KHL
SKA St. Petersburg – HC Slovan 7:2 (end)
final
SKA St. Petersburg
7:2 (1:0, 3:1, 3:1)
HC Slovan Bratislava
Monday 06.10.2014, 17:30 • Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and SKA Saint Petersburg have returned to the top of the KHL standings with an emphatic 7:2 triumph over Slovan Bratislava! They really were on their game today scoring some truly wonderful goals. Artemiy Panarin scoring a hat trick is the real star of the show, but Roman Cervenka with a brace, Tony Martensson and Alexander Kadeikin also managed to find the net. Michal Vondrka and Andrej Stastny grabbed Slovan's consolation efforts. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting KHL action! (20:03:09)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:49
    Despite that late goal SKA have been simply brilliant today, and they're heading for a thumping 7:2 win on home ice!
     
    59:24
    Goal for Slovan!
    Not long before the end at all Slovan grab a second consolation goal for themselves! Ivan Baranka at the blue line slaps as hard as he can, and ANDREJ STASTNY tips it in! It's 7:2! Assists- Ivan Baranka and Mario Bliznak
     
    57:33
    Just as Slovan come back to full strength Roman Cervenka could have also had a hat trick for himself! Directly on the doorstep he contrives to fire wide glove side, the fans were getting ready to celebrate again!
     
    57:23
    Shipachyov! Evgeniy Dadonov and Artemiy Panarin combine excellently to feed Vadim Shipachyov open to the right of the crease, but he slaps wide of the near post! The goalkeeper would have had trouble stopping that one!
     
    55:33
    SKA are lowering the pace slightly now but they are going on the powerplay again much to their delight, Slovan's Kurtis Foster has been handed a two minute minor for checking with his stick
     
    53:28
    And now the SKA netminder does very well to hold on to a testing drive as it seared in from just past the right faceoff circle
     
    53:17
    As Evgeniy Ivannikov holds on to a dump into his crease from well outside the zone SKA come back to full strength
     
    52:31
    Netik! Tomas Netik is left all alone lurking on the right faceoff circle, and after being dished he thumps his one timer wide of the near post! That's the best Slovan opportunity for a while!
     
    51:17
    He might have to work a bit here though, as SKA's captain Ilya Kovalchuk has been sent to the penalty box for two minutes after being found guilty of slashing
     
    51:06
    Icing is committed by the hosts. Evgeniy Ivannikov hasn't been included in the action for a while, the puck is spending very little time in his zone!
     
    50:01
    The home fans are loving this, SKA are showing just what they are made of today! Johan Backlund in the Slovan net isn't faring much better than Jaroslav Janus did earlier!
     
    49:13
    Goal for SKA!
    Wow, this is turning into a complete show from SKA! Yet again Slovan are all at sea at the back, and after neat interchange play ROMAN CERVENKA seriously powerfully one times the puck in from the right faceoff circle! It's 7:1! Assists- Patrick Thoresen and Tony Martensson
     
    48:57
    Goal for SKA!
    Throw your caps on to the ice, we have a hat trick on our hands! Evgeniy Dadonov powers his way around and behind the net, swings it across to the left of the slot and ARTEMIY PANARIN is there to finish! It's 6:1! Assists- Evgeniy Dadonov
     
    48:01
    Thomas Netik for Slovan takes on a wrist shot from just outside SKA's zone, and Evgeniy Ivannikov kicks it up and out of play. Apart from his goal conceded the SKA goaltender has looked on his game so far today!
     
    47:12
    That really was a terrible powerplay from the Slovakian visitors and SKA are back at full strength again! That fifth goal would have given them even more confidence!
     
    46:00
    Goal for SKA!
    That's a chance that SKA's Czech forward took advantage of perfectly! ROMAN CERVENKA skates up, lays Johan Backlund on the ice and expertly wrists into the net! Shorthanded goal and it's 5:1!
     
    46:00
    Shorthanded Roman Cervenka charges away one on one, but just as he pulls the trigger he's hooked by Kurtis Foster and the referee has indicated a penalty shot for the hosts!
     
    45:12
    Once again the referee's arm is up in the air but this time it's against SKA, as their number 10 Viktor Tikhonov has been penalised for tripping his opponent up
     
    43:35
    SKA didn't manage to create a lot of openings during those two minutes and the visitors are back at full strength. They can't afford to take any more penalties if they want to give themselves a chance!
     
    43:09
    Martensson! Viktor Tikhonov taking a defender's position on this particular powerplay thumps the puck in from the blue line, Tony Martensson on the turn takes a whack at it but it gets deflected up and out of play!
     
    41:35
    Slovan have picked up the opening penalty of the third period, as for hooking defenceman Ivan Baranka has been punished
     
    41:18
    Not long after Ivan Baranka slapped into Evgeniy Ivannikov's stomach from the point Ladislav Nagy spins all the way around the net to the right of the slot, goes for a wraparound but hits the netminder's pads! That could have been very dangerous!
     
    40:07
    As we get going in the third and deciding period SKA are almost immediately back at full strength. They won't be wanting to make their home fans nervous at all!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 36-31
    Shots on target: 19-20
    Faceoffs: 29-22
    Hits: 24-17
    Penalty minutes: 6-4
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:48
    With Slovan failing to create any real pressure inside the hosts' zone a very eventful second stanza is drawing to its close!
     
    38:17
    Out of nothing Slovan have been handed a very well needed powerplay opportunity, as SKA's Tony Martensson has been handed a two minute minor for holding
     
    37:41
    Panarin! He really is on form today! With already a brace to his name Artemiy Panarin weaves to the right of the slot, looks to feed a teammate at the far post but it travels directly through and out!
     
    37:35
    The visitors are taking the sting out of the game here slightly, but as they get set up deep in SKA's zone the fail to keep it there
     
    35:11
    Slovan are closing down SKA better again than they were earlier, but the hosts at now three goals up will be feeling a lot calmer inside!
     
    33:10
    Evgeniy Ketov as far as he can to a free bouncing puck in the air o the doorstep, but pulling to the right he can't get to it before Johan Backlund can! And off the ensuing faceoff draw Ilya Kovalchuk tests the new goalkeeper's reactions glove side
     
    30:08
    All of a sudden Slovan have a two on one down the right wing though, but Evgeniy Ivannikov almost doing the splits only just manages to stop that from crossing the line! SKA have to be more careful at the back!
     
    28:37
    And on that note the forlorn Jaroslav Janus has been pulled for Johan Backlund, Slovan are falling apart here after initially getting back into things!
     
    28:37
    Goal for SKA!
    And what a goal that is! SKA are really flying now! ALEXANDER KADEIKIN, who only signed for the team last week, jinks his way beautifully through from the neutral zone, and closing down he whips it high into the right hand corner! It's 4:1! Assists- Andrey Ermakov
     
    27:20
    Goal for SKA!
    Their two goal advantage is back intact! The Slovan defence is cut completely open as Evgeniy Dadonov wonderfully sends ARTEMIY PANARIN through one on one, and at the second attempt the latter scores! It's 3:1! Assists- Andrey Kuteikin and Evgeniy Dadonov
     
    27:03
    Jan Brejcak looks to cause trouble moving in cautiously from the left boards, wrists it in high on net but it gets deflected up and out of play
     
    25:03
    And the Slovan goalkeeper now clings on to a testing dump into his slot. The tempo has been raised even further in this period, and SKA won't be happy at all about that conceded goal!
     
    24:41
    Ponikarovskiy! SKA could have had another there though! Skating through almost one on one Alexey Ponikarovskiy takes aim, but a combination of Jaroslav Janus and his defence hack it clear!
     
    23:35
    Goal for Slovan!
    It didn't take long at all for Slovan to get right back into things! The puck is thrown into the danger zone from pinned up against the right hand boards, and MICHAL VONDRKA tips it beyond the rather untidy grasp of the netminder! It's 2:1! Assists- Martin Stajnoch
     
    22:01
    Goal for SKA!
    With their first chance of the second period the hosts double their money! TONY MARTENSSON on a tight angle on the left slides it across the crease, and with it laying on the goal line one of Slovan's defenders hits it in himself! It's 2:0! Assists- Roman Cervenka and Patrick Thoresen
     
    20:42
    Tomas Surovy swings around SKA's net to the left hand post, under pressure still manages to get away a low effort but Evgeniy Ivannikov is alert to the danger
     
    20:08
    Off we go in the second stanza! Slovan will be wanting to start taking advantage of the openings that they are creating!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 23-16
    Shots on target: 10-13
    Faceoffs: 8-11
    Hits: 13-8
    Penalty minutes: 4-4
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:51
    It's now the final seconds of an engrossing first period!
     
    19:01
    Evgeniy Ivannikov crouched down blocker side fields a low effort to cover. Slovan's counterattacks are causing real problems for the home defence at times!
     
    17:31
    Nagy! Immediately the visitors could have squared matters up! Peeling in off the right wing Ladislav Nagy is all alone, he takes on a wrist shot, Evgeniy Ivannikov makes an excellent save and he then has to rely on Anton Belov to clear it off the line!
     
    16:37
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA are almost always deadly with a man's advantage! Quite exquisite build up play deep inside Slovan's zone ends with ARTEMIY PANARIN being dished at the high slot, and he thrashes it home clinically! Powerplay goal and it's 1:0! Assists- Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeniy Dadonov
     
    15:04
    Just as both teams came back to full strength SKA are going on their first powerplay of today, as Jan Brejcak is again the guilty party for the visitors, this time for hooking
     
    13:55
    Evgeniy Ivannikov is having to work a lot harder for the hosts now as he robs Rok Ticar as he slipped through one on one! Slovan are slowly creating more openings for themselves!
     
    12:56
    And predictably two penalties have been dished out for roughing, one to SKA's Viktor Tikhonov and another to Jan Brejcak of Slovan
     
    12:56
    Ilya Kovalchuk and Viktor Tikhonov thrash away for the loose puck as it bounces all around Slovan's crease, but Jaroslav Janus clings on to it desperately! And immediately afterwards tempers start to flare as the referees have to break up a physical looking bust up!
     
    11:25
    SKA have escaped that particular scare and are now back at full strength
     
    11:21
    Surovy! That was a lot closer! Evgeniy Ivannikov can't hold on to a stinging slapper from the blue line, Tomas Surovy gobbles up the rebound but can't find the net with the backhand as the goalkeeper spreads himself big! That was inches away from crossing the line!
     
    10:01
    Tomas Surovy with a defender in front of him opts to wrist in early, buy it lacks pace and the goaltender sweeps it up into his glove to freeze
     
    09:25
    We have the first penalty of the game and it's against the hosts, forward Jimmie Ericsson has been called for hooking
     
    08:10
    Murley! Now it's Slovan's turn to work the puck nicely around the opponents' zone, Matt Murley is found with a behind the net dish but on the doorstep he fires directly into Evgeniy Ivannikov's body!
     
    07:08
    Artemiy Panarin bursts into the attacking zone with power, neatly lays it off to Vadim Shipachyov but he smacks the goalkeeper's body from a very promising position!
     
    06:31
    Tomas Surovy spins round moving to the left faceoff circle, whips it into the slot but Evgeniy Ivannikov near post takes a claim of it early
     
    06:23
    Evgeniy Ivannikov in SKA's net makes his first save of the day as he comfortably plucks a rising wrister out of the air as it sailed in from the right flank
     
    03:11
    Panarin! SKA are creating chance after chance! Clever build up play finds the open Artemiy Panarin lurking to the left of the crease, but the angle is just too tight for him!
     
    02:01
    Ilya Kovalchuk is teed up between the circles, slaps in first time but Jaroslav Janus manages to beat it away with his blocker! That wasn't an easy save at all!
     
    00:51
    Andrey Kuteikin dumps the puck in from the blue line, looks for someone to make a telling deflection but it whistles past Jaroslav Janus glove side! SKA always love to start fast!
     
    00:23
    Kovalchuk! Ilya Kovalchuk has a very early opportunity as he creates space for himself at the high slot, wrists with real power but it sears past the right hand post!
     
    00:11
    Off we go inside the Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg! SKA will want to get back to winning ways at home!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Russian and Slovakian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

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

    HC Slovan Bratislava: Janus (Backlund)- Baranka, Sersen, Murley, Nagy, Vondrka- Stajnoch, Sigalet, Surovy, Bartovic, Netik- Brejcak, Starosta, Hudacek, Jeglic, Ticar- Foster, Bliznak, Stastny, Lunter

    Referees: Evgeniy Gamaley, Viktor Gashilov, Dmitriy Golovyov, Gleb Lazarev.
     
    Last term SKA made it all the way to the Western Conference semifinals, whereas Slovan failed to make it to the playoffs in what was their second KHL season.
     
    SKA have begun this KHL campaign almost flawlessly, winning their first 12 games before eventually being undone by Atlant in their previous match 3:4. Their opponents Slovan have had a strange start, getting rid of their first head coach before again picking up form and sitting in a promising seventh position of the Western Conference.
     
    Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between SKA Saint Petersburg and Slovan Bratislava. Both have had rather positive starts to the new season, and it should be a very interesting battle today.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 17. Panarin (Shipachyov, Dadonov), 23. Martensson (Cervenka, Thoresen), 28. Panarin (Kuteikin, Dadonov), 29. Kadeikin (Ermakov), 46. Cervenka (p.s.), 49. Panarin (Dadonov), 50. Cervenka (Thoresen, Martensson) – 24. Vondrka (Stajnoch), 60. Stastny (Baranka, Bliznak)

    SKA St. Petersburg: Ivannikov (Salak)- Ryasensky, Khafizullin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Y Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Ermakov, Yudin, Ponikarovskiy, Kadeikin, Ketov
    HC Slovan Bratislava: Janus (Backlund)- Baranka, Sersen, Murley, Nagy, Vondrka- Stajnoch, Sigalet, Surovy, Bartovic, Netik- Brejcak, Starosta, Hudacek, Jeglic, Ticar- Foster, Bliznak, Stastny, Lunter
    Referees: Evgeniy Gamaley, Viktor Gashilov, Dmitriy Golovyov, Gleb Lazarev
    Attendance: 11589