KHL
Admiral – Barys 3:2 (end) | HC Yugra – SKA St. Petersburg 3:4 (end)
final
HC Yugra
3:4 (0:4, 2:0, 1:0)
SKA St. Petersburg
Wednesday 17.09.2014, 15:30 • Arena Yugra • KHL
     
    The final buzzer has now sounded, and in a very dramatic encounter SKA Saint Petersburg have won their sixth game in a row by beating HC Yugra 4:3! The hosts came within one goal of a famous comeback, but SKA held firm in the end. An Ilya Kovalchuk double coupled with markers from Artemiy Panarin and Patrick Thoresen put SKA to the good in the opening period of play, but Ivan Yatsenko, Toni Rajala and Vitaliy Stinikov goals for Yugra made the visitors sweat. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more engrossing KHL action! (18:02:19)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:54
    Yugra move offside and with just a few seconds left SKA are heading for a very nervy 4:3 triumph!
     
    59:30
    Yugra have now pulled their netminder for the extra attacker! It's now or never for the hosts!
     
    57:45
    Nikita Filatov neatly sets up Denis Sokolov to the left of the crease, he wrists danegrously but the goalkeeper just gets something on it to turn it around the far post!
     
    56:25
    Sitnikov! Wow, what a chance to potentially take this game into overtime! Sprinting out of the penalty box Vitaliy Sitinikov finds himself one on one, but he's denied by a massive Evgeniy Ivannikov save! What a save that is from the young netminder!
     
    56:20
    Shipachyov! Falling to his feet Vadim Shipachyov wrists wide of the left hand post from the doorstep! That was a very presentable opportunity!
     
    55:16
    Alexandrov! All on his own Yury Alexandrov slaps with all his might on the left faceoff circle, but it's directly down Stepan Goryachevskikh's throat who holds on!
     
    54:24
    The visitors have earned themselves what could be a vital powerplay here as time is starting to run down! Yugra's Vitaliy Sitnikov has been handed a two minute minor for slashing against Evgeniy Dadonov!
     
    53:18
    Artyom Bulyanskiy with a wonderful skates beats his opponents all ends up twisting to the right, but he has no support in sight and the chance fizzles out!
     
    51:43
    Nikita Filatov has a bit of space drifting to the left from the middle, but his effort lacks pace and Evgeniy Ivannikov fends it off with his body
     
    51:12
    SKA looked solid on that penalty kill and they're back at full strength. They can't keep taking silly penalties though!
     
    50:23
    Sergeev! Andrey Sergeev looks to cause mayhem on the crease, and after a moment's panic the SKA defence hack it clear!
     
    49:12
    But already SKA have picked up yet another needless penalty! Andrey Kuteikin is now the guilty party, this time for interference
     
    49:06
    It's a five on five hockey game again and Yugra won't be wanting to give away any more penalties!
     
    48:23
    Kovalchuk! Ilya Kovalchuk lets rip with a huge slapshot on the left faceoff circle, but Stepan Goryachevskikh pushes it away despite being under heavy pressure!
     
    47:06
    SKA are desperately on the ropes but they've been helped out by Ben Maxwell of Yugra here, as he has been sent to the penalty box for slashing
     
    46:10
    Goal for Yugra!
    There's the punishment from the hosts! SKA are in serious danger of throwing this away! Evgeniy Ivannikov just stretches to a slapper from the point, but at the left of the slot VITALIY SITNIKOV slots it in! Powerplay goal and it's 3:4! Assists- Alexey Pepelyaev and Andrey Sergeev
     
    45:28
    And that's quickly become a five on three for Yugra, SKA are running into penalty trouble at the worst possible time! For slashing Roman Cervenka has now been penalised
     
    44:30
    SKA have made their life a bit harder here, as Dmitriy Yudin has virtually out of nothing been handed a 2+10 penalty for holding!
     
    43:57
    Tikhonov! On the turn between the circles Viktor Tikhonov lashes in on net, and the netminder had real trouble turning that around the post!
     
    42:52
    Ivan Yatsenko deftly deflects a wrist shot from the blue line, but Evgeniy Ivannikov manages to kick it wide without too much trouble
     
    41:58
    Patrick Thoresen twisting and turning behind the net to the left hand post tries to feed Tony Martensson who's lurking nearby, but defenders shuffle it wide
     
    40:56
    Yury Alexandrov winds up from the point, but his blast flashes over the bar! SKA have to be more on their game if they're to see this one out comfortably!
     
    40:28
    The third and deciding period is go! At only two up SKA can't afford to be complacent at all!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 29-48
    Shots on target: 16-30
    Faceoffs: 20-34
    Hits: 17-10
    Penalty minutes: 10-8
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:53
    We're already into the final seconds of an action packed second stanza!
     
    39:23
    Stepan Goryachevskikh crouched down with players all around him fields a pacy wrister from the high slot and freezes
     
    38:58
    Rajala! Toni Rajala is dished again completely open to the right of the slot, but Evgeniy Ivannikov shuts the door with an excellent save near post! And Yugra are indeed back at full strength
     
    38:32
    Ilya Kovalchuk goes upstairs on the goaltender, but he smashes it against the bar! And after video review the referees confirm that it didn't cross the line, we play on at 2:4!
     
    38:32
    SKA are moving the puck excellently around the zone, but they aren't finding too many shooting opportunities! And all of a sudden a penalty shot has been awarded to the visitors after a goalmouth scramble, the home fans are very angry about that!
     
    36:35
    Yugra have burst their own bubble here though, for interference while attacking Denis Sokolov has been sent to the penalty box
     
    35:16
    Evgeniy Ivannikov clings on to a heavy slapper from the point and SKA come back to full strength. The visitors have simply gone to sleep in this period, and they're getting punished for it!
     
    33:16
    Bulyanskiy! Artyom Bulyanskiy breaks through on to the slot from the right flank, he's denied excellently by Evgeniy Ivannikov but the referees have spotted an offence in that play! Defenceman Alexey Semenov has been handed a two minute minor for
     
    31:55
    Goal for Yugra!
    Is this the start of a comeback to remember? The SKA defence simply goes missing as on a three on one TONI RAJALA is fed at the right hand post, and he smashes it into the roof of the net! Powerplay goal and it's 2:4! Assists- Ben Maxwell and Lukas Kaspar
     
    31:19
    Yugra are feeling a lot better about themselves now and they've got a powerplay chance to extend their momentum, SKA's Dmitriy Yudin has been punished for holding
     
    30:53
    Bortnikov! Closing down on the slot menacingly Igor Bortnikov on the tip of the crease is denied not once but twice by Evgeniy Ivannikov!
     
    29:01
    Stepan Goryachevskikh fields a long pass from deep into his crease and takes no chances with freezing. And just seconds later as a made scramble erupted on SKA's crease no one could make a telling touch with Evgeniy Ivannikov surrounded!
     
    28:00
    Dmitriy Kalinin moving on to the right faceoff circle wrists through plenty of bodies on the crease, but it sails through and into the boards
     
    27:15
    Icing is committed by Yugra as they are starting to take the game to SKA now! The visitors haven't done a lot in the attack since the period got going
     
    26:08
    Alexey Pepelyaev dumps in a wrist shot from the blue line, traffic charges it down at source but on the rebound no one can make decent contact on the doorstep!
     
    25:41
    A little upset looking SKA netminder Evgeniy Ivannikov fields a dangerous looking feed into the slot from the left and freezes. That goal will at least give Yugra some confidence!
     
    24:40
    Goal for Yugra!
    Out of nothing the hosts are now on the board! It's a two on one down the right flank, IVAN YATSENKO takes the shot on himself and he expertly finds the top far corner! It's 1:4! Assists- Sergey Lesnukhin
     
    23:05
    SKA didn't have a lot of work to do on that penalty kill and they're back at full strength
     
    22:55
    Cervenka! A terrible defensive error lets in Roman Cervenka one on one shorthanded, but the SKA forward takes too long and his backhander is caught well by Stepan Goryachevskikh!
     
    21:05
    It can surely only get better for Yugra after that disastrous first period and they've earned a very quick powerplay for themselves, SKA defenceman Andrey Kuteikin has been penalised for slashing
     
    20:23
    Here we go in the second stanza! And interestingly SKA have made a goalkeeping change, with Evgeniy Ivannikov taking the place of Alexander Salak!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 11-36
    Shots on target: 4-23
    Faceoffs: 9-16
    Hits: 9-5
    Penalty minutes: 8-2
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:53
    Yugra are back at full strength as an almost perfect first period for SKA draws to a close!
     
    18:51
    Panarin! It's incredible just how many one on one opportunities SKA have had in this period alone! Artemiy Panarin shows a remarkable turn of pace, but the goalkeeper shuts the five hole in time!
     
    17:53
    It wasn't a full strength game for long though as the hosts have now been spotted for having too many men on the ice, and Nikita Filatov will sit this one out for his team
     
    17:25
    Artyom Bulyanskiy battling away for the puck by the right hand post almost squeezes it past the goalkeeper, but Alexander Salak spinning on his back just about manages to keep it out! That was Yugra's best move so far!
     
    16:51
    Both sides are now again back at full strength
     
    15:51
    Belov! Neat and patient combination play feeds Anton Belov to the right of the slot, but he slams his effort straight into the netminder from a fantastic position!
     
    15:37
    Ilya Kovalchuk, who's already on a hat trick drifts to the middle from the left wing, wrists with serious pace but Stepan Goryachevskikh makes a beautiful glove save to deny him!
     
    14:51
    The penalties keep on coming! Now it's Lukas Kaspar of Yugra who has been handed a two minute minor, this time for hooking
     
    14:39
    Lukas Kaspar with real space on the right faceoff circle slaps in first time, but Alexander Salak flying glove side fields it solidly
     
    13:08
    The numbers have been evened up here though, as SKA's Vadim Shipachyov has been found guilty of tripping against his opponent
     
    12:21
    For holding Sergey Lesnukhin of Yugra has now been called into the penalty box! The hosts are simply committing suicide here, they desperately need the first intermission!
     
    12:02
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA are completely running away with this, this is so easy it's like a training session! Off a faceoff draw on the right the puck rolls to ILYA KOVALCHUK, and he lashes it with power into the far corner! It's 0:4! Assists- Jimmie Ericsson
     
    11:59
    Dmitriy Yudin with traffic in front of him looks for someone to make a deft deflection, but the puck travels all the way and into the netminder's midriff
     
    10:43
    Just as Alexander Salak flashes leather to catch a simple wrist shot from the left faceoff circle Yugra are back at full strength to their relief
     
    10:21
    Artemiy Panarin is the next to try his luck against Yugra's new goaltender, but Stepan Goryachevskikh holds on to his drive from distance comfortably!
     
    09:48
    Alexandrov! Seconds after Viktor Tikhonov and Ilya Kovalchuk slapped over from between the circles Yury Alexandrov fires inches wide of the left hand post from the point!
     
    08:43
    It is just so easy for SKA at the moment, I'm sure even they didn't expect such a superb start! And Yugra defenceman Andrey Sergeev has now been sent to the penalty box for slashing, it isn't getting any better for the hosts!
     
    07:40
    Yugra have now taken a seriously well needed time out, and forlorn goaltender Evgeniy Biryukov has now been pulled in favour of Stepan Goryachevskikh!
     
    07:40
    Goal for SKA!
    Wow, what is going on here! Yugra just haven't got started! It's shockingly another one on one for SKA, Tony Martensson is denied by the goalkeeper's left pad but PATRICK THORESEN sweeps home the rebound! It's 0:3! Assists- Tony Martensson
     
    06:54
    Goal for SKA!
    ARTEMIY PANARIN skates in, goes up close with Evgeniy Biryukov and clinically finds the five hole! It's 0:2!
     
    06:54
    Artemiy Panarin is now let through one on one, but he's slashed against and the referees have indicated a penalty shot! Yugra are struggling defensively!
     
    06:11
    Tikhonov! A terrible mistakes from a Yugra defenceman lets in Viktor Tikhonov directly on the doorstep, but he contrives to hack it over the bar! That was a real chance to already make it two!
     
    05:08
    Evgeniy Ketov with a sweeping effort takes aim from the high slot, and with Evgeniy Biryukov panicking slightly it sails high over the right hand post!
     
    04:18
    Yugra are seeing a bit more of the puck but SKA are always deadly when they have just the smallest of opportunities, and interestingly that's already Ilya Kovalchuk's ninth goal of the season!
     
    03:04
    Goal for SKA!
    With the first major chance of the game SKA make the breakthrough! And guess who, yes it's ILYA KOVALCHUK! He skates clean through one on one and finds the net! It's 0:1! Assists- Dmitriy Yudin
     
    02:25
    Ilya Kablukov falling against the right hand boards dumps it into the slot, and the netminder confidently kicks it out of danger
     
    01:09
    Alexander Salak in SKA's net now has his first save to make, as off a faceoff draw on the right he plucks a looping wrister out of the air
     
    01:00
    Andrey Kuteikin gathers the puck at the point, blasts it in and Evgeniy Biryukov has real trouble fending it off!
     
    00:20
    We're underway inside the Arena Yugra! SKA will be looking to keep up their perfect record today!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the anthem of the Russian Federation we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    HC Yugra: Biryukov (Goryachevskikh)- Sergeev, Pepelyaev, Sitnikov, Magogin, Bulyanskiy- Larsen, Putilov, Kaspar, Maxwell, Rajala- Sokolov, Zheldakov, Filatov, Bortnikov, Gorbunov- Nikolaev, Knyazev, Yatsenko, Lesnukhin

    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Yudin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Semenov, Ermakov, Ponikarovsky, Kablukov, Ketov

    Referees: Vladislav Kiselyov, Denis Bondar, Dmitriy Golyak, Ivan Dedyulya.
     
    Last season Yugra failed to make the KHL playoffs, but with a new coach and some new players they will be looking to make up for that this term. SKA made it all the way to the Western Conference semi final stage, but nevertheless they want better than that this time around.
     
    Yugra started the season excellently winning back to back road matches against Lada and Torpedo, but they have since fallen away losing three in a row. SKA on the other hand have been simply flawless so far, with a perfect five victories to their name and playing simply ruthlessly.
     
    Good afternoon and welcome to this KHL regular season match between HC Yugra and SKA Saint Petersburg. The visitors are clear favourites today, but Yugra are very tricky opponents for anyone.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 15:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 25. Yatsenko (Lesnukhin), 32. Rajala (Maxwell, Kaspar), 47. Sitnikov (Pepelyaev, Sergeev) – 4. Kovalchuk (Yudin), 7. Panarin (p.s.), 8. Thoresen (Martensson), 13. Kovalchuk (Ericsson)

    HC Yugra: Biryukov (Goryachevskikh)- Sergeev, Pepelyaev, Sitnikov, Magogin, Bulyanskiy- Larsen, Putilov, Kaspar, Maxwell, Rajala- Sokolov, Zheldakov, Filatov, Bortnikov, Gorbunov- Nikolaev, Knyazev, Yatsenko, Lesnukhin
    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Yudin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Semenov, Ermakov, Ponikarovsky, Kablukov, Ketov
    Referees: Vladislav Kiselyov, Denis Bondar, Dmitriy Golyak, Ivan Dedyulya
    Attendance: 2800