ZAG 0:5 PET | Medvescak Zagreb - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

KHL

Medvescak – SKA St. Petersburg

0:5 (end)

final

Medvescak Zagreb

0:5 (0:2, 0:2, 0:1)

SKA St. Petersburg

Wednesday 01.10.2014, 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 SKA Saint Petersburg. These two met only a couple of days ago, and it will be a tough battle out there today.
		Just two days ago, on Monday, SKA got the better of their Croatian opponents by a thumping scoreline of 5:1, and the match was full of scuffles and a lot of emotions. The Saint Petersburgers have set a new Russian record with an amazing eleven straight wins at the start of the new campaign, and they look very tough to stop. Medvescak haven't had such a great start, with just three wins out of a possible eleven.
		Last term SKA made it all the way to the Western Conference semi finals, whereas Medvescak in their debut KHL season were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
		Starting lineups: Medvescak Zagreb: Dekanich (Tomljenovic)- Flood, Martinovic, Glumac, Murray, Wright- Morrisonn, Thomas, Segal, Pelletier, St. Pierre- Katic, Bjorkstrand, Perkovich, Anderson, Polushaj- Stewart, Hedden, Rodman SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Belov, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Kuteikin, Y Alexandrov, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Khafizullin, Ryasensky, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Ermakov, Yudin, Ponikarovskiy, Kadeikin, Ketov Referees: Daniel Stricker, Alexey Anisimov, Dmitriy Golovyov, Ivan Fateev.
		The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Croatian and Russian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
	00:01	Game started.
	01:12	Off we go in the Dom Sportova! It will be interesting to see what Medvescak can challenge SKA with!
	01:48	Medvescak drift offside. The visitors have begun seeing a lot of the puck, and they'll want to control the game calmly
	02:30	Viktor Tikhonov falling awkwardly off balance attempts to cut in from the left faceoff circle, gets a shot away but it's comfortable for the netminder to pad wide
	03:25	Goal for SKA! SKA have started very brightly and they have their early lead! All of a sudden it's a two on one down the right flank, Vadim Shipachyov dishes it across to the far post and ARTEMIY PANARIN one times it home! It's 0:1! Assists- Vadim Shipachyov
	04:22	The visitors are completely dominating at the moment! That goal would have only increased their confidence, and Medvescak just aren't having any possession!
	05:01	Alexander Salak has to make his first of the game, as he covers up a dangerous looking wrister from the point with bodies surrounding him
	05:44	Mike Glumac makes space for himself moving out to the right faceoff circles, he fires in but Alexander Salak is right behind that
	06:24	Evgeniy Dadonov opens up between the circles, opts to shoot himself and Mark Dekanich in Medvescak's net field it well
	06:35	Aaron Polushaj is the next to try his luck against Alexander Salak, but from the right flank he wrists rather weakly
	07:57	We have the first penalty of the day and it's against Medvescak, as forward Mike Glumac has been hit with a 2+10 punishment for checking to the head and neck area!
	08:30	Goal for SKA! They weren't going to let that opportunity go to waste! Excellent silky build up play sees ARTEMIY PANARIN flash the puck across the crease hanging by the left, and it takes a wicked deflection which beats Mark Dekanich! Powerplay goal and it's 0:2! Assists- Evgeniy Dadonov and Ilya Kovalchuk
	09:09	Medvescak keep on making problems for themselves, they simply having got started today and the next to be sent to the penalty box is Bill Thomas for slashing!
	09:23	Kovalchuk! Ilya Kovalchuk takes on a powerful slapper from the point, and despite not knowing where the puck is the netminder covers it up!
	11:39	The hosts did look better on that penalty kill though and they're back at full strength. And almost immediately SKA have a two minute minor against their name, as defenceman Dmitriy Yudin has been called for interference
	11:57	Thomas! Alexander Salak is slightly out of position, Bill Thomas all alone on the left wing slaps in but the goalkeeper gets back in time to keep it out!
	13:39	SKA came under a bit of pressure their but they defended solidly and are at full strength again
	14:48	Thoresen! Roman Cervenka with a tricky skate down the right slides it across the face of goal to Patrick Thoresen, but the latter can't make real contact with the net gaping!
	15:00	Mark Dekanich horribly coughs up the puck behind his own net, and steaming in by the right hand post Viktor Tikhonov can't punish him! The goalkeeper got away with that one!
	17:57	SKA hold the puck deep inside Medvescak's zone for what seems an age, but the eventual effort just to the left of the slot is comfortably taken by the netminder. The visitors really do look so at ease so far!
	19:41	We're already into the final seconds of a very successful opening period for SKA!
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Statistics after the first period: Shots: 14-12 Shots on target: 6-7 Faceoffs: 14-10 Hits: 4-6 Penalty minutes: 14-2
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:34	The second stanza is go! Medvescak at two down need to get their game on soon if they're to have any chance today!
	21:34	Kuteikin! Andrey Kuteikin is fed speeding into the high slot, he collects it but wrists high over the bar! That was a very promising opening for the defenceman!
	21:55	Goal for SKA! The Medvescak defence is just all over the place today! PATRICK THORESEN is played clean through from deep, and he clinically finds the left hand corner! It's 0:3! Assists- Vadim Shipachyov and Alexander Salak
	23:08	Thomas! Immediately the hosts could have got themselves back into things! As the puck comes trickling in from the left wing Bill Thomas backhands it on target, but it gets shuffled out to the boards just in time!
	24:00	Alexander Salak watches a dump from the neutral zone drift into to him glove side and he takes no risks with freezing. After that third goal Medvescak do look to be playing with more urgency
	24:42	Dadonov! Evgeniy Dadonov takes up the puck on the doorstep, takes on a low cutting wrist shot but a defenceman closes it down at source!
	25:11	Roman Cervenka finds space in which to wind up on the left faceoff circle, it travels directly through traffic but near post Mark Dekanich fends it off with his body
	26:21	Icing is committed by Medvescak as they again struggle to clear their lines under real pressure
	27:41	And now it's offside from SKA. The home crowd inside the Dom Sportova are supporting their team well despite the scoreline, they haven't had a lot to cheer about so far!
	28:34	How did he keep those efforts out! Mark Dekanich makes a brilliant double save up close from Patrick Thoresen and Roman Cervenka glove side, and then he shuts the door on Tony Martensson from point blank range! The fans enjoyed that moment!
	29:58	Medvescak have earned themselves a powerplay here almost out of nothing, as young defenceman Andrey Ermakov of SKA has been penalised for holding
	30:34	Tikhonov! He should really have made it four! Shorthanded it's a two on one down the left for SKA, Jimmie Ericsson dishes to Viktor Tikhonov on the opposite wing but he's denied by the goalkeeper when he seemed sure to score!
	31:31	Ketov! They're on the penalty kill but they're having all the chances! Again's it's an odd numbered rush this time down the right, Evgeniy Ketov on the doorstep goes with backhand but he misses the target with only Mark Dekanich to beat!
	31:58	SKA looked as though they were on the powerplay themselves there and they are now at full strength again
	33:04	Alexander Salak pinned up to his left hand post still manages to see the puck as it flies through from the point, and he holds on. He has been more involved in the game this period!
	33:33	And the SKA netminder now has to freeze as it was thrown into his crease from distance. And on a quick and pacy coutnerattack Patrick Thoresen pulls slightly to the left, whips it across but it eventually comes to nothing!
	34:49	Medvescak keep on taking rather needless penalties and here's another, forward Aaron Polushaj has been handed a two minute minor for interference
	35:22	Artemiy Panarin slaps in first time on the left faceoff circle, and Mark Dekanich getting across in time shuts his pads to keep it out! SKA's attack is so dangerous everytime!
	36:21	Goal for SKA! They're pulling away now! Patient build up play deep in Medvescak's zone ends with ANDREY KUTEIKIN slapping in from the blue line, and he thunders it into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 0:4! Assists- Roman Cervenka
	37:05	You can see the hosts' heads drop, as they again are going on the penalty kill! SKA are only happy to see Pascal Pelletier go to the box this time for interference!
	37:35	And we have a fight on our hands! Just after he smacked the right hand post from the point Ilya Kovalchuk drops the gloves against Mike Glumac! Before it could get really nasty the referees did manage to break everything up and both are off to the penalty box for roughing, with the latter receiving a 2+10 punishment!
	39:05	The hosts are back at full strength with SKA continuing to fire in shot after shot, Medvescak's defence is not on its game at all today!
	39:51	And it's now already the final seconds of a highly eventful second stanza
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play: Shots: 25-35 Shots on target: 13-20 Faceoffs: 27-21 Hits: 12-11 Penalty minutes: 32-8
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	40:41	The third and deciding period is go! SKA are sitting pretty at 4:0 up, and it's hard to see how they can let this lead slip through their grasp!
	41:01	Roman Cervenka breaks down the right flank, has space but contrives to wrist high and wide. And immediately afterwards down the other end Alexander Salak holds on to a slapper from pinned up against the right hand boards
	42:01	Patrick Bjorkstrand under pressure on a tight angle on the right chucks the puck across goal, but no one is there to make contact
	42:58	Wright! That's the closest that Medvescak have come so far! James Wright skating with pace down the left thumps the puck in, and it smacks the near post with Alexander Salak watching on!
	43:23	Ilya Kovalchuk gets the better of the home defence, finds himself almost through one on one but Mark Dekanich shuts the five hole just in time! SKA are time and time again cutting that Medvescak back line open!
	44:28	Anton Belov is the next to fire in, but with heavy traffic in between him and the goalkeeper the puck whistles into Mark Dekanich's glove
	45:18	SKA's Artemiy Panarin really does want a hat trick for himself, he slaps in from the blue line but for now the netminder is standing firm
	45:31	Dadonov! Just after Alexander Salak was almost caught out blocker side Evgeniy Dadonov twists around the net sharply to the right hand post, attempts a wraparound and the goalkeeper's big pad gets in the way! That was seriously close to crossing the line!
	46:55	Alexandrov! Yury Alexandrov smashes the puck in with serious power, and the goaltender is very relieved to see that crash wide of the right hand post!
	47:07	SKA have a powerplay here to make themselves even more comfortable, as Medvescak's Sasa Martinovic has been handed a two minute minor for interference
	48:09	Viktor Tikhonov takes aim from a very tight angle to the left of the net, but it travels well wide of the net with attacking partners waiting for any rebound
	49:07	Medvescak did look better on that penalty kill and they're back at full strength with just over half of the stanza remaining
	51:07	Ilya Kovalchuk tries to find someone on the doorstep, but blocker side Mark Dekanich gets there first. Both teams seem to just be waiting for the final buzzer now!
	51:36	The home goalkeeper has to spread himself big here, as a rising Tony Martensson wrister from the high slot forces him to make a swan dive on to the puck. It has the feel of a training session for SKA!
	52:36	Goal for SKA! This is extremely easy now for SKA! The visitors swing the puck around the attacking zone with panache, and VADIM SHIPACHYOV with an empty net to aim at by the left hand post makes no mistake! It's 0:5! Assists- Artemiy Panarin and Evgeniy Dadonov
	53:01	James Wright moves in down the left, skating off the left faceoff circle fires in but it's directly down Alexander Salak's throat! It's hard to explain just how simple it's been for SKA today, they won't have many games easier than today's"
	54:27	Khafizullin! Peeling off the right hand boards Dinar Khafizullin slaps in high, and Mark Dekanich has to make a very awkward looking body save off balance!
	55:03	Yet again tempers start to seriously rise here! Just after Evgeniy Ketov was hacked down when sprinting through one on one a mass brawl erupts between him and opposing Medvescak players, and eventually he and Nathan Perkovich have been sent to the penalty box for roughing!
	56:31	Anderson! Matt Anderson evades the whole SKA defence on the right wing, one on one he opts to fire in a slapshot early but Alexander Salak punches it away with his blocker! That's a really confident save by the netminder!
	57:44	Sasa Martinovic skating away from his marker at the high slot wrists in with a defender flying out to cover, and it harmlessly ends up in the goaltender's midriff
	57:50	Medvescak want to give their fans something to shout about and they've got an ideal powerplay chance in which to make it happen, SKA defenceman Dmitriy Yudin has been penalised for interference
	59:50	SKA are back at full strength and Alexander Salak is heading for a well earned shut out, as his team are cruising to a very simple 5:0 triumph away from home!
	60:00	Game over.
		The final buzzer has now sounded, and SKA Saint Petersburg have extended their record winning streak to 12 games with a very comfortable 5:0 win over Medvescak in Zagreb! They were in control right from the very start, and didn't give their opponents a sniff. Artemiy Panarin with a double, Patrick Thoresen, Andrey Kuteikin and Vadim Shipachyov all got on the scoreboard, and netminder Alexander Salak got his first clean sheet of the season. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (22:35:54)

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 4. Panarin (Shipachyov), 9. Panarin (Dadonov, Kovalchuk), 22. Thoresen (Shipachyov, Salak), 37. Kuteikin (Cervenka), 53. Shipachyov (Panarin, Dadonov)

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

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

Referees: Daniel Stricker, Alexey Anisimov, Dmitriy Golovyov, Ivan Fateev

1st period
	03:25
	07:57
	08:30
	09:09
	11:39
1st intermission
2nd period
	21:55
	29:58
	34:49
	36:21
	37:05
	37:35
2nd intermission
3rd period
	47:07
	52:36
	55:03
	57:50
Final