist: Patrik Zackrisson.
     
    17:25
    Now Metallurg will get the first power play of the game, as Jiri Sekac is called for tripping in his own zone.
     
    17:46
    Metallurg with control off the draw, they get a shot and then there's a big scramble right in front of Vehanen, who finally covers with 1:39 left in the penalty.
     
    18:12
    Goal for Metallurg!
    The dangerous Metallurg power play strikes. Mozyakin at the top of the circle to Zaripov down low, to VIKTOR ANTIPIN at the far side for the tap-in. Power-play goal.
    Assists: Danis Zaripov, Sergei Mozyakin.
     
    18:52
    Offside Lev.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    In the late going there was a real battle in the corner between Justin Azevedo and Sergei Tereschenko, with Azevedo's glove coming off in the process. Azevedo was speaking to the referee after the period, wondering why there was no penalty on the play.
     
    An exciting first period comes to an end, with four goals scored and the first lead change of the series. We'll see if the teams keep this torrid pace up for another 40 minutes.

    Shots on goal in the 1st period: Lev 5, Metallurg 13.

    Quality scoring chances: Lev 3, Metallurg 6.

    2nd period begins at 19:52 CEST, 23:52 YEKT, 13:52 EDT.
     
    The teams are returning to the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:25
    Offside Lev on the pass, faceoff back to their own blueline.
     
    31:16
    Icing Metallurg.
     
    21:20
    Wrister from Repik from the boards, kicked away by Koshechkin.
     
    22:10
    Now Lev's Ryan O'Byrne getting a penalty for a slash to the arm of Oscar Osala, who did a good job of selling it. Magnitika back to the power play, 1/1 today.
     
    23:20
    The top Magnitika 5 move the puck around and finally Mozyakin shoots wide, then Lev ice it.
     
    24:00
    Thornberg gets it out of the zone, one last rush for Metallurg.
     
    24:24
    Lev back at full strength and they go offside on the pass. Faceoff at centre ice. Metallurg didn't get any shots on that power play but it looked dangerous to start.
     
    25:09
    Now Lev will get their first power play of the game as Dmitri Kazionov takes the feet out from under Calle Ridderwall and is called for tripping.
     
    25:30
    Big slapper from Sevc, blocked by Platonov and it look like that stung.
     
    26:02
    Goal for Lev!
    Kapanen had just missed the near-side post from in close, but Azevedo went back to the point to ONDREJ NEMEC, who absolutely blew it by everybody, including Koshechkin to put Lev back in the lead. Power-play goal.
    Assists: Justin Azevedo, Niko Kapanen.
     
    27:09
    Another penalty coming as Ondrej Nemec takes down Danis Zaripov and is called for tripping. Lev don't like the call, but Metallurg going to the power play, 1/2 in this game.
     
    27:40
    Shorthanded 2-on-1 for Lev, Thornberg passed to Zackrisson but he fanned on the bouncing puck.
     
    28:23
    And now Metallurg threaten ... who else, but Mozyakin to Zaripov for the one-timer, save by Vehanen with :46 left in the penalty.
     
    29:09
    Now another shorthanded rush by Thornberg, this time he's forced to shoot from the right wing boards and Koshechkin has no difficulty. Lev back at full strength.
     
    31:04
    Icing Lev.
     
    31:19
    Jan Kovar with a wrister from the high slot, right on Vehanen, who holds on.
     
    32:00
    Lev pressure, Sevc with a wrister from the point, pad save Koshechkin.
     
    32:19
    Lev keep the pressure up and Koshechkin robs Petr Vrana from point blank, and he holds on.
     
    32:31
    Metallurg start up ice off the draw, long wrister from Kazionov, Vehanen had trouble with it but had time to recover and covered it.
     
    33:19
    Long pass to Justin Azevedo and a big slapper from the top of the circle but Koshechkin saw it all the way and holds on.
     
    33:48
    One-timer from Kovar from the point sails wide.
     
    34:02
    Goal for Metallurg!
    A pass from behind the net out front to Mozyakin, who shot, Vehanen stopped it but there was a scamble and VIKTOR ANTIPIN forced it across the line for his 2nd goal of the game.
    Assist: Sergei Mozyakin.
     
    35:29
    The puck slides to Koshechkin and he covers for a faceoff in the Metallurg zone.
     
    36:08
    Vladimir Malinovsky called for interference in the neutral zone. Lev to the power play, 1/1 today.
     
    36:38
    A long pass to Azevedo but he's just offside. Faceoff back at centre ice with 1:30 left in the penalty.
     
    37:25
    Metallurg ice it for the second straight time, Lev start back.
     
    37:50
    One-timer from Nemec is blocked and they clear the zone again.
     
    38:10
    2-on-1 Metallurg at the tail end of the penalty, Kovar to Mozyakin but he one-times it wide. I think a Lev back-checker got his stick in there to affect the shot. Metallurg back at full strength.
     
    39:11
    Offside Lev.
     
    39:56
    A shot by Metallurg and a crowd of players fall on Petri Vehanen, which draw the predictable results. Martin Sevc lost his helmet annd seems angry that there's no Metallurg penalty on the play. Faceoff inside.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    And after the horn we get more pushing and shoving, which isn't a surprise either. Oystrick and Khabarov had the most going there, which isn't a surprise either. And finally Metallurg get serenaded by the Lev fans as they leave the ice, which is really not a surprise.
     
    Well, the two teams trade goals again in the 2nd period. Kapanen, Azevedo, Antipin and Mozyakin all have 2 points.

    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): Lev 6 (11), Magnitogorsk 6 (19).

    Quality scoring chances: Lev 3 (6), Metallurg 3 (9).

    3rd period begins at 20:44 CEST, 00:44 YEKT, 14:44 EDT.
     
    The teams are returning to the ice and the 3rd period will start shortly.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:38
    Goal for Metallurg!
    On the first rush of the third period, Mozyakin carried the puck into the Lev zone. Vehanen played him to shoot but he found DANIS ZARIPOV at the back door, and he put it in from a sharp angle.
    Assist: Sergei Mozyakin.
     
    41:30
    Repik the wrister from the boards, stick save Koshechkin.
     
    42:23
    Lev almost answers, Matai out front to Nakladal in from the point for the one-timer but Vasily Koshechkin makes a big pad save.
     
    43:18
    And now the top Lev line out there, Novotny's backhander is right on Koshechkin and he hangs on.
     
    43:18
    And after the whistle we have off-setting penalties, Yevgeny Beryukov of Metallurg and Patrik Zackrisson of Lev, so we'll play 4-on-4.
     
    43:37
    And now Ondrej Nemec gets called for holding the stick, so a 4-on-3 power play for Metallurg.
     
    44:07
    Goal for Metallurg!
    They're really cliking today. From the left point, Mozyakin found DANIS ZARIPOV at the far side of the net and he one-timed it in for a power-play goal.
    Assists: Sergei Mozyakin, Jan Kovar.
     
    44:07
    Timeout Lev after being scored on twice in 3:29. They've got their work cut out for them now, down by 2.
     
    44:58
    Wrister from Thornberg, pad save Koshechkin.
     
    46:19
    Repik forces a turnover behind the net, feeds Kapanen out front for the one-timer, right on Koshechkin, who holds on.
     
    46:37
    Offside Metallurg.
     
    47:30
    Thornberg rips a shot high, then Metallurg called for icing.
     
    48:00
    Big hit by Thornberg on Mozyakin into the boards, revenge for a hit in the last game.
     
    48:30
    Offside Lev on the pass, faceoff at centre ice. Prague fans making lots of noise right now, trying to urge their team on.
     
    50:25
    Tim Brent battles through a couple of checks and gets a shot, stick save Vehanen.
     
    50:59
    The puck is cleared out of play from the Metallurg zone and, after the officials confer, Denis Platonov is given a minor penalty for delay-of-game. It's crucial at this point for Lev to cash in on this chance.
     
    51:50
    Metallurg ices it for the second time, Lev still shotless.
     
    52:42
    Sevc from the point, deflects wide.
     
    53:00
    Vehanen with a long head-man pass for one last Lev chance but Metallurg clear the zone, they're back at full strength.
     
    53:42
    Mozyakin rips a one-timer high.
     
    53:55
    Ridderwall a long wrister, kicked out by Koshechkin.
     
    55:11
    Timkin hammers Jaakola as he shoots, Lev ends up called offside.
     
    55:11
    Today's attendance: 17 073 ... which breaks the league attendance record set Tuesday night.
     
    55:18
    Dmitri Kazionov is called for hooking, so Lev with another chance on the power play.
     
    56:14
    Thornberg's slapper hits a leg and goes wide.
     
    56:43
    Nemec's slapper is blocked, he gets it back and passes to Maenpaa, also blocked.
     
    57:08
    Now another Metallurg penalty, Sergei Tereschenko 4:00 for high-sticking, so a Lev 5-on-3 for :09 and they'll be on the power play the rest of regulation time unless they take a penalty themselves.
     
    57:15
    Sevc's slapper is blocked.
     
    57:34
    Thornberg a wrister, caught and held by Koshechkin. Metallurg now only 1 player short. Vehanen staying in the Lev net for now. We'll see for how long.
     
    57:40
    Lev win the draw, Vehane goes off for a 6th attacker.
     
    57:53
    Wrister from Oystrick, save Koshechkin, Vrana the rebound and another save and he covers. Vehanen returns to the net for the faceoff.
     
    58:00
    Metallurg win the draw and Brent shoots it all the way down on Vehanen. If he was out, that would be a goal. Play now in the Lev zone.
     
    58:27
    Puck out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff inside.
     
    58:35
    Lev head up ice, Vehanen goes back to the bench.
     
    58:40
    Offside Lev. Vehanen stays on the bench, 6-on-4 Lev.
     
    58:55
    Puck deflects out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
     
    59:08
    They over-pass the puck and it comes outside the zone.
     
    59:25
    Vrana the shot, hits Koshechkin in the shoulder, rebound cleared.
     
    59:42
    Oystrick's shot from the point is deflected out of play, faceoff inside.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    Now we've got a mix up after the game's over. Nakladal and Sevc for Lev are in the middle of it, Timkin for Metallurg and now a full-out fight between Ryan O'Byrne and Oscar Osala.
     
    So finally the situation cools down and the teams leave the ice. The series is now tied, so we now know we'll play game 5 in Metallurg on Saturday and then come back to Prague for a 6th game on Monday. (21:28:35)
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 8. Ullstrom (Kapanen), 18. Azevedo (Zackrisson), 27. Nemec (Azevedo, Kapanen) – 4. Khabarov (Timkin), 19. Antipin (Zaripov, Mozyakin), 35. Antipin (Mozyakin), 41. Zaripov (Mozyakin), 45. Zaripov (Mozyakin, Kovar)

    Lev Praha: Vehanen (Engren) – Mäenpää, Ševc, Oystrick, Němec, Gragnani, O'Byrne, Jaakola, Nakládal – Azevedo, Novotný, Zackrisson – Sekáč, Vrána, Thörnberg – Řepík, Kapanen, Ullström – Ridderwall, Cingel, Matai.
    Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Koshechkin (Pechursky) – Biryukov, Antipin, Tereschenko, Khabarov, Lee, Ibragimov, Malenkikh, Malinovsky – Mozyakin, Kovář, Zaripov – Kazionov, Potekhin, Paré – Kosov, Yunkov, Platonov – Timkin, Brent, Osala.