ZAG 2:3 MOS | Medvescak Zagreb - CSKA Moscow (KHL)

KHL

Admiral – Barys

4:2 (end)

Medvescak – CSKA

2:3 (end)

final

Medvescak Zagreb

2:3 (1:2, 1:0, 0:1)

CSKA Moscow

Thursday 18.09.2014, 20:00 • Dom Sportova • KHL

		Welcome. Game starts at 20:00.
		Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between Medvescak Zagreb and CSKA Moscow. This promises to be an highly interesting duel between two very fiery teams.
		These two have had very differing starts to the season, and even if they are playing away CSKA are big favourites to take all three points. They've won five out of their six games so far, and look in excellent form. Medvescak on the other hand have really struggled, having lost four out of their last five.
		Last term both of these sides made the KHL playoffs, and interestingly they were both knocked out in the first round 0:4 to Lev Prague and SKA Saint Petersburg respectively.
		Starting lineups: Medvescak Zagreb: Brust (Dekanich)- Martinovic, Carle, Glumac, Murray, Bjorkstrand- Hutchinson, Mezei, Thomas, Polushaj, Anderson- Flood, Katic, Segal, Pelletier, St.Pierre- Wright, Perkovich, Stewart CSKA Moscow: Galimov (Lalande)- Zaitsev, Denisov, Radulov, Da Costa, Grigorenko- Billins, Kiselevich, Prokhorkin, Artyukhin, Mursak- Misharin, Panin, Eager, Lyubimov, Stas- Egorshev, Korotkov, Zhafyarov, Zharkov, Mamin Referees: Viktor Galishov, Evgeniy Romasko, Yuris Balodis, Viktor Birin.
		The teams are now being presented to the expectant crowd, and after the Russian and Croatian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
	00:01	Game started.
	00:11	We're underway inside the Dom Sportova! Medvescak will be looking to make home advantage count today!
	00:41	Already we have the first penalty of the game! And it's against Martin St. Pierre of Medvescak who has been penalised for hooking!
	00:59	Goal for CSKA! It didn't take long for CSKA to make the breakthrough! NIKOLAY PROKHORKIN receives the puck on the right faceoff circle, he slowly closes down and thrashes it in off the far post! Powerplay goal and it's 0:1! Assists- Bogdan Kiselevich and Jan Mursak
	02:27	CSKA have not been in forgiving form this season at all and that goal will increase their confidence even more! Medvescak could have a rather long evening coming their way!
	04:25	Grigorenko! What a great chance to put CSKA up by two already! Charging down on to the doorstep Igor Grigorenko smacks the puck against the goaltender, and on the rebound Stephane Da Costa is brilliantly denied by Barry Brust's mask!
	04:45	Medvescak are struggling early on and they've got another penalty against their name, Aaron Polushaj has been handed a two minute minor for high sticking
	06:45	CSKA couldn't find any decent shooting opportunities during that powerplay though and it's a five on five hockey game again
	07:22	Icing is committed by Medvescak. The hosts are really struggling to get anything going in the attacking zone, CSKA have taken early control here!
	07:45	Stanislav Galimov fields a dump from distance into his crease and takes no chances with freezing for a faceoff
	08:07	Chad Billins from the point wrists the puck in with whip, but there's very little traffic and Barry Brust comfortably holds on
	08:45	CSKA have picked up their first penalty of the day here, as Evgeniy Korotkov has been penalised for tripping
	09:31	Martinovic! Sasa Martinovic sharply cuts in from the left of the crease, looks to catch the netminder out near post but Stanislav Galimov is alert and just about deals with it!
	10:41	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! Both teams are looking hot on the powerplay today! A patient and clever move deep inside CSKA's zone tees up PASCAL PELLETIER on the right faceoff circle, and he absolutely rips it past the goalkeeper and high into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 1:1! Assists- Martin St. Pierre
	11:54	CSKA will be very disappointed to have conceded after completely dominating the opening half of the period! But Medvescak do now seem to be growing in confidence!
	12:31	The visitors chuck the puck into the slot from the left hand boards, and Barry Brust sweeps it up into his glove as to not give up any rebounds
	13:54	Brandon Segal of Medvescak has burst the home side's bubble slightly here, as he has been sent to the penalty box for slashing against his opponent
	14:14	Denisov! Denis Denisov is fed at the high slot, he wrists in high but the netminder under pressure manages to glove it and freeze!
	14:47	Goal for CSKA! It's another powerplay marker and the visitors are ahead for the second time today! Nikita Zaitsev whips the puck into the slot from the left faceoff circle, and Barry Brust can only kick it out directly on to the stick of STEPHANE DA COSTA who tucks it home! Powerplay goal and it's 1:2! Assists- Nikita Zaitsev and Denis Denisov
	16:38	Andrey Stas from between the circles fires it into the danger zone with Roman Lyubimov lurking, and the goaltender at the second attempt freezes. He will be very annoyed with himself for the second goal given away!
	17:33	Radulov! Alexander Radulov charges through one on one, but he can't get the puck out from under his stick in time! But CSKA are going on the powerplay again, as Medvescak's Mathieu Carle has been punished for slashing in that play
	17:59	But the numbers have already been evened up! Tempers are starting to seriously raise here, and Evgeniy Artyukhin of CSKA has been sent to the penalty box for slashing and for high sticking, meaning that he will be there for four minutes!
	19:00	Nikolay Prokhorkin drifts from the left wing to the middle, backhands but Barry Brust is right behind that. And the net is having to be drilled back into position meaning we have a short stoppage here!
	19:38	The hosts are back at full strength, and with the first period drawing to a close they will begin the second on the powerplay!
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Statistics after the opening period of play: Shots: 12-21 Shots on target: 7-15 Faceoffs: 18-6 Hits: 4-5 Penalty minutes: 8-6
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:23	The second stanza is go! And remember that Medvescak are on the powerplay for a further 01:59!
	21:59	Medvescak couldn't get set up in CSKA's zone though and their opponents are back at full strength
	22:35	Jan Mursak speeds away on a CSKA counterattack, wrists in early from the high slot but it flies harmlessly past the right hand post
	23:21	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! All of a sudden the hosts are back on level terms! CSKA get caught out on a two on one breakaway, PATRICK BJORKSTRAND takes on the shot from the left faceoff circle and it beats the unsighted Stanislav Galimov! It's 2:2! Assists- Mathieu Carle
	24:06	That goal should really lift Medvescak, they love playing at a fast tempo and CSKA have to tighten up at the back if they want a positive result!
	24:52	Prokhorkin! Evgeniy Artyukhin brilliantly sets up Nikolay Prokhorkin all alone on the right faceoff circle, but his blast is kicked away by Barry Brust! And on the rebound Jan Mursak almost slashed the netminder's head off, that was dangerous!
	24:52	A penalty has been called on that play but surprisingly it's against Medvescak themselves, as for tripping Brandon Segal has been sent for a two minute sit down
	26:22	Billins! Medvescak defenders allow Chad Billins to edge every close to the slot on the left wing, he wrists looking for the near corner but it's too weak to trouble the goalkeeper!
	26:55	Just at Martin St. Pierre wrists from the right of the crease directly into Stanislav Galimov's chest Medvescak come back to full strength. And on the rebound the referees again have to split plenty of scuffles up! You get the feeling these two don't like each other too much!
	28:24	CSKA are now finding themselves on the penalty kill, as forward Stephane Da Costa has been penalised for slashing
	28:51	Brandon Segal wriggles free by the left hand post, spins it across the slot and a strike partner is denied by Stanislav Galimov's big left pad! The home crowd want a penalty for a foul by the goalkeeper but their cries are falling on deaf ears!
	29:31	Segal! A thunderous slapper cannons off the boards, and lurking almost on the goal line by the left post Brandon Segal can't turn it home! That was a real opening for Medvescak!
	30:24	The visitors have survived that particular scare and they're back at full strength
	31:32	Jan Mursak cutting on the the right faceoff circle wrists it into the danger zone, but Evgeniy Artyukhin doesn't read the play and the puck rolls into Barry Brust's grasp
	32:25	Georgiy Misharin dives on to the loose puck, skates with pace into the attacking zone down the left flank but his low effort into the near post is poked away into the boards by the netminder
	33:49	Prokhorkin! Speeding into the tip of the slot from the right wing Nikolay Prokhorkin takes aim, but off balance he misses the target! CSKA are starting to take control again!
	34:48	All of a sudden the referees have taken both teams off, there seems to be a problem with the ice. It's not quite clear what's going on, but I'll let you know as soon I know myself!
	34:48	Because of problems with the doors which allow the players to enter the ice the period has indeed been stopped, and five minutes before the end of the second stanza the referees have sent both sides off for an early break! Hopefully the problem will be resolved soon.
	34:48	Break in the game for the ice to be re set.
	34:48	The game has now resumed.
	35:05	We're underway again! So far it really isn't clear if there will be another break or not, but from what I have heard we will now play on until the end!
	35:14	Segal! Brandon Segal wrists with serious power from the right faceoff circle, and in doing so he almost snaps Stanislav Galimov's stick in half!
	36:17	Mursak! What a perfect chance to put CSKA ahead for the third time today, but he's missed it! Jan Mursak feeding on to a devilish pass into the crease can only poke over with the goal at his mercy! He simply had to hit the target!
	37:41	Maxim Mamin drives with real power down the right flank, attempts to squeeze it across the face of goal from a tight angle but he's crowded out by Medvescak defencemen
	38:53	Denis Denisov of CSKA for hooking has been sent to the penalty box, and the hosts have been gifted a golden opportunity to get something going! The visitors have been brighter since the re start and Medvescak look a little flat!
	39:51	It's now the final seconds of the second period but there will indeed be no break, both teams will simply switch ends!
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Statistics after 40 minutes of play: Shots: 26-38 Shots on target: 10-23 Faceoffs: 26-18 Hits: 8-11 Penalty minutes: 10-10
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40;48	And indeed here we go again! Both teams simply switched ends having already had their break, and we will now play on until the end!
	40:53	CSKA are already back at full strength having not let Medvescak get set up in their zone at all during that penalty
	42:51	Nathan Perkovich opts to seriously blast the puck in from the point, but Stanislav Galimov is right behind it and holds comfortably
	43:46	Barry Brust looks a little lethargic emerging from his net, and Evgeniy Artyukhin manages to strip him of the puck! He then sends it back to the point, where Stanislav Egorshev a little wastefully finds the netminder's middle
	45:24	Medvescak drift offside as they look to get set up in CSKA's zone. The hosts are finding it harder and harder to find holes in their opponents' defence!
	45:44	Stanislav Egorshev causes trouble on the crease as he chucks it in, and after a brief moment's panic the home defenders do manage to clear their lines!
	46:05	Evgeniy Artyukhin falls right on top of Barry Brust, and the netminder doesn't like that at all! He jumps to his feet and shoves the CSKA forward in the chest, but no penalty has been called against him! But Evgeniy Artyukhin hasn't escaped, as he has been penalised for interference!
	48:05	Mark Katic fires in with real pace directly on the right faceoff circle, but Stanislav Galimov just about manages to hold on to it! That wasn't an easy one to save!
	48:27	As soon as CSKA came back to full strength they themselves are now going on the powerplay! Medvescak's Branislav Mezei has been punished for interference
	49:40	Denisov! Teed up just past the blue line Denis Denisov cracks in a thumping slapper, but it thunders past the right hand post! Barry Brust would have had trouble stopping that one!
	50:25	Medvescak are back at full strength again but they almost conceded immediately! Evgeniy Korotkov showing a remarkable change of speed skates in clean through, but he can't control the puck when shaping to shoot!
	52:44	CSKA move offside. With time just starting to run down it's looking like the next goal will turn out to be the killer one!
	53:07	Thomas! Bill Thomas opts to take on a slapshot very early on when passing into the attacking zone, but the netminder sees it all the way and punches it wide!
	54:32	Goal for CSKA! And there is that goal which could turn out to be the winner! Sprinting into Medvescak's zone with real speed JAN MURSAK pulls out from the middle slightly to the right, and he whips it past the netminder clinically! It's 2:3! Assists- Bogdan Kiselevich
	55:42	It's going to be very tough for Medvescak to come back from that blow! CSKA had been increasingly playing with the initiative and they have their reward!
	56:10	Anthony Stewart flashes the puck across the face falling against the left hand boards, but no one is fast enough to catch up with that one. The noise inside the arena has significantly dropped since CSKA scored that third goal!
	58:10	Radulov! He could have completely finished it there! Beating his opponents for sheer pace down the left wing Alexander Radulov looks for the near post, but Barry Brust is alert to the danger!
	59:13	With already less than a minute remaining Barry Brust has now been pulled for the extra skater!
	59:51	Medvescak simply can't get set up in their opponents' zone and CSKA are heading for a hard earned 3:2 triumph in Croatia!
	60:00	Game over.
		The final buzzer has now sounded, and in an exciting encounter CSKA Moscow have seen off the challenge of Medvescak Zagreb 3:2 away from home! Both sides had their moments, but CSKA's class told in the end. Nikolay Prokhorkin, Stephane Da Costa and Jan Mursak all notched up a goal each for CSKA, while Pascal Pelletier and Patrick Bjorkstrand replied for the hosts. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more enthralling KHL action! (22:31:54)

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 11. Pelletier (Pierre), 24. Bjorkstrand (Carle) – 1. Prokhorkin (Kiselevich, Mursak), 15. Costa (Zaitsev, Denisov), 55. Mursak (Kiselevich)

Medvescak Zagreb: Brust (Dekanich)- Martinovic, Carle, Glumac, Murray, Bjorkstrand- Hutchinson, Mezei, Thomas, Polushaj, Anderson- Flood, Katic, Segal, Pelletier, St.Pierre- Wright, Perkovich, Stewart

CSKA Moscow: Galimov (Lalande)- Zaitsev, Denisov, Radulov, Da Costa, Grigorenko- Billins, Kiselevich, Prokhorkin, Artyukhin, Mursak- Misharin, Panin, Eager, Lyubimov, Stas- Egorshev, Korotkov, Zhafyarov, Zharkov, Mamin

Referees: Viktor Galishov, Evgeniy Romasko, Yuris Balodis, Viktor Birin

1st period
	00:41
	00:59
	04:45
	08:45
	10:41
	13:54
	14:47
	17:33
	17:59
1st intermission
2nd period
	23:21
	24:52
	28:24
2nd intermission
2nd period
	38:53
2nd intermission
3rd period
	46:05
	48:27
	54:32
Final