MET 7:4 LEV | Metallurg Magnitogorsk - Lev Praha (KHL)

KHL

Metallurg M – Lev

7:4 (end)

final

Metallurg Magnitogorsk

7:4 (1:1, 3:1, 3:2)

Lev Praha

Wednesday 30.04.2014, 15:00 • Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk. • KHL

		And after accepting the MVP trophy, Metallurg captain Sergei Mozyakin now accepts the Gagarin Cup on behalf of his team, and he's mobbed by his teammates again. They start the laps around the ice, and it will be passed to every player on the team, just like the Stanley Cup tradition. (17:30:50)
		Sergei Mozyakin has been named the playoff MVP, which should come as no surprise to anyone.
		The players are now shaking hands, with the Lev team obviously dejected.
		Metallurg Magnitogorsk are the Gagarin Cup Champions, and they pour off the bench and mob Vitaly Koshechkin, who was the reason they won this game.
	60:00	Game over.
	59:51	Goal for Metallurg! They come into the Lev zone with an empty net, Pare from the boards to MIKHAIL YUNKOV for the easy goal. Assist: Francis Pare.
	58:57	Oystrick the slapper, just wide.
	58:50	The Lev net is empty for a 6th attacker.
	58:19	Goal for Lev! Novotny finds JUSTIN AZEVEDO at the point, and he one-times it from the high slot beating Koshechin high to extend his goal-scoring streak to 8 games. Well maybe it's not over yet, but they still need 2 more. Assist: Jiri Novotny.
	57:22	Wrister from Brent, butterfly save Engren.
	56:31	Once again, the puck deflected out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
	55:58	Puck out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
	55:03	Metallurg 2-on-1, Francis Pare one-times the pass wide.
	54:38	Offside Lev.
	53:58	Goal for Lev! Well, they got on e back. Nemec carried the puck into the zone and took a long shot. Koshechkin stopped it, but the rebound got away from him and MARTIN THORNBERG fired it in. They're still down 3 goals with 6 minutes to go, though. Assist: Ondrej Nemec.
	52:35	Martin Sevc has been assessed a 10-minute misconduct, presumably for yapping at the officials. Pure frustration on the part of Lev at this point.
	52:35	Goal for Metallurg! A turnover inside the Lev line, DANIS ZARIPOV takes the pass from Kovar and walks right in on Engren, beating him high glove side. That should do it. Assist: Jan Kovar.
	52:07	Zackrisson a wrister from the point, turned to the corner by Koshechin.
	51:04	Another Lev rush and another save by Koshechin, this time off Novotny, and he covers.
	50:38	Topi Jaakola gets the puck in the Metallurg zone and cuts right in on goal, but the puck rolls off his stick as he tries to shoot.
	49:34	Timkin a backhander from a sharp angle, stopped and held by Engren.
	48:47	Shot from the boards, Thornberg driven into the Metallurg net, dislodging it. Faceoff outside, and Thornberg is incensed.
	48:04	Zackrisson again denied by Koshechkin.
	47:29	Finally the puck is deflected out of play in the Metallurg zone, faceoff inside.
	47:15	Huge chance for Lev, Novotny to Maenpaa to Zackrisson, who tries to out-wait Koshechkin but the goalie denies him.
	45:30	Offside Lev on the pass, faceoff at centre ice.
	45:15	The wave going around Arena Metallurg now, as these fans are anticipating a victory.
	44:28	Thornberg gets the puck behind the net, cuts out front and spins around for the shot, right on Koshechkin, who covers.
	44:05	Mozyakin again, Vehanen gets a shoulder on it.
	43:10	Goal for Metallurg! First SERGEI MOZYAKIN hit the goalpost on a breakaway, but they kept the puck in the zone and Kovar got the puck back to him and he one-timed it in the short side. Metallurg now with a big 3-goal lead. Assists: Jan Kovar, Danis Zaripov
	41:29	Metallurg buzzing, Osala cuts out from the corner and fires from a sharp angle, caught and held by Vehanen.
	41:03	Shot by Antipin, pad save Atte Engren, who has taken over in net for Lev.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		The teams are on the ice and the third period will begin shortly.
		Another dominant period by Lev, from a possession and a shots standpoint, but Vasily Koshechkin has been unbelievable today. Late in the period, Metallurg scored two goals 41 seconds apart, to take a commanding 4-2 lead into the third period. Uphill battle for Lev. Amazingly, Metallurg has 4 goals and Sergei Mozyakin has 0 points. Shots on goal in the 2nd period: Metallurg 8 (15), Lev 19 (37). Quality scoring chances: Metallurg 5 (8), Lev 5 (12). 3rd period begins at 20:40 YEKT, 16:40 CEST, 10:40 EDT.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:42	Lev nearly get a 3rd goal, as Novotny's shot is deflected in front by Azevedo, but it hits Koshechkin and he holds on.
	38:18	Icing Metallurg.
	37:38	Goal for Metallurg! Metallurg's top line on the ice, and Zaripov took a high wrister from the right wing boards, deflected by JAN KOVAR back down to the ice, and it beats Vehanen low. Assists: Danis Zaripov, Viktor Antipin.
	36:56	Goal for Metallurg! Kazionov lead the rush into the zone, the puck was knocked off his stick to Timkin, who turned and fed YAROSLAV KOSOV, whose long shot went through traffic and in. Assists: Yevgeny Timkin, Dmitri Kazionov.
	36:21	Repik streaks down the left wing, fights off a check and gets a shot, stick save Koshechkin, who covers.
	35:30	The puck pops out of the zone and Kazionov gets a break, but the two Lev defencemen catch up to him and he's stripped of the puck before he gets a shot.
	35:07	Sevc from the point, kicked away by Koshechkin.
	34:41	Goal for Lev! The puck came out of the corner to RYAN O'BYRNE at the point, who wristed it through a crowd and scores a tying goal for the second-straight game.
	34:00	Oystrick across the point to Nemec, blocked in front.
	33:10	Now a long shot from Repik, right on Koshechkin and he holds on.
	32:45	Metallurg attacking, Kovar with the one-timer off the side of the net.
	32:20	Lev buzzing again, Kapanen the shot, then Repik on the rebound, Koshechin stops them both.
	32:08	Now a glove save by Koshechkin off Niko Kapanen and another faceoff in the Metallurg zone.
	31:58	Pass out of the corner to Thornberg, re-directs it on Koshechkin, who covers again.
	31:42	Thornberg from a sharp angle, right on Koshechkin, who holds on.
	31:15	Scramble in the Metallurg crease with the Lev top line out there, can't get the puck through, then a shot from the point is blocked, finally the zone is cleared.
	30:45	Jaakola from the point, pad save Koshechkin, Ridderwall was tied up and can't get to the rebound as the referees have decided once more they're not calling anything.
	29:55	Puck centred from the corner to Osala for the one-timer, big pad save by Vehanen.
	29:28	Icing Metallurg.
	28:07	Biryukov with a slapper from the point, deflected out of play in the Lev zone. Faceoff inside.
	27:28	Shot from the point deflected by Osala on goal, kicked out by Vehanen.
	26:54	Puck deflected out of play in the neutral zone, faceoff at centre ice.
	25:42	Icing Lev.
	23:32	Goal for Metallurg! They were putting on pressure, and YEVGENY BIRYUKOV crept in from the point and fired a wrister that went through traffic and beat Vehanen high gove side to put Metallurg back into the lead. Assists: Viktor Antipin, Danis Zaripov.
	22:26	Offside Metallurg.
	21:54	Puck out of play in the neutral zone, faceoff at centre ice.
	21:02	Lev rush, Thornberg the shot, pad save Koshechkin, Vrana on the rebound and a diving stick save by Koshechkin.
	20:38	Icing Metallurg.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		The teams are on the ice and the 2nd period will start soon.
		What a wild finish to that period, as the two teams went back at forth, but the period ends 1-1. Metallurg came out strong and scored, but it was Lev in control after that. Shots on goal in the first period: Metallurg 7, Lev 18. Quality scoring chances: Metallurg 3, Lev 7. 2nd period begins at 19:50 YEKT, 15:50 CEST, 09:50 EDT.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:54	And Lev back the other way again, Koshechkin down and out and Niko Kapanen fans with an empty net in front of him! The puck was bouncing.
	19:40	Metallurg quickly back the other way, Vehanen gets a pad on the shot by Mozyakin, then denies him with the stick on the rebound.
	19:30	2-on-1 Lev, Maenpaa to Zackrisson denied by Koshechkin.
	18:27	Offside Lev.
	17:10	Tim Brent with the one-timer but it's blocked.
	15:47	Offside Lev.
	14:48	Icing Metallurg.
	14:36	Repik wrister from the boards, right on Koshechkin, who holds on.
	13:49	Goal for Lev! Gragnani with the wrister from the point through traffic and DAVID ULLSTROM with the deflection to tie this game. Assists: Marc-Andre Gragani,
	13:04	Lev applying pressure, don't get a shot and then Metallurg called for icing.
	12:25	Metallurg top line buzzing down low, Mozyakin from behind the net to Zaripov but his stick's tied up and can't get much of a shot. Vehanen covers it.
	12:00	Pare with the dangerous pass to Osala going to the net, re-directs it just wide of the post.
	11:42	Jaakola from the point, wide.
	10:33	Finally the puck is out of play, faceoff in the Metallurg zone.
	10:15	Then Ullstrom with another shot and a huge save by Koshechkin.
	10:05	Ullstrom through traffic, Koshechkin gets a glove on it.
	08:51	Lev put the puck into the net but the play had been stopped a moment before because there was a Lev player in the goalcrease. No goal and the faceoff is outside.
	08:25	Lev back the other way, Azevedo denied.
	08:15	Big hit behind the Lev net by Osala.
	07:29	Repik with a long wrister, stick save Koshechkin.
	06:16	Puck deflected out of play in the Lev zone, faceoff outside.
	05:40	Maenpaa the shot deflected wide, then Azevedo from a sharp angle turned away by Koshechkin.
	04:45	Goal for Metallurg! Pare won the draw back to Khabarov, Vehanen got a piece of his shot from the point but it trickled in behind him and FRANCIS PARE got his stick in there to tap it into the net to open the scoring. Assist: Yaroslav Khabarov.
	04:40	Khabarov with a long slapper, stopped and covered by Vehanen.
	04:00	Another chance in front for Lev, Koshechkin with a big save on Zackrisson.
	02:38	Pass centred to Ridderwall, one-times it wide from point blank.
	02:12	Mozyakin with a high wrister, hits Vehanen in the shoulder.
	00:58	David Ullstrom with a long wrister, deflected by Koshechkin and out of play, faceoff in the Metallurg zone. Ullstrom didn't play game 6 ... he's been in and out of the lineup all playoffs since an injury against Donbass in round 2.
	00:13	Danis Zaripov with the first shot of the game, a slapper from inside the line that's right on Petri Vehanen, who holds on.
	00:01	Game started.
		The national anthems of the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation have been played, and the opening faceoff is moments away. This is Game 7 of the Gagarin Cup Finals, the last game of the KHL season!
		The arena lights are now dark, music is playing with lasers and a spotlight, and the teams are being introduced. First Lev Praha, wearing their road white uniforms with blue and red trim, red numbers, red NY Rangers-style pants and white helmets. Next Metallurg Magnitogorsk, wearing their home navy blue uniforms with silver, red, and white trim, white numbers, navy blue pants and helmets.
		Starting Lineups: Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Koshechkin (Pechursky) – Antipin, Biryukov, Khabarov, Tereschenko, Lee, Ibragimov, Metlyuk – Mozyakin, Kovář, Zaripov – Potekhin, Kazionov, Paré – Kosov, Yunkov, Platonov – Osala, Brent, Timkin – Malinovsky. Lev Praha: Vehanen (Engren) – Ševc, Mäenpää, Oystrick, Němec, Gragnani, O'Byrne, Jaakola – Zackrisson, Novotný, Azevedo – Ulström, Vrána, Thörnberg – Birner, Kapanen, Řepík – Ridderwall, Cingel, Matai. Referees: Odinš, Olenin. Linesmen: Sivov, Shelyanin.
		American sportscaster Bob Costas is credited with the quote: "Game seven: the two most exciting words in sports." Fans of HC LEV Praha and Metallurg Magnitogorsk certainly agree with him right now. It seems fitting that two teams who dominated their conferences through the first three rounds should go the distance. Metallurg was 12-2 while Lev was 12-3. Lev took games 1, 3 and 6, while Metallurg answered with wins in games 2, 4 and 5. From the beginning, the series was billed as Metallurg´s offence against Lev´s defence, and we´ve seen plenty of that, but we´ve also seen great defence from Metallurg and great offence from Lev. And wouldn´t you expect two teams that are each one game away from claiming the championship of Europe´s top hockey league of being able to play any style? Metallurg has outscored Lev 17-16 through six games, with each team winning a game in overtime. Each team has one main offensive catalyst. After being shutout along with the rest of his team in game 1, Metallurg´s Sergei Mozyakin has 5 goals and 8 assists in the last five games, and has set a new KHL record for combined points in the regular season and playoffs in a single season with 105. Meanwhile, Justin Azevedo has 7 goals and 3 assists for Lev in the series and has set a KHL record of his own, with goals in seven straight playoff games. Monday night was the last KHL game of the season in Prague, and what a game it was. In an all-night see-saw battle, Lev tied it late and won in overtime, sending O2 Arena into bedlam. The tying and winning goals were scored by Miko Mäenpää and Nathan Oytrick. With 11 points each, they're tied for the playoff scoring lead among defencemen. Both teams have been dangerous on the power play all series -- in game 6, Lev were 2/2 on the power play, Metallurg 1/2. Both teams will definitely want to stay out of the penalty box in game 7. It will again be Vasily Koshechkin and Petri Vehanen in goal.
		Welcome. Game 7 of the Gagarin Cup Finals starts at 19:00 YEKT local time in Magnitogorsk, 15:00 CEST in Prague, 09:00 EDT.

Commentary by

Derek OBrien

@@Djob76

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 5. Pare (Khabarov.), 24. Biryukov (Antipin, Zaripov), 37. Kosov (Timkin, Kazionov), 38. Kovar (Zaripov, Antipin), 44. Mozyakin (Kovar, Zaripov), 53. Zaripov (Kovar), 60. Yunkov (Pare) – 14. Ullstrom (Gragnani), 35. O'Byrne, 54. Thornberg (Nemec), 59. Azevedo (Novotny)

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

Lev Praha: Vehanen, 41. Engren – Ševc, Mäenpää, Oystrick, Němec, Gragnani, O'Byrne, Jaakola – Zackrisson, Novotný, Azevedo – Ulström, Vrána, Thörnberg – Birner, Kapanen, Řepík – Ridderwall, Cingel, Matai.

Referees: Odinš, Olenin. Linesmen: Sivov, Shelyanin.

1st period
	04:45
	13:49
1st intermission
2nd period
	23:32
	34:41
	36:56
	37:38
2nd intermission
3rd period
	43:10
	52:35
	52:35
	53:58
	58:19
	59:51
Final