KHL
SKA St. Petersburg – Vityaz 7:1 (end)
final
SKA St. Petersburg
7:1 (1:0, 1:1, 5:0)
Vityaz Podolsk
Saturday 27.09.2014, 15:00 • Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL
     
    The final buzzer has now sounded, and SKA Saint Petersburg have emerged victorious for the tenth time in a row after completely hammering Vityaz Podolsk 7:1! The game was tight until the third period, but that is where the hosts really came to life. Vadim Shipachyov, Andrey Kuteikin, Dmitriy Kalinin and Evgeniy Dadonov with a late hat trick all got on the scoreboard for SKA, whereas Vyacheslav Solodukhin grabbed Vityaz's consolation. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting KHL action! (17:20:50)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:23
    The forlorn visitors are back at full strength. SKA have been at their enthralling best today, as they are easing to a glittering 7:1 triumph on home ice!
     
    58:54
    Goal for SKA!
    Let the caps rain down on the ice, we have a hat trick on our hands! YEVGENI DADONOV peeling just to the left of the crease finds the net with aplomb! Powerplay goal and it's 7:1! Assists- Artemiy Panarin
     
    56:53
    Tikhonov! What an amazing skate from the SKA number 10, wow! Viktor Tikhonov showing awesome skill twists and winds his way through the entire Vityaz defence, but he just can't control it when shaping to shoot!
     
    55:05
    Viktor Tikhonov at the tip of the crease looks to hand Tony Martensson a goal of his own from point blank range, but it comes to nothing! He should really have shot himself!
     
    54:23
    The visitors are losing their heads, they know that the game has fallen horribly away from them! Igor Golovkov has been hit with a 5+20 punishment for checking to the head and neck area against his opponent!
     
    54:05
    Goal for SKA!
    Vityaz simply cannot handle SKA right now, the hosts are playing wonderfully! Viktor Tikhonov barges his way down the left wing, backhands it to the far post and EVGENIY DADONOV makes no mistake! It's 6:1!
     
    52:43
    Tempers really start to raise here! Dmitriy Yudin looks to drop the gloves against Georgiy Berdyukov, and both have been sent to the penalty box for roughing! Those two don't like each other at all!
     
    51:43
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA are flowing with confidence now! The puck is chucked between the circles from the left hand boards, it falls to EVGENIY DADONOV and he smashes his effort in off the underside of the bar! Powerplay goal and it's 5:1! Assists- Artemiy Panarin and Vadim Shipachyov
     
    51:23
    Vityaz aren't helping themselves out here by collecting another penalty, Denis Grebeshkov is now the guilty party for tripping
     
    49:46
    SKA have survived that particular score and they're at full strength again with just over ten minutes remaining
     
    49:01
    Korolyov! Dished with a clever feed across the crease by the right hand post Anton Korolyov can't find the target from point blank range! He just had to do better there!
     
    47:46
    As soon as they came back to full strength Vityaz have got a very handy powerplay of their own, as SKA captain Ilya Kovalchuk has been penalised for roughing. With their backs up against the wall they have to take full advantage of such opportunities!
     
    45:36
    The hosts are running their opponents ragged here! And they've earned another powerplay for themselves, with Vityaz's Yury Koksharov has been called into the penalty box for hooking!
     
    44:21
    Dmitriy Kalinin to the left of the blue line dumps the puck into the slot, Tony Martensson is lurking but Harri Sateri watches it all the way and covers
     
    43:12
    SKA will feel that now they should have enough to see out the game! Vityaz just haven't emerged from the dressing room and they're being made to pay!
     
    41:23
    Goal for SKA!
    The Saint Petersburg Ice Palace has seen its roof blasted off! DMITRIY KALININ collects at the point, takes aim and the puck flies high into the left hand corner! It's 4:1! Assists- Evgeniy Dadonov
     
    40:35
    Goal for SKA!
    Now SKA can breathe a bit easier! Picking up a loose rebound on the crease JIMMIE ERICSSON pulls out to the backhand and slides it under Harri Sateri! It's 3:1! Assists- Ilya Kovalchuk
     
    40:06
    As we get going in the third and deciding period Vityaz come back to full strength. It promises to be a thrilling end to the game, with SKA's lead a fragile one!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play:

    Shots: 30-35
    Shots on target: 21-19
    Faceoffs: 17-17
    Hits: 17-19
    Penalty minutes: 18-6
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:56
    With SKA putting heavy pressure a very pacy second period is drawing to its close!
     
    38:06
    Nikita Vyglazov takes on a wrister speeding down the left wing, but Alexander Salak is on his game at the moment. And for a scuffle in the aftermath the visitors have been stuck on the penalty kill again, as Maxim Mamin for an illegal attack has been penalised
     
    36:43
    Ermakov! Andrey Ermakov sees the loose puck roll to him, he takes a powerful whack at it and with the netminder panicking it thunders wide of the left hand post!
     
    36:13
    SKA looked brilliant killing those penalties and they're back at full strength, the home fans are very relieved about that!
     
    36:01
    Grebeshkov! Patient and very lengthy build up play in SKA's zone ends up with Denis Grebeshkov smashing in from the right faceoff, but Alexander Salak makes a seriously good save to deny him!
     
    34:13
    Despite that goal conceded Vityaz have been gifted an ideal chance to draw level immediately! Incredibly SKA have received two penalties at the same time, as Maxim Chudinov has been called for checking to the head and Evgeniy Ketov for holding has been punsihed! And the former's penalty is a 2+10!
     
    32:48
    Goal for SKA!
    Their powerplay is working excellently today! Quite exquisite build up play finishes with ANDREY KUTEIKIN being found free at the high slot, and he wrists it with serious power high into the left hand corner! Powerplay goal and it's 2:1! Assists- Evgeniy Dadonov and Vadim Shipachyov
     
    32:15
    SKA are lacking a few ideas but they've been giving a helping hand here, Vityaz's Denis Grebeshkov has been handed a two minute minor for slashing
     
    30:51
    Schatskiy! Showing flashy skill pinned up against the right hand boards Nikita Schatskiy closes down, beats his defender but can't find a way past the netminder's body!
     
    29:51
    On a pacy Vityaz counterattack Roman Horak is forced out wide down the right flank, backhands but it lacks any real power
     
    29:23
    Nikita Schatskiy skates in from the neutral zone, wrists in rather early and that's not going to trouble Alexander Salak
     
    28:51
    Harri Sateri fields a dump from deep into his crease and takes no risks with freezing. He certainly hasn't been as busy as in the opening period
     
    26:11
    Martensson! Roman Cervenla hangs behind the net with the puck, drifts to the left feeding the onrushing Tony Martensson but the latter contrives to hit only the goalkeeper's chest! That was a very promising chance!
     
    23:43
    Vityaz couldn't get set up in the attacking zone though and it's a five on five hockey game again. They will feel full of energy after firing in that equaliser against the run of play!
     
    21:43
    All of a sudden SKA seem to have lost their way! After Alexander Salak made a very tough looking save they've picked up a penalty, Anton Belov has been punished for tripping
     
    21:13
    Goal for Vityaz!
    Out of almost nothing the visitors are back on terms! Anton Korolyov twists around the net to a tight angle on the right, swings it across the danger zone and VYACHESLAV SOLODUKHIN deftly pokes it home! It's 1:1! Assists- Anton Korolyov
     
    20:38
    The second stanza is go! SKA have been in charge so far but a one goal lead is never secure!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period:

    Shots: 19-16
    Shots on target: 14-8
    Faceoffs: 7-9
    Hits: 9-12
    Penalty minutes: 2-2
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:34
    SKA looked solid on that penalty and they're back at full strength, And it's now the final seconds of the opening period!
     
    17:34
    Out of nothing the hosts have picked up their first two minute minor, with forward Vadim Shipachyov being sent to the penalty box for hooking
     
    17:08
    Andrey Kuteikin wrists in the loose puck from the high slot, and through heavy traffic the goaltender pushes it up and out of the danger zone!
     
    16:41
    SKA are just like at the beginning holding the puck deep inside Vityaz's zone, Harri Sateri is having to do a lot of work in the visitors' net!
     
    14:09
    Evgeniy Ryasensky is allowed to keep advancing from deep, from between the circles he takes aim and Harri Sateri has real trouble kicking that one wide!
     
    12:01
    Maxim Afinogenov moves in with pace from the right wing, fires in with clear daylight between him and the goalkeeper but Alexander Salak gets his body in the way!
     
    10:51
    Shipachyov! What a brilliant chance to make it two already! Artemiy Panarin with a beautiful cross ice dish finds Vadim Shipachyov at the right hand post, but with only Harri Sateri to beat he blasts it well wide!
     
    09:41
    Vityaz are now seeing more of the puck and controlling it with more confidence, they don't want to get blown away at the beginning at all
     
    06:01
    Yudin! Dmitriy Yudin is teed up at the point, he slaps it in with real power but Harri Sateri completely unsighted still manages to get something on it!
     
    05:21
    Vadim Shipachyov finds a bit of space to the left of the slot, takes on a wrister but the goalkeeper is there this time and pushes it out of danger
     
    04:01
    Alexander Salak has to make his first save as he covers up a dangerous drive from the right faceoff circle! SKA will be very happy with having made the early breakthrough, but they can't lose concentration!
     
    03:29
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA are always such fast starters and they'e done it again! VADIM SHIPACHYOV is picked out speeding down the center of the zone, and one on one he gets the better of the goaltender! Powerplay goal and it's 1:0! Assists- Artemiy Panarin and Ilya Kovalchuk
     
    02:51
    We already have the first penalty of the day and it's against the visitors, as Anton Bukhanko has been penalised for slashing
     
    00:31
    And here we go! SKA are going for an incredible tenth win a row in a win and they won't want to let their home fans down!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    We're all ready to get underway, and after the Russian national anthem the opening faceoff will be upon us!
     
    Starting lineups:

    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Yudin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Kuteikin, Khafizullin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Ryasensky, Ermakov, Ponikarovskiy, Kadeikin, Ketov

    Vityaz Podolsk: Sateri (Saprykin)- Grebeshkov, Grishin, Tsyganov, Horak, Kempe- Berdyukov, Vereschagin, Solodukhin, Koksharov, Korolyov- Golovkov, Seleznyov, Shitikov, Yakubov, Afinogenov- Klimontov, Bukhanko, Vyglazov, Mamin, Schatskiy

    Referees: Alexey Belov, Yury Oskirko, Stepan Korshak, Alexander Chernyshev.
     
    Last season today's hosts made it all the way to the Western Conference semi finals, whereas Vityaz failed to make it to the post season at all.
     
    SKA have started off in fantastic form this season, with setting a new Russian record with nine straight wins on the bounce to start off with. Vityaz haven't had such luck with just three victories so far, but recent triumphs over Jokerit and Dinamo Riga would have given them confidence.
     
    Good afternoon and welcome to this KHL regular championship match between SKA Saint Petersburg and Vityaz Podolsk. This may look like a bit of a miss match, but SKA won't have it easy at all.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:00.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 4. Shipachyov (Panarin, Kovalchuk), 33. Kuteikin (Dadonov, Shipachyov), 41. Ericsson (Kovalchuk), 42. Kalinin (Dadonov), 52. Dadonov (Panarin, Shipachyov), 55. Dadonov (Tikhonov), 59. Dadonov (Panarin) – 22. Solodukhin (Korolyov)

    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Yudin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Kuteikin, Khafizullin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Ryasensky, Ermakov, Ponikarovskiy, Kadeikin, Ketov
    Vityaz Podolsk: Sateri (Saprykin)- Grebeshkov, Grishin, Tsyganov, Horak, Kempe- Berdyukov, Vereschagin, Solodukhin, Koksharov, Korolyov- Golovkov, Seleznyov, Shitikov, Yakubov, Afinogenov- Klimontov, Bukhanko, Vyglazov, Mamin, Schatskiy
    Referees: Alexey Belov, Yury Oskirko, Stepan Korshak, Alexander Chernyshev