FIN 2:1 CZE | Finland - Czech Republic (Euro Hockey Tour)

Euro Hockey Tour

Finland – Czech Republic

2:1 (2:0 after SO)

Sweden2 – Russia

2:0 (end)

after shootout (2:0)

Finland

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

Czech Republic

Sunday 04.05.2014, 12:30 • Ericsson Globe, Stockholm, Sweden • Euro Hockey Tour

		Welcome. Game starts at 12:30.
		Welcome everyone to the final day of the Oddset Hockey Games, the Swedish part of the EuroHockeyTour. Today's game will feature team Finland to match up against team Czech Republic.
		Team Czech Republic will have to bounce back following a tough drubbing against Russia yesterday, a shutout, 6:0 win. Finland have beaten Russia in their first game and then beat the Swedes after the shootout. Team Finland are in search of their 5th consecutive win in the EHT, while the Czechs yesterday broke a four-game unbeaten record. Pekka Rinne is expected to get a start today for Finland, while Vladimir Ruzicka will probably think twice about his choice of the netminder.
		The national anthems have been sung, the players are on the ice, and the game will begin shortly.
		Jaromir Jagr seems to be skating on the ice, and might be ready to get back in the lineup, he'd play 1st line then – together with Tomas Rolinek and Jiri Hudler.
		Starting lineups: Finland: Rinne (Saros) – Pokka, Ohtamaa, Jormakka, Immonen, Huhtala – Hietanen, Mäntylä, Keränen, Teräväinen, Komarov – Lajunen, Korpikari, Pöysti, Sallinen T., Pakarainen – Marttinen, Kivistö, Sallinen J., Wirtanen, Savinainen Czech Republic: Salák (Kovář J.) – Jordán, Kolář, Rolinek, Hudler, Jágr – Vitásek, Zámorský, Vondrka, Klepiš, Petružálek – Krejčík, Jank, Gulaš, Kousal, Radil – Mojžíš, Kovář L., Buchtele, Zaťovič, Kašpar – Růžička Referees: Björk, Sjöqvist – Pihlblad, Haster.
	00:01	Game started.
	00:38	The game is taken immediately into the Finnish zone, but there is no shot on goal so far. Jaromir Jagr is playing today.
	00:49	The Finns ice the puck on their first possession.
	01:18	The Finns retain possession and go down the ice from deep back in their zone, but are offside entering the zone through the middle.
	01:32	Immediately the Czechs could have broken in a great chance, but Robert Kousal was a bit too late to catch the diagonal pass into the slot.
	02:19	The game is stopped, the puck deflected into the netting on the Finnish shot. Still no shots on goal.
	02:36	Icing team Czech Republic.
	02:44	A shot off the blue right from the draw by the Finns, Salak makes the save.
	03:04	Immediately on the other side, the Czechs find themselves in a great opportunity coming down from the right, but Pekka Rinne deflects aside.
	03:34	Tommi Huhtala (FIN) gets called for tripping. Powerplay Czech Republic.
	04:13	Nothing on the powerplay so far, no shots on goal and the Finns managed to clear the puck twice out of their zone.
	04:47	Jan Kolar couldn't keep the puck in at the blueline, offside Czech Republic.
	05:03	But they're quickly back in, Kolar behind the net, gets covered great, couldn't go for the wrap around.
	05:31	Great chance for the Czechs, a scramble before Rinne, he couldn't cover the puck, but in the end the Finns managed to get it away.
	05:34	Team Finland are playing at full strength.
	06:23	The Finns now tried a pass from the right wing to the low slot, but the defense covered well to prevent them from tipping the puck in.
	07:00	Goal for Team Finland! But now they couldn't defend. MICHAEL KERANEN got a smooth pass on the left sideboards, deked out Micheal Jordan in front and beat Salak from close range on the left post. Assist: Teuvo Teravainen.
	07:49	The puck leaves the rink on the right wing as the Finns were to get on the attack and we'll have a short technical timeout.
	08:16	The Czechs can't get in the zone after an open-ice pass, solid blueline defense by the Finns, though they give it away immediately.
	08:57	A shot off the left wing by the Czech Republic, Martin Zatovic tried his luck, Pekka Rinne holds onto the puck.
	09:18	The Czechs dump the puck in, can't reach it first so the Finns take over behind their own net.
	09:56	The Finns don't seem to want to retain possession, they quickly get the puck back to the Czechs.
	10:44	The Finns were on the attack, the Czechs quickly send the puck over the blue to deprive them from a serious offense.
	11:23	A surprise shot on goal by Tomi Sallinen from the blue, literally out of nowhere, Salak is ready for it and holds on.
	11:37	The play is stopped, the puck went out into the netting after the Czechs hit the bar – draw in the neutral zone.
	11:57	The Finns clear the puck all the way across the ice, the referees let the play flow.
	12:18	Another clearance by team Finland, the Czechs can't establish an offense inside the zone.
	13:09	It's hard to detect what was more impressive, the Finnish breakaway or Alexander Salak's save. Leo Komarov on the right wing took the puck to the faceoff circle and found Michael Keranen in the slot, he tried to deke Salak out but he managed to deflect his backhander with his pads and the puck stopped in the crease. The net came loose afterwards as Keranen was pushed into it by the defense.
	13:22	Icing Czech Republic.
	13:36	A good pass in for Milan Gulas, but his backander was deflected by a hook check on the defense in the waning moments before he could take the shot.
	14:41	A scramble in the Czech zone by the sideboards, the referees finally bring it to the end after 15 seconds and the draw will take place in the Czech zone.
	14:52	Right off the draw, the Finns fire against Salak, he deflects the shot with ease.
	15:49	After the Finns got their shot blocked from the right wing, Leo Komarov tried his luck in the slot, but didn't have more luck as the puck was deflected up high and into the netting.
	16:34	Michael Keranen drives the puck in over the left wing, but gets a hook check and the puck flies over the boards. Faceoff before Salak.
	16:59	A shot by the Finns ends up in the protective net and the referees will take the draw to the neutral zone.
	17:33	Offside team Czech Republic as they enter the zone on the right. Lukas Kaspar took it in while Lukas Kovar was at least two meters in.
	18:07	A shot on goal by the Finns, but the referee shows high-sticking. I suppose it will draw a penalty.
	18:07	Jan Kolar (CZE) gets called for high-sticking.
	18:21	The Czechs clear the zone and then put high forecheck on the Finns.
	18:40	A hard shot on Salak off the blueline, he deflects to the left where the puck gets picked up and fired back, but it's wide and into the endboards.
	19:00	One minute to go in the first period.
	19:39	A shorthanded opportunity for the Czechs, after the shot Rinne was obstructed and it will draw a penalty on Jakub Petruzalek.
	20:00	Jakub Petruzalek (CZE) gets called for interference. At the start of the second period the Czechs will be two-men shorthanded.
	20:00	1st period finished.
		After the first twenty minutes, neither team were able to get the edge in the game. The Finns are in the lead thanks to an individual effort by Michael Keranen, but both teams had equal opportunities. A low count of shots best marks how tough and technical the game has been so far.
		Shots on goal: FIN 6, CZE 4 Faceoffs: FIN 16, CZE 8 Penalties: FIN 2, CZE 4 Powerplay: FIN 0/1 (2nd penalty taken into 2nd period), CZE 0/1 Possession: FIN 10:28, CZE 09:32. Second period coming up at around 13:22 CET, 15:22 MSK, 07:22 EDT.
		[INTERESTING FACT] The Czechs haven't now scored for 83:58 and in that period have conceded seven goals. Their last goal was Jakub Petruzalek's winner against Sweden the first day of the Oddset Hockey Games.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:07	The Czechs are back to a single powerplay as Jan Kolar skates back onto the ice.
	21:21	We'll go 4-on-4 as the Finns made a mistake on the blueline, letting the puck get out and then Zatovic was going all alone with Pekka Rinne, Tukka Mantyla (FIN) obstructed him and got called for holding.
	22:00	Jakub Petruzalek skates back onto the ice getting his team into a powerplay.
	23:15	The Czechs can't establish a longer offense inside the zone, the Finns clear the puck twice so far.
	23:21	Team Finland are complete.
	24:08	The Czechs finally get into the zone and connect a few passes, but only for the Finns to intercept and clear the zone.
	25:08	Team Finland were circling the zone now and in the end hit the steelwork after a wrap around by Michael Keranen and the Czechs get to clear the zone.
	26:28	The Finns ice the puck after setting up from deep in their zone. Team Finland better so far in the second period.
		Bohumil Jank seems to have picked a minor injury, he's using ice on the bench. Now he leaves the ice for the locker room.
	27:02	Jere Sallinen tried a shot from the slot on Salak, he deflected to in front and the defense in the end managed to clear somehow.
	27:52	The Czechs now fire against Pekka Rinne, it seems Jakub Klepis was on the shot from the left side, the Finnish goalie deflected the shot wide.
	28:45	Alexander Salak makes antoher save after team Finland came down in numbers over the left alley, but the shot couldn't jeopardize the Czech netminder.
	29:03	The Finns keep the perferct record in faceoff wins this period – now they have 7 after a win in the neutral zone.
	30:35	Jaromir Jagr releases a hard slapper from the left wing after driving the puck in, the shot is wide to the left and into the boards behind the net.
	31:44	Martin Zatovic gets his shot from the blueline blocked, the puck slips away over the blue and he throws himself after it, hook checking it to give the defense some time.
	32:56	Again the Czechs attack over the right, though they can't find a feed in.
	33:42	Alexander Salak made a deflection now after a misunderstanding in the Czech defense, but the shot from the slot got deflected by the Czech goalie.
		Jaromir Jagr again goes to the locker, much the same as he did yesterday, in the 2nd period.
	34:18	Goal for Team Czech Republic! Finally a goal for the Czech Republic. A great breakaway opportunity over the left wing and towards the slot, Jakub Klepis sent a feed to the opposite side of the slot and MARTIN RUZICKA scored the tip in through the five hole. Assist: Jakub Klepis, Michal Vondrka.
	35:49	Martin Zatovic (CZE) will get the call for holding on Pekka Jormakka.
	36:07	Tuukka Mantyla releases a wrister from the blueline following the draw, the puck got lost somewhere on the way and then Michael Keranen tried his luck with a severe angle from the right, Salak on the save.
	36:26	Eetu Poysti now tries a one-timer from the right, though his shot didn't have a good grip and ended up wide to the right.
	37:46	Offside team Finland upon entering the zone after a reset, :03 left on Zatovic's penalty.
	37:49	Team Czech Republic are back at full strength.
	38:21	The draw came inside the Finnish zone, they take the puck away and will go down the ice when they set up.
	39:00	One minute left in the second period.
	39:09	Offside team Czech Republic.
	39:28	Pekka Rinne deflects the puck after a feed from the right wing that got deflected towards the net, the Finns clear the zone.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Two periods of hockey are behind us, the Czechs finally scored and levelled things up. The Finns still looked better, especially in that first half of the period, they had more of the possession, as they won a vast majority of the faceoffs dropped. Bohumil Jank and Jaromir Jagr left the bench with injuries, we'll see if they'll make a return.
		Shtos on goal: FIN 7 (13), CZE 6 (10) Faceoffs: FIN 14 (30), CZE 3 (11) Penalties: FIN 2 (4), CZE 2 (6) Powerplay: FIN 0/3, CZE 0/2 Possession: FIN 22:30, CZE 17:30. Third period coming up at approx. 14:11 CET, 16:11 MSK, 08:11 EDT.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:28	The Czechs go on the first offense in the third period, but couldn't find space to shoot on goal.
	41:14	Ondrej Vitasek behind the Finnish net sends a pass across the zone to find Petr Zamorsky on the blueline, his hard one-timer is just wide to the right.
	42:40	Pekka Rinne didn't anticipate the path of the puck well, and it could have cost him a lot, but luckily for him the Czechs didn't take advantage of it in the slot.
	43:03	Petteri Wirtanen (FIN) gets the call for high-sticking on Martin Zatovic.
	43:16	Jiri Hudler found Jakub Krejci on the blueline who released a hard slapper towards Rinne, the Finnish keeper stops the shot with his chest and holds on for the faceoff.
	44:09	Apart from that shot, the Czechs didn't do much on this powerplay after a minute had gone by, they struggle to take the puck into the zone.
	44:44	Jakub Klepis was on the deflection now in the slot, but the Czechs still can't find the way to the net.
	44:40	Team Finland are back at full strength.
	45:15	Again it's Martin Zatovic striking a hard slapper on Rinne, he deflects the puck to the slot, but later on gets his glove on it and forces a stoppage.
	45:54	Lukas Kaspar found a lot of space on the right outside the circle, the Finns were late to close him and he fired a shot on Pekka Rinne, the netminder makes the save and holds on.
	46:23	The Czechs back on the attack, the feed from the right got blocked cleared by the defence.
	47:50	Team Finland were on the attack now, couldn't find a gap to shoot through before the puck slid away over the blueline.
	48:30	High forecheck by Jere Sallinen inside the Czech zone, they still manage to get the puck out and on the attack.
	48:47	Nothing comes out of it, the Finns strike back with a shot against Salak – he makes the save and holds onto it.
	48:59	Following the faceoff win, the Czechs get on the attack over center ice, the shot is fired from slightly on the left before the blueline, and the puck ended up in the netting.
	50:02	The Czechs finally show up for transition defense – a mistake at the Finnish blue gets team Finland to break over the right wing, though the Czechs are quick back into the zone and cover the holes.
	50:29	Icing team Czech Republic.
	51:31	Jakub Klepis slides the puck into the zone for Michal Vondrka but he can't handle it with a defender on his back, Finland take over.
	52:32	A shot from Finland from just inside the blue can't jeopardize Salak, an easy deflection for him.
	54:00	Milan Gulas took a hard shot from the right sideboards, wide to the left.
	54:57	Icing team Finland.
	55:11	The Czechs are active on the attack now, a couple of shots fired at Rinne now, the latest from close range slightly to the left.
	56:01	Teuvo Teravainen goes for the wrap around, exits on the left, takes a spin and and Salak covers the angle.
	56:55	Pekka Rinne saves the day! A 2-on-1 break for the Czechs, they come down over the left and the feed to the right meets Jan Kolar, but Pekka Rinne somehow retrieves and deflects his shot high up into the air.
	58:00	Two minutes left in the third period. Are we going to overtime?
	58:23	The Finnish forward falls down onto the ice entering the zone, it seems like it could have been a tripping call, but the referees keep their hands down.
	58:58	Leo Komarov battles through two Czech defensemen and manages to get a shot on net, though it's wide to the right.
	59:06	A technical timeout, the coaches give their last advice to the players.
	59:27	The Finns establish an offense, but the Czechs break it and clear the zone, though the Finns keep possession.
	59:47	Offside team Finland entering the zone through the middle.
	60:00	3rd period finished.
		After 3 periods of play, we still don't have a winner. The Finns go to overtime for the second time in two days, while the Czechs snap a point after the hard loss to Russia.
		Shots on goal: FIN 6 (19), CZE 13 (23) Faceoffs: FIN 9 (39), CZE 5 (16) Penalties: FIN 2 (6), CZE 0 (6) Powerplay: FIN 0/3, CZE 0/3. Overtime will begin shortly.
	60:01	Overtime began.
	60:15	Right at the start the Finns take a shot on Salak, he makes the deflection to the left, and the defense get to it.
	60:33	Icing team Finland.
	60:41	Petr Zamorsky stroke one towards the Finnish net through traffic from the blue, Rinne in place.
	61:39	A fine play by Petruzalek faking a pass to get past the Finnish forecheck, he then gets into the zone and finds space to get behind the net, Rinne left the goal line thinking he could stop him and then Petruzalek couldn't center the pass right to take advatage of it.
	62:57	Pekka Rinne makes the save and holds on, the net comes loose shortly after and the referees stop the play.
	63:03	A shot from the blue line by the Czechs gets blocked, Pekka Jormakka gets down the ice with the puck progressing towards Salak who stretches and makes the pad deflection.
	64:00	One minute left in overtime.
	64:16	Leo Komarov had a close encounter with an opposing player in the neutral zone, no call.
	65:00	Overtime finished.
		The overtime draws to an end, the Czechs had more opportunities and more of the play, but we'll need the shootout to determine the winner today.
		Shots on goal: FIN 4 (23), CZE 3 (26) Faceoffs: FIN 1 (40), CZE 2 (18) Possession: FIN 34:46, CZE 30:14. Shootout will begin shortly, the Zamboni first needs to clear the ice.
		Start of shootout.
		Jarkko Immonen (FIN) will go first – he takes it through the middle and beats Salak as he gets close to the crease into the lower left. (1-0)
		Jakub Klepis can't beat Rinne on the deking move and the backhander. (1-0)
		Michael Keranen takes the puck through the middle and dekes Salak on the wrong side. (2-0)
		Martin Ruzicka misses the net wide to the left and thus ends the game. (2-0)
		Finland has won after the penalty shoot-out. MICHAEL KERANEN scores the game-winning shot.
		Game over.
		That's it folks for today's first game! The Finns take another win and they keep the unbeaten run. Michael Keranen scored a goal in the first period to get team Finland the lead, the Czechs tied it in the second, and then we needed the shootout to get the winner. 2:0 the score in the shootout with Jarkko Immonen and Michael Keranen scoring and lifting the Finns over the Czech Republic.
		Thank you for following the game with us today, the second game will also be covered at 16:00 CET, 18:00 MSK, 10:00 EDT featuring Russia and Sweden. Until next time, goodbye! (14:59:55)

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 7. Keränen (Teräväinen), dec. p.s. Keränen – 35. Růžička (Klepiš, Vondrka)

Finland: Rinne (Saros) – Pokka, Ohtamaa, Jormakka, Immonen, Huhtala – Hietanen, Mäntylä, Keränen, Teräväinen, Komarov – Lajunen, Korpikari, Pöysti, Sallinen T., Pakarainen – Marttinen, Kivistö, Sallinen J., Wirtanen, Savinainen

Czech Republic: Salák (Kovář J.) – Jordán, Kolář, Rolinek, Hudler, Jágr – Vitásek, Zámorský, Vondrka, Klepiš, Petružálek – Krejčík, Jank, Gulaš, Kousal, Radil – Mojžíš, Kovář L., Buchtele, Zaťovič, Kašpar – Růžička

Referees: Björk, Sjöqvist – Pihlblad, Haster

Attendance: 913

1st period
	03:34
	07:00
	18:07
	20:00
1st intermission
2nd period
	21:21
	34:18
	35:49
2nd intermission
3rd period
	43:03
After 3rd period
Overtime
before shootout
Shootout

after shootout