PET 4:1 JOK | SKA St. Petersburg - Jokerit Helsinki (KHL)

KHL

SKA St. Petersburg – Jokerit

4:1 (end)

final

SKA St. Petersburg Rusko

4:1 (0:0, 2:0, 2:1)

Jokerit Helsinki

Friday 10.10.2014, 17:30 • Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL

		Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
		Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between SKA Saint Petersburg and Jokerit Helsinki. This is without doubt the game of the season so far, with both teams being amongst the main contenders for the Gagarin Cup.
		This is a game which we have all been waiting for, as KHL newbies Jokerit, who have been really strong so far, attempt to become the first team to beat SKA at home this season. To spice things up even more Jokerit are yet to lose on the road this season, meaning that some has to give today. SKA are first in the overall KHL table though, with Jokerit not far behind in fourth.
		Last term SKA made it all the way to the Western Conference semifinals, whereas Jokerit of course were still in the Finnish league.
		Starting lineups: SKA St. Petersburg: Ivannikov (Salak)- Kalinin, Ryasensky, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Tikhonov- Y Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Ermakov, Yudin, Ponikarovskiy, Kadeikin, Ketov Jokerit Helsinki: Helenius (Karlsson)- Gunderson, Lajunen, Hagman, Kapanen, Aaltonen- Ohtamaa, Karalahti, Huhtala, McLean, Maki- Jaakola, Todd, Omark, Koukal, Moses- Vaananen, Sallinen, Hahl Referees: Tobias Bjork, Roman Gofman, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming.
		The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Russian and Finnish national anthems we'll be getting underway!
	00:01	Game started.
	01:21	We're underway inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace! It should be a wonderful battle between two excellent teams!
	02:33	It's been a rather quiet start to proceedings so far, SKA are having more possession but so far without any shots on goal
	02:39	Evgeniy Ketov swings around the net to the left hand post, looks to catch out the goaltender with a backhander but it gets deflected out of danger
	02:46	We have the first penalty of the day and it's against Jokerit, as for checking with the stick Jere Sallinen has been punished
	03:01	Kovalchuk! Moments after Andrey Kuteikin slapped into the goaltender's pads from the left faceoff circle Ilya Kovalchuk brilliantly jinks his way through one on one, but Riku Helenius' glove denies him! For a moment it looked as though he had to score!
	04:46	Apart from that one scare Jokerit looked solid killing that penalty and they're back at full strength
	05:02	Andrey Ermakov and Dmitriy Yudin play a neat one two both peeling in off the right flank, but the former has his effort blocked at source from the high slot!
	06:34	Not long after being on the powerplay themselves now SKA are going to have to defend for two minutes, as defenceman Dmitriy Yudin has been punished for tripping
	06:51	Niko Kapanen works himself free directly on the right faceoff circle, he takes his time before firing in but goaltender Evgenyi Ivannikov is behind that despite plenty of traffic unsighting him! That wasn't an easy save at all!
	08:34	As SKA come back to full strength Evgeniy Ivannikov has to make another handy save off a Niko Kapanen wrister from between the circles. Both goalkeepers look solid early on!
	09:01	Tomi Maki drives into the attacking zone for the visitors, wrists in early but it sails harmlessly over the bar
	10:23	SKA drift offside. Jokerit have noticeably been slowly taking the initiative the past few minutes, the hosts know that this is their sternest test of the campaign so far
	11:11	Ilya Kovalchuk skates past the blue line with some purpose, opts to take on an early wrister but that's straight down Riku Helenius' throat
	13:36	The referees have their arm up here and SKA have been handed their second man's advantage, as now Niko Kapanen of Jokerit has been handed a two minute minor for holding
	14:51	Panarin! That was a real opening there! Artemiy Panarin after a teasing play is teed up at the left faceoff circle, but with the netminder slightly out of position he contrives to slap wide of the near post!
	15:36	The defences really are on top so far and the visitors have five players on the ice again
	17:01	Jimmie Ericsson and Ilya Kovalchuk battle away for the loose puck on the slot, but in the end they are just crowded out. Jokerit are closing down the free spaces well!
	18:23	Kadeikin! Alexander Kadeikin gets the better of his defender bullying his way to the left of the crease form behind the net, attempts a wraparound but the goaltender isn't sleeping!
	19:51	We're now into the final seconds of a rather tentative opening period of play!
	20:00	1st period finished.
		Statistics after the first period: Shots: 18-14 Shots on target: 8-10 Faceoffs: 7-10 Hits: 17-7 Penalty minutes: 2-4
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
	20:23	The second stanza is go! It's been a cagey affair so far, but someone has to make the first move!
	21:49	Petr Koukal takes on a very ambitious attempt from just inside SKA's zone, but Evgeniy Ivannikov comfortably watches it fly well wide of his left hand post
	22:20	Jokerit are creating some problems for SKA just like earlier on in the first period and they've earned a powerplay for themselves, home defenceman Anton Belov has been called for hooking
	23:31	Omark! The SKA defence goes missing as Linus Omark speeds down the left wing, with clear space opening up in front of him he goes for a powerful slapper but it thunders wide of the far post! That was a very promising opportunity for the visitors!
	24:31	Just seconds after SKA come back to full strength Jokerit have yet another golden opportunity to make the breakthrough! Jere Sallinen all of a sudden finds himself one on one, but from point blank range he's somehow denied by Evgeniy Ivannikov! That's a quite fantastic save!
	26:38	Goal for SKA! Despite being thoroughly on the back foot SKA have broken the deadlock! ILYA KOVALCHUK is picked out with a searching feed from deep, and one on one he gets the better of Riku Helenius! It's 1:0! Assists- Evgeniy Ivannikov and Dmitriy Yudin
	27:31	The home crowd are very relieved to having seen their team go ahead! Goaltender Evgeniy Ivannikov even managed to get an assist on that play, wow!
	28:01	Niko Kapanen takes on a heavy slapshot from deep on the left wing, but the goalkeeper gloves it expertly. He really is the man of the match so far, but you can be sure that he will have a lot more work to do before the game is out!
	29:10	Steve Moses battles his way from the neutral zone, almost finds room on the doorstep but defencemen push him out of the way just in time
	30:13	Tommi Huhtala cuts in off the right hand boards, wrists in high and before it looks to fly over the crossbar Evgeniy Ivannikov sweeps it up
	31:33	Roman Cervenka is the next to take on a rising effort from the right, but just like his opposite number Riku Helenius fields it solidly
	33:53	Kalinin! Set up on the left faceoff circle Dmitriy Kalinin goes for a mighty slapshot, but the goalkeeper near post bats it out and into the boards! The pace is really picking up here!
	34:00	Goal for SKA! SKA have been upping the pressure after scoring and they've been rewarded with their second goal! ILYA KOVALCHUK cuts in menacingly from the right, closes down and goes upstairs on the goalkeeper! It's 2:0!
	34:31	Jokerit are really on the ropes now but they have a very timely powerplay to get back into it as Maxim Chudinov has been handed a two minute minor for high sticking!
	35:23	Karalahti! Jere Karalahti screams for the puck at the blue line, slaps as hard as he can but Evgeniy Ivannikov gets everything it to hold!
	36:41	Moses! Linus Omark drives it in falling on to the left of the crease, Steve Moses twists with it near post but he can't stuff it beyond the goalkeeper! Jokerit are having some chances!
	37:11	SKA are back to full strength as they are having to hack the puck clear time and time again, at two up they won't mind doing that though!
	39:41	SKA are sitting in the driving seat as a very successful second stanza for them draws to a close!
	40:00	2nd period finished.
		Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play: Shots: 34-38 Shots on target: 15-21 Faceoffs: 13-22 Hits: 27-11 Penalty minutes: 8-4
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
	41:13	The third and deciding period is on our hands! Jokerit won't be willing to give up even with a two goal deficit to claw back!
	42:31	Neither goaltender has had any real work to do as yet in the period, SKA won't be too worried about that though, all they have to do is stay solid defenisvely!
	42:51	Ilya Kovalchuk finds himself with almost a two on one down the right wing, but visiting defencemen push him out wide just in time as he was shaping to shoot! He's been inspirational for SKA so far!
	43:46	And the home captain has managed to win a very useful powerplay for his team, as Jokerit's Jere Karalahti has been sent to the penalty box for tripping!
	45:23	Ville Lajunen for Jokerit though finds room on a pacy shorthanded counterattack, slaps in from the high slot but home defenders charge it down at source!
	45:46	And Jokerit are now back at full strength, they can't afford to collect any more penalties if they want to give themselves a chance!
	45:54	Goal for SKA! That might just be the crucial goal for the hosts, the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace has exploded with joy! VIKTOR TIKHONOV finds a hole skating on to the tip of the slot, and his wrister goes right through Riku Helenius and in! It's 3:0! Assists- Dmitriy Kalinin and Ilya Kovalchuk
	46:23	Jokerit really have it all to do now! SKA have been simply ruthless with their scoring chances, that's why they're at the top of the league!
	48:35	The visitors have been gifted a way back into things here though, as SKA's Yury Alexandrov has been punished for slashing
	49:33	Goal for Jokerit! Evgeniy Ivannikov will be disappointed to see his shutout hopes be chucked out the door! STEVE MOSES opts to take on a powerful effort just off the right faceoff circle, and it sears high into the roof of the net! Powerplay goal and it's 3:1! Assists- Daine Todd
	50:11	Jokerit will have a bit of belief now, SKA can't afford to relax at all, a two goal margin isn't that solid!
	51:53	Panarin! Artemiy Panarin is picked out steaming down to the right hand post, but all alone he sweeps it wide of the far corner! He's always so lively!
	53:08	The visitors drift offside. You can expect SKA to hand them the initiative again as we slowly make our way to the finish line, any goal now could prove vital!
	55:03	Alexander Kadeikin gets in a bit of a mess right by his own blue line, but eventually his teammates help him out to clear. And then Jokerit's Steve Moses bursts into the zone, wrists in early and Evgeniy Ivannikov effectively bats it up and out of play!
	55:28	Out of almost nothing SKA have a very important powerplay here to practically kill the game! Jokerit's Juhamatti Aaltonen has been penalised for slashing, and his coach doesn't look very happy about that!
	55:39	Goal for SKA! That is surely that now! Clever and simply beautiful build up play deep inside Jokerit's zone ends with ARTEMIY PANARIN smashing in from the left faceoff circle, and this time he hits the target! Powerplay goal and it's 4:1! Assists- Vadim Shipachyov and Ilya Kovalchuk
	56:51	Kovalchuk! SKA's captain fantastic, who already has four points to his name today, almost had his hat trick! Cunningly cutting in from the left wing Ilya Kovalchuk winds up, but with Riku Helenius panicking it sails wide of the far post!
	58:01	Tony Martensson tests Riku Helenius' reactions out from deep, and the goaltender is alert to the danger and flashes leather. SKA have been so deadly today, their tactics have worked off perfectly!
	59:23	Artemiy Panarin showing some flashy move tricks his way to the left of the crease, backhands it across but no one can get to it! Jokerit's head have dropped now!
	59:51	The final seconds are now upon us with SKA heading towards a superb 4:1 triumph on home ice!
	60:00	Game over.
		There is the final buzzer, and in a nervy encounter SKA Saint Petersburg have got the better of Jokerit Helsinki 4:1! Jokerit had the majority of the chances, but SKA were simply ruthless going forward themselves. Ilya Kovalchuk grabbed a brace for himself while Viktor Tikhonov and Artemiy Panarin also got on the scoreboard for SKA, and Jokerit could only reply with Steve Moses scoring. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (19:46:02)

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 27. Kovalchuk (Ivannikov, Yudin), 34. Kovalchuk, 46. Tikhonov (Kalinin, Kovalchuk), 56. Panarin (Shipachyov, Kovalchuk) – 50. Moses (Todd)

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

Jokerit Helsinki: Helenius (Karlsson)- Gunderson, Lajunen, Hagman, Kapanen, Aaltonen- Ohtamaa, Karalahti, Huhtala, McLean, Maki- Jaakola, Todd, Omark, Koukal, Moses- Vaananen, Sallinen, Hahl

Referees: Tobias Bjork, Roman Gofman, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming

1st period
	02:46
	06:34
	13:36
1st intermission
2nd period
	22:20
	26:38
	34:00
	34:31
2nd intermission
3rd period
	43:46
	45:54
	48:35
	49:33
	55:28
	55:39
Final