SKA St. Petersburg – Medvescak 5:2 (end)
final
SKA St. Petersburg
5:2 (1:0, 1:1, 3:1)
Medvescak Zagreb
Wednesday 08.10.2014, 17:30 • Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL
     
    The final buzzer has now sounded, and SKA Saint Petersburg maintain their flabbergasting form with a 5:2 victory over Medvescak Zagreb on home ice! They didn't sparkle all the way through, but SKA played at their best when they had to. Jimmie Ericsson, Patrick Thoresen, Vadim Shipachyov, Ilya Kablukov and Tony Martensson all found the net for the triumphant hosts, whereas Mark Katic and Bill Thomas replied for Medvescak. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting KHL action! (19:55:38)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:51
    SKA have shown their best hockey when it was needed and they are heading for a confident 5:2 triumph on home ice!
     
    59:32
    Goal for SKA!
    The deal has most certainly been sealed now! TONY MARTENSSON drives forward to the left, and from just inside the attacking zone hits the empty net with ease! It's 5:2!
     
    58:52
    Medvescak have promptly taken a timeout and pulled Barry Brust for the extra skater, it's their final throw of the dice!
     
    58:52
    But it does look as though we will finish with a four on four game, as SKA's Artemiy Panarin has been sent to the penalty box for slashing just five seconds later
     
    58:47
    And the hosts can be pretty sure of the victory now, as for interference Matt Anderson of the Croatian side has been penalised as his team start to lose their discipline!
     
    58:31
    Medvescak are back at full strength but with such little time remaining they will have to do something seriously special if they are to deny SKA the three points!
     
    57:40
    Dadonov! He really has had some openings today! On the tip of the slot Evgeniy Dadonov takes aim, but he fails to hit the target with Barry Brust already powerless!
     
    56:31
    SKA are noticeably playing with a lot more freedom now and Medvescak's heads are starting to drop! They've made their task a lot harder for themselves here as Andrew Hutchinson has been called for interference!
     
    54:45
    Goal for SKA!
    That could turn out to be such a crucial goal today! From pinned up against the boards behind the net Anton Burdasov squeezes the puck across to the doorstep, and ILYA KABLUKOV roofs it high into the right hand corner! It's 4:2! Assists- Igor Makarov and Anton Burdasov
     
    53:13
    Martensson! Tony Martensson is picked out sprinting on to the left of the crease, he pokes it first time looking for the near corner but it travels wide of the near post!
     
    51:56
    Tony Martensson, Vadim Shipachyov and Igor Makarov have three wonderful chances to maybe put this game out of reach, but no, Barry Brust somehow denies all of them from point blank range in a matter of seconds! SKA really need to start being more clinical if they're to see this one out!
     
    51:05
    SKA are going to have their nerves shredded just as it seemed that they were looking comfortable! And right away they are getting themselves camped inside their opponents' zone, they don't want to let this lead slip!
     
    49:25
    Goal for Medvescak Zagreb!
    Completely unexpectedly Medvescak have got themselves right back into things! BILL THOMAS goes on a fantastic raid cutting in from the right, and one on one he gets the better of Evgeniy Ivannikov! It's 3:2! Assists- Martin St. Pierre and Anthony Stewart
     
    47:41
    Just as the visitors have five players back on the ice again SKA breakaway on a three on one, Vadim Shipachyov is set up peeling in off the right boards but he somehow misses the target! Barry Brust lost his bearings for a minute there!
     
    47:01
    Ilya Kovalchuk works an opening for himself, opts to take on a slapshot from the left faceoff circle but again can't find the target! He really wants to find the back of the net today!
     
    45:41
    And they're going to have another powerplay chance to show just what they are all about again, as Medvescak's Brandon Segal has been sent for a two minute sit down for slashing
     
    45:01
    Artemiy Panarin smashes the puck in pulling just to the left, but it whistles past the far post! That second line for SKA is looking seriously strong again today!
     
    43:46
    SKA will be very relieved to be still up by two goals and they're now back at full strength again
     
    42:41
    Segal! Just how didn't he score, what an opportunity for the visitors! As the puck is slid across the face of goal to the right of the crease Brandon Segal has what seems a simple task on the doorstep, but Evgeniy Ivannikov makes a massive pad save! Saves don't get much better than that!
     
    41:46
    Despite that goal though Medvescak can get right back into the game here, as SKA forward Tony Martensson has been found guilty of checking against the boards!
     
    41:15
    Goal for SKA!
    That's quite a beautiful goal from SKA, that's what they're capable of! Evgeniy Dadonov brilliantly picks the puck up from behind the net on the right, plays it across to VADIM SHIPACHYOV and the latter makes it look easy slotting home! It's 3:1! Assists- Artemiy Panarin and Evgeniy Dadonov
     
    40:23
    Mike Glumac for Medvescak, who have looked full of ideas today, takes on a wrist shot from just inside the hosts' zone and Evgeniy Ivannikov comfortably scoops it up into his glove
     
    40:11
    Here we go in the third and deciding period! SKA won't be feeling comfortable at all yet with the score only 2:1 in their favour!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 45-28
    Shots on target: 22-15
    Faceoffs: 23-21
    Hits: 21-13
    Penalty minutes: 6-6
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:44
    With Medvescak's net simply coming under siege constantly a very eventful second period is coming to an end, just as Anton Belov fires wide when in clear space on the right faceoff circle! SKA have noticeably upped their game after conceding!
     
    37:22
    Directly off a faceoff draw on the left flank Ilya Kovalchuk slaps the puck with force, but it cannons off the near post! Barry Brust wasn't ready for that attempt at all!
     
    37:14
    Mark Flood loses his marker at the blue line, sends in a rasping drive but Evgeniy Ivannikov fields it perfectly! He really is looking in fine form today!
     
    36:24
    Ilya Kovalchuk shields the puck up against the right hand boards for what seems an age, eventually digs it out, but despite plenty of SKA men crying out for it the moment comes to nothing!
     
    34:00
    Belov! Perhaps he should have already made it three for SKA! Barry Brust looks very clumsy falling on to his backside, the puck falls at the stick of Anton Belov between the circles but he contrives to thunder it over the bar! That was a seriously good chance!
     
    33:02
    You can really feel the relief inside the Ice Palace after that goal! SKA have to keep pressing though, their opponents are sharp attacking wise today!
     
    31:12
    Goal for SKA!
    The hosts are just so deadly with a man's advantage! The puck is thundered in from the high slot, Barry Brust gives up a terrible rebound and PATRICK THORESEN squeezes it over the line! Powerplay goal and it's 2:1! Assists- Tony Martensson and Roman Cervenka
     
    30:36
    Shipachyov! Vadim Shipachyov is fed completely open lurking to the right of the crease, with Barry Brust slightly out of position he slaps in but it gets deflected up and out of play!
     
    29:29
    And that particular play has brought about a SKA powerplay, as visiting defenceman Sasa Martinovic has been sent to the penalty box for holding
     
    29:01
    Chudinov! The hosts hold the puck deep inside Medvescak's zone, eventually it's swung back to the right faceoff circle where Maxim Chudinov cracks it first time wide of the far post! That was hit very hard indeed!
     
    26:59
    That goal most certainly wouldn't have been in SKA's plans at all! You have to say that the visitors deserve to be on level terms, SKA are lacking a bit of freshness!
     
    25:56
    Goal for Medvescak Zagreb!
    And that's a goal that Alexey Semyonov will want right back! He really poorly coughs up the puck to MARK KATIC when on his own slot, and he is free to neatly backhand it over the goalkeeper's glove! Powerplay goal and it's 1:1!
     
    24:42
    And the hosts have picked up another two minute minor against their names! They're running into a bit of penalty trouble as now Vadim Shipachyov is the guilty party for holding!
     
    23:03
    Out of virtually nothing Medvescak have earned themselves a very handy powerplay, as Alexey Semyonov of SKA has been punished for slashing
     
    22:01
    Evgeniy Dadonov loses his balance when charging into the attacking zone, almost in mid air still gets a shot away but it's directly down Barry Brust's throat
     
    21:06
    SKA didn't really manage to get anything going though and it's a five on five hockey game again. But just seconds after skating back out on to the ice Aaron Polushaj darts his way in off the left hand boards, backhands when in a great position but the goalkeeper's blocker gets in the way!
     
    20:01
    The second stanza is go! And remember that SKA is still on the powerplay for a following 01:06!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 19-16
    Shots on target: 12-9
    Faceoffs: 14-11
    Hits: 13-8
    Penalty minutes: 2-4
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:51
    With the hosts so far failing to hold the puck deep inside Medvescak's zone we're coming to the end of an intriguing first period!
     
    19:06
    SKA will be hoping that they can now start to feel more at ease inside after the opening goal, and immediately they're going on the powerplay again! Medvescak's Aaron Polushaj has picked up a needless penalty for interference against Evgeniy Ivannikov!
     
    18:07
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA have their craved breakthrough! On a lightning quick counterattack Ilya Kovalchuk bullies his way down the left wing, swings it across to the far post and JIMMIE ERICSSON at pace finds the five hole! It's 1:0! Assists- Ilya Kovalchuk and Viktor Tikhonov
     
    17:08
    Evgeniy Dadonov wriggles free of his marker, looks to catch out Barry Brust blocker side but Medvescak's last line of defence isn't sleeping
     
    16:33
    Dmitriy Yudin completely smashes the puck as hard as he can as it falls his way at the blue line, but the netminder still gets his blocker on it! That was travelling!
     
    15:51
    Matt Anderson thumps the puck into the boards from a tight angle on the right, and a it rolls back into the danger zone Evgeniy Ivannikov opts to freeze
     
    15:29
    Icing is committed by SKA as they are having trouble getting out of their own zone being pressed everywhere
     
    14:07
    SKA have survived that particular scare and they're back at full strength with time flying by fast
     
    13:36
    Thomas! Bill Thomas is left unmarked at the blue line, he closes down with open ice ahead of him, wrists but Evgeniy Ivannikov flashes leather beautifully! Both goaltenders look on their game today!
     
    12:07
    Medvescak now have their first powerplay of the day to take the pressure off themselves, as for interference SKA's Andrey Kuteikin has been penalised
     
    11:41
    Shipachyov! The hosts are creating chance after chance now! Evgeniy Dadonov dishes to the completely open Vadim Shipachyov to the left of the slot, he looks to have an empty net to aim at but somehow Barry Brust gets across to keep it out! That's a highlight reel save!
     
    10:11
    Kovalchuk! Moving just off the left faceoff circle unmarked Ilya Kovalchuk wrists with power, but the goalkeeper flashes leather expertly and does well as to not give up any rebounds!
     
    09:11
    Igor Makarov this time down the right has almost a two on one on his hands, he takes on the shot himself looking to catch out the goalkeeper near post but Barry Brust is alert to the danger! SKA are starting to slowly find their game now!
     
    08:01
    Roman Cervenka charges down the left wing, takes a whack at it but Barry Brust's blocker pushes it out wide! The Czech forward was so much faster than the visiting defence there!
     
    07:47
    Dadonov! Artemiy Panarin almost falling into the boards on the left swings it across, and Evgeniy Dadonov appearing out of nowhere can only one time it wide!
     
    07:35
    Medvescak's Shaone Morrisonn looks in some pain here! He got his face right in the way of a strong effort by the left faceoff circle, and he's having to be helped off the ice!
     
    06:33
    And yet again Evgeniy Ivannikov has to make a big save from up close! As a rebound from a heavy slapshot from the point bounces around everyone takes a hack at it, but the SKA netminder shuts the door excellently!
     
    05:50
    Medvescak drift offside. They will be satisfied with the opening minutes, and their counterattacks are looking rather dangerous
     
    04:28
    SKA haven't been able to get set up in their opponents' zone as yet, usually they are such fast starters but today so far they can't find their pace
     
    03:17
    Just as Barry Brust at the second attempt clings on to a strong Maxim Chudinov slapper from distance Medvescak come back to full strength
     
    02:01
    Murray! Shorthanded the hosts could have taken a shock lead! Speeding all the way down on to the slot from deep Andrew Murray from point blank range attempts to poke the puck over Evgeniy Ivannikov, but it trickles inches wide of the left hand post!
     
    01:17
    We have a very early penalty here and it's against Medvesca, as Shaone Morrisonn for holding has been handed a two minute minor
     
    01:03
    Off we go inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace! Medvescak will want to gain revenge for their defeats in Croatia!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the national anthems of Croatia and the Russian Federation we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

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

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

    Referees: Evgeniy Romasko, Alexander Soin, Tornike Kuchava, Ivan Sazonov.
     
    Last term SKA made it all the way to the Western Conference final, whereas Medvescak in their first KHL campaign were knocked out in the opening playoff round.
     
    Just last week SKA played two games in a row against Medvescak in Zagreb, picking up two very comfortable wins, 5:1 and 5:0 respectively. The Saint Petersburgers lay in joint first of the KHL standings with CSKA Moscow on 39 points. Medvescak though should prove to be a tougher test today, as following those two defeats they have gained two very promising victories against Dinamo Riga and Jokerit on the road both by a score of 3:2.
     
    Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between SKA Saint Petersburg and Medvescak Zagreb. This is rather surprisingly already the third match between these two sides, and they certainly know what to expect from one another.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 19. Ericsson (Kovalchuk, Tikhonov), 32. Thoresen (Martensson, Cervenka), 42. Shipachyov (Panarin, Dadonov), 55. Kablukov (Makarov, Burdasov), 60. Martensson – 26. Katic, 50. Thomas (Pierre, Stewart)

    SKA St. Petersburg: Ivannikov (Salak)- Kalinin, Semyonov, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Y Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Ermakov, Yudin, Burdasov, Kablukov, Makarov
    Medvescak Zagreb: Brust (Dekanich)- Martinovic, Flood, Bjorkstrand, Murray, Glumac- Morrisonn, Hutchinson, Thomas, Anderson, Polushaj- Katic, Pelletier, St. Pierre, Segal- Hedden, Wright, Perkovic- Stewart
    Referees: Evgeniy Romasko, Alexander Soin, Tornike Kuchava, Ivan Sazonov
    Attendance: 12247