KHL
Medvescak – SKA St. Petersburg 1:5 (end)
final
Medvescak Zagreb
1:5 (1:2, 0:2, 0:1)
SKA St. Petersburg
Monday 29.09.2014, 19:30 • Dom Sportova • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and SKA Saint Petersburg have quite incredibly won their eleventh game in a row 5:1 over Medvescak in Zagreb! They simply look unstoppable as with every game they keep on setting new records! Matt Anderson gave Medvescak an early lead, but SKA replied with five straight goals from Patrick Thoresen, Vadim Shipachyov, Evgeniy Dadonov and Tony Martensson with a double. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (22:06:57)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:47
    It's now the final few seconds of the match with SKA coasting to a very classy 5:1 triumph on the road!
     
    58:34
    Before the game is our SKA are going on the penalty kill for the final time today, as forward Igor Makarov has been slapped with a 2+10 penalty for checking to the head and neck area
     
    57:52
    Medvescak have five players on the ice again, and already there are only just over two minutes left until the finish!
     
    57:34
    Chudinov! Patrick Thoresen intelligently tees up Maxim Chudinov at the blue line, but his powerful drive is held by the netminder crouched down!
     
    55:52
    Once again players on both sides are getting angry with each other! And for a dirty hit against Igor Makarov Anthony Stewart of Medvescak has been sent to the penalty box, that wasn't the cleanest of challenges at all!
     
    55:13
    Alexander Salak very confidently holds on to a low cutting effort from the point. And the referees have to calm everyone down as tempers start to raise in the aftermath, it's been a rather physical game today!
     
    54:48
    Medvescak couldn't create any real pressure in SKA's zone though and the visitors are back at full strength
     
    52:48
    And Alexey Semyonov has now collected a penalty against his name for SKA, as he has been called for tripping
     
    52:23
    Ilya Kovalchuk slides home a Alexey Semyonov feed from an awkward angle on the left, but the goal has been waved off! A distinct kicking motion was noticed by the referees, and we play on at 5:1!
     
    52:08
    Hedden! Just how didn't he score there! On a big giveaway on the doorstep Mike Hedden takes Alexander Salak out of the game, but he blasts it over the open net! It looked impossible to miss!
     
    51:12
    Cervenka! He should really have made it six! On a pacy and clever counteratatck Roman Cervenka is played in one on one, but glove side he thumps it wide of the near post!
     
    50:51
    Yury Alexandrov pulling out to the right hand boards wrists in on net, and with Evgeniy Dadonov standing nearby Mark Dekanich punches it up and out of play
     
    49:56
    Visiting forward Igor Makarov looks in real pain here though, as after being what looks like poked in the chest the doctors are helping him off the ice
     
    49:54
    The Medvescak bench don't look satisfied at all now, SKA's counterattacks are simply ripping them apart and the Croats have very little confidence left!
     
    47:50
    Goal for SKA!
    They're running away with it now! EVGENIY DADONOV is dished sprinting through one on one, and he superbly gets the better of the goaltender! It's 1:5! Assists- Yury Alexandrov and Vadim Shipachyov
     
    46:16
    SKA couldn't get an awful lot going on that particular powerplay though and the hosts are back at full strength again
     
    45:09
    Evgeniy Dadonov is dished with a searching Ilya Kovalchuk feed hanging by the right of the crease, but he doesn't hit it as he would have wanted!
     
    44:16
    Just as SKA came back to full strength they themselves are going to have a man's advantage! Mark Dekanich coughed up the puck to Patrick Thoresen behind the net, and he had no choice to body check him! Aaron Polushaj will sit this one out on his behalf
     
    43:07
    Pelletier! Standing right on the left faceoff circle Pascal Pelletier takes on a very strong slapshot, and it forces Alexander Salak into a very solid pad save shutting the five hole in time!
     
    42:05
    Medvescak have been handed a very useful powerplay chance to get some momentum going here, as SKA's Patrick Thoresen has been handed a two minute minor for slashing
     
    40:17
    Kovalchuk! Ilya Kovalchuk's slapper from between the circles is pushed out in front of him by Mark Dekanich, but he makes up for that with a super save on the rebound from Viktor Tikhonov!
     
    40:11
    The third and deciding period is go! At 4:1 to the good SKA are sitting pretty, but Medvescak won't be willing to give in easily!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play:

    Shots: 38-31
    Shots on target: 13-20
    Faceoffs: 26-16
    Hits: 12-10
    Penalty minutes: 8-33
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:39
    It's now the final few seconds of a very successful period for the visitors!
     
    39:01
    Medvescak move offside. Despite that fourth goal the home fans are still in fine voice supporting their team loudly!
     
    37:47
    Pelletier! Cutting in from the left flank Pascal Pelletier has clear daylight in front of him, but he contrives to fire over the bar! SKA are sitting pretty at three goals up, they are taking advantage of their chances so well today!
     
    35:06
    Goal for SKA!
    Wow, that is a quite beautiful goal from the visitors! TONY MARTENSSON's first effort is blocked by defencemen in front of him, but he quite wonderfully bats the rebound out of the air and into the right hand corner! It's 1:4!
     
    35:01
    Makarov! Picking up the loose puck just inside the opponent's zone Igor Makarov takes aim from the high slot, but Mark Dekanich flashes leather to deny him!
     
    34:05
    As the puck is chucked into the crease from the right hand boards it's eventually wristed wide of the far post! Again the SKA goaltender didn't have much of an idea what was going on!
     
    33:19
    Bjorkstrand! Spinning around to the left from the opposite side Patrick Bjorkstrand loops it up, and with Alexander Salak completely unsighted it trickles wide of the far post! And we have a short stoppage here as the net has come off its moorings
     
    33:06
    SKA commit icing. The game is becoming more and more physical, with hits from both sides being thrown in all around the place! The fans always love to see them!
     
    32:08
    Just after Bill Thomas sent a backhander not too far wide of Alexander Salak's post blocker side opposing goaltender Mark Dekanich neatly plucks a dump into the danger zone out of the air
     
    29:27
    Both sides again have five players on the ice with just over ten minutes remaining in the period
     
    29:21
    Cervenka! Roman Cervenka shields the puck away from his defender moving to the right devilishly, backhands with height but Mark Dekanich pokes it into the boards!
     
    28:11
    Kovalchuk! What an opening for SKA's captain! Found all alone almost directly on the right hand post Ilya Kovalchuk slaps, but the goalkeeper gets his pads in the way!
     
    27:37
    The game is again going under a four on four format, as Medvescak's Mark Flood and Viktor Tikhonov of SKA both for roughing have been sent to the penalty box
     
    27:03
    Hedden! Mike Hedden all of a sudden has a two on one for himself closing down on the slot on the right wing, he splays it across to the far post but a covering SKA defenceman heroically deflects it out of danger!
     
    27:01
    The Dom Sportova has gone completely flat after that third SKA goal! The visitors are in no forgiving mood today, it's going to be hard for the Croats to get back into things!
     
    24:56
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA are at their ruthless best today! TONY MARTENSSON speeds into the attacking zone, pulls to the left and from an awkward angle he catches out Mark Dekanich near post! It's 1:3! Assists- Patrick Thoresen and Anton Belov
     
    24:40
    The visitors killed that penalty perfectly and they're back at full strength again
     
    23:34
    Mark Flood blasts in from the point, and with traffic in front of him Alexander Salak still pushes it around the post confidently
     
    22:53
    Pelletier! Pascal Pelletier cuts in very sharply from a tight angle on the right flank, he attempts to stuff the puck under Alexander Salak but the netminder just stops it on the line! That was seriously close!
     
    22:15
    The hosts are now back at full strength and they have a powerplay for themselves for just over two minutes!
     
    20:15
    But that has already become a four on three for SKA! Medvescak's Pascal Pelletier has been punished for hooking, despite him finding the decision rather baffling!
     
    20:11
    Off we go in the second stanza! And remember that at the moment it's a four on four hockey game!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period:

    Shots: 18-11
    Shots on target: 5-7
    Faceoffs: 13-8
    Hits: 2-7
    Penalty minutes: 4-31
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:41
    But the numbers have already been evened up, and it's a big penalty here for Artemiy Panarin as he has been handed a 5+20 punishment for hitting an opponent with his stick! That's his game over with and it's now the final seconds of an eventful opening period!
     
    19:28
    Medvescak are looking rather angry after falling behind and they've taken a penalty here, as forward Bill Thomas has been handed a two minute minor for delaying the game
     
    19:08
    Ilya Kovalchuk falling against the boards on the right just about squeezes the puck across to the crease, but Mark Dekanich clings on crouched down. SKA are looking deadly in the attack today, and will be very happy to having scored that second goal!
     
    17:39
    Goal for SKA!
    To the annoyance of the home crowd SKA power themselves ahead for the first time today! After Evgeniy Dadonov delivered a heavy but clean hit against his opponent the puck rolls to the right hand post, and VADIM SHIPACHYOV whacks it home with the goalkeeper out of position! It's 1:2! Assists- Artemiy Panarin and Evgeniy Dadonov
     
    17:28
    Medvescak drift offside just as they were looking to break away three on two down the middle
     
    16:14
    SKA killed that penalty expertly and they are back at full strength again
     
    15:45
    Bjorkstrand! Bullying his way down the left wing Patrick Bjorkstrand wrists from up close, and Alexander Salak does really well to calmly kick it out of danger!
     
    15:13
    The hosts aren't creating a lot on this extended powerplay so far, SKA are looking very solid defensively at the moment
     
    13:48
    Matt Anderson looks to take aim from directly on the left faceoff circle, but Dmitriy Yudin brilliantly blocks it laying down on the ice! That was a committed challenge!
     
    12:14
    Medvescak have been gifted a powerplay opportunity to put the heat on again, as Evgeniy Dadonov of the visitors has been sent to the penalty box for high sticking. And as the opposing player is injured SKA will be on the penalty kill for four minutes!
     
    10:48
    Anton Burdasov breaks into the attacking zone, cracks in a wrister but the goaltender watches it fly wide blocker side!
     
    10:06
    Mark Dekanich fields a dump into his crease from the blue line and he opts to hold on to it with opponents closing down
     
    08:46
    Anthony Stewart flashes the puck across the slot from a very promising position to the right, but it's too powerful for anyone to catch up with! The hosts have fallen away a bit after a lightning quick start, SKA are getting better!
     
    07:51
    Goal for SKA!
    It didn't take SKA long at all to get back on terms! The Medvescak defence goes missing as Viktor Tikhonov charges down the right flank two on one, and he feeds PATRICK THORESEN at the far post who scores! Powerplay goal and it's 1:1! Assists- Viktor Tikhonov
     
    07:28
    Ilya Kovalchuk slaps in from the point, and the netminder at the second attempt freezes it! That looked dangerous!
     
    06:41
    Panarin! Ilya Kovalchuk with a cutting cross ice feed picks out the open Artemiy Panarin lurking to the left of the slot, but his one timer is saved by Mark Dekanich!
     
    06:16
    SKA are slowly settling into it and they've earned a powerplay for themselves, as Medvescak's Sasa Martinovic has been penalised for holding
     
    05:02
    Roman Cervenka swings his away around the net from the left, whips it across the face of goal but no one is there to connect
     
    04:41
    Mark Dekanich gets his first touch of the puck, as with Tony Martensson battling away for it by his right post he falls on it to freeze
     
    03:32
    Now a very tricky wrist shot to the right of slot flies inches wide of SKA's left hand post! Medvescak have begun with serious energy, pressing their opponents everywhere!
     
    02:23
    Goal for Medvescak Zagreb!
    Just as the penalty was coming to an end Medvescak draw first blood! MATT ANDERSON backhands moving off the left faceoff circle, and off a telling deflection the puck beats Alexander Salak! Powerplay goal and it's 1:0!
     
    00:26
    Within simply seconds after the opening faceoff SKA have picked up a very early penalty, as forward Jimmie Ericsson has been called for interference!
     
    00:08
    Here we go in the Dom Sportova! Medvescak are going to give it their all against their glamorous visitors SKA!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Croatian and Russian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

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

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

    Referees: Alexey Ravodin, Evgeniy Romasko, Dmitriy Golovyov, Ivan Fateev.
     
    Last term Medvescak made the KHL playoffs before getting whitewashed in the first round by Lev Prague. SKA had more luck, reaching the Western Conference semifinals, but they will be looking for more success this time around.
     
    The new KHL season has started with a bang for today's visitors SKA, who have set a new Russian record with winning an incredible ten games on the bounce. Medvescak are struggling more somewhat, with just three wins to their name so far and having lost their previous home match 1:3 to Slovan Bratislava.
     
    Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between Medvescak Zagreb and SKA Saint Petersburg. The hosts will be hoping that their fierce home atmosphere can put SKA off, but the Saint Petersburgers are full of confidence.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 3. Anderson – 8. Thoresen (Tikhonov), 18. Shipachyov (Panarin, Dadonov), 25. Martensson (Thoresen, Belov), 36. Martensson, 48. Dadonov (Alexandrov, Shipachyov)

    Medvescak Zagreb: Dekanich (Brust)- Martinovic, Flood, Glumac, Murray, Bjorkstrand- Mezei, Carle, Segal, Pelletier, St. Pierre- Katic, Thomas, Polushaj, Anderson, Stewart- Perkovich, Wright, Hedden,
    SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Yudin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Kuteikin, Y Alexandrov, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Semyonov, Ermakov, Burdasov, Kablukov, Makarov
    Referees: Alexey Ravodin, Evgeniy Romasko, Dmitriy Golovyov, Ivan Fateev