JAR 3:2 PET | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

KHL

Lokomotiv – SKA St. Petersburg

3:2 (2:1 after SO)

after shootout (2:1)

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

3:2 (0:0, 1:1, 1:1 - 0:0)

SKA St. Petersburg

Monday 27.10.2014, 17:30 • Arena 2000 • KHL

		Lokomotiv Yaroslavl have become only the second team to get the better of SKA Saint Petersburg as they have come away victorious 3:2 in the penalty shoot out! They trailed twice today and on penalties, but they showed real character to come back and win. Sergey Plotnikov, Sergey Konkov and Staffan Kronwall with the winning penalty shot all scored, whereas Alexander Barabanov and Patrick Thoresen struck for SKA. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (20:19:12)
		Game over.
	65:00	Goal for Lokomotiv! STAFFAN KRONWALL scores the winning penalty shot!
	5. series 2:1	Staffan Kronwall has his third effort, and again with the backhand he finds the net! It's 3:2!
	5. series 1:1	Ilya Kovalchuk is very patient, but Vitaly Kolesnik's right stops him!
	4. series 1:1	Staffan Kronwall also can't score on his seconds as Alexander Salak gets the better of him!
	4. series 1:1	Artemiy Panarin has his second attempt, but this time he fires against the netminder's pads!
	3. series 1:1	Roman Cervenka can win it here for the visitors, but with going with the backhand he's denied by the goalkeeper's glove! It's sudden death!
	3. series 1:1	Staffan Kronwall now has to score for Lokomotiv, and he does sliding the puck in with the backhand! It's 1:1!
	2. series 0:1	SKA's Artemiy Panarin takes his time, and wrists clinically into the right hand corner for 0:1!
	2. series 0:0	Sergey Konkov cuts sharply to the right hand post, but Alexander Salak's pad glove side gets in the way!
	1. series 0:0	It's Ilya Kovalchuk for SKA now, and after what seems an age he can't get an attempt away when waiting for the goalkeeper to go down!
	1. series 0:0	Daniil Apalkov skates up first for Lokomotiv, but he can't find the five hole from point blank range!
		Start of shootout.
		It really has been a fantastic encounter from start to finish, and penalty shots are a logical outcome! Interestingly for Lokomotiv Vitaly Kolesnik will take his place in net instead of Curtis Sanford, with Alexander Salak staying in his goal for SKA!
	65:00	Overtime finished.
	64:56	There are only a few seconds left now, and a penalty shoot out is going to have to decide these two teams today!
	64:01	Dmitriy Kalinin for SKA drifting out to the right hand boards slaps in looking to catch the goaltender off guard, but Curtis Sanford isn't sleeping
	63:32	Novotny! Stripping his opponent of the puck inside his own zone Jiri Novotny strides into the attack, pulls the trigger from the high slot and it slides wide of the left hand post!
	62:08	Chudinov! Defenceman Maxim Chudinov skates hard from deep onto the slot, is found with a cutting feed from the left but he backhands it first time wide! That caught the home defence out!
	61:11	Now again Jonas Holos drives it in this time from the right hand boards, but the goalkeeper positions himself well to get his body in the way
	60:45	In a matter of seconds Jonas Holos from distance and Martin Thornberg on the doorstep have two extremely dangerous efforts shut down by Alexander Salak! SKA haven't begun the extra period with a lot of energy!
	60:30	We almost have a fight on our hands here and both sides have had a man sent to the box for roughing, with it being Sergey Plotnikov for the hosts and Andrey Kuteikin for SKA. The referees did well to break that up immediately!
	60:21	Overtime has now begun! And Lokomotiv's Egor Yakovlev has got injured here as he has taken a puck almost to the face inside his own zone, that didn't look nice!
	60:01	Overtime began.
		Statistics after the initial 60 minutes: Shots: 60-63 Shots on target: 25-29 Faceoffs: 38-28 Hits: 14-12 Penalty minutes:10-10
		Overtime it is! We will now have five minutes of extra play with the first goal wins rule, but if no one can score it will go to a penalty shoot out! The winner will now get two, while the losers will still come away with one.
	60:00	3rd period finished.
	59:53	We're now into the final seconds of play with overtime now about to start! What a thriller we are witnessing today!
	59:03	The visitots move into the attacking zone, dump the puck in from the blue line but the netminder comfortably catches it to take the pressure off his team
	58:43	SKA just like their opponents can't get their powerplay going at all today so far, and Lokomotiv are back at full strength. It's a grandstand finale here with overtime looming!
	57:21	The puck is slapped in from the blue line with serious force, and with Jimmie Ericsson and Patrick Thoresen falling on top of him Curtis Sanford somehow prevents it from crossing the line! That was seriously close!
	56:39	SKA will be very disappointed to having conceded just as they were edging closer to the end! But they out of nothing have been gifted what could be a crucial powerplay, as for high sticking Lokomotiv's Sergey Plotnikov has been penalised!
	55:47	Goal for Lokomotiv! The hosts just will not lie down and they have their reward! No one can grab a hold of the puck as it squirms into the danger zone, and falling down on the tip of the crease SERGEY KONKOV knocks it in! It's 2:2! Assists- Martin Thornberg and Daniil Apalkov
	55:10	Patrick Thoresen frees himself speeding down the right wing, takes on the wrister early and shutting the five hole in time Curtis Sanford keeps his team in the game!
	54:33	Alexander Salak covers up a dump into his crease from deep and takes no chances with freezing. Despite conceding that one goal he has looked very solid in SKA's net today!
	51:52	Very surprisingly despite several chances no one has stuck on the powerplay at all today so far, and Lokomotiv are at full strength. They need to get something going in the attack with time starting to run down!
	51:26	Tikhonov! The puck is held cleverly at an awkward angle on the left, it's eventually flashes across to Viktor Tikhonov bit he can only lift it over the bar! Space opened up for him there!
	49:52	Just as SKA have five players on the ice again the referees have their arm up for a Lokomotiv offence, as now Steffan Kronwall has been found guilty of delaying the game. These two really are enjoying taking it in turns to go on the powerplay!
	49:00	Kronwall! The SKA defence let Staffan Kronwall drift to the left of the crease, he attempts to find the far corner but with Alexander Salak helpless the puck sails wide! That had the home crowd on their feet!
	47:29	Here's another penalty but this time it's against SKA, who have some defending to do as they have been caught with having too many men on the ice
	47:08	Just as Roman Cervenka looked to go upstairs when fed from behind the net on the right Lokomotiv come back to full strength, they won't be wanting to give away any more penalties today!
	46:03	Ilya Kovalchuk takes on a heavy slapper screaming down on the right flank, but home defencemen eventually send it clear! And seconds later Daniil Apalkov makes an heroic block with his body when falling onto his knees!
	45:08	Lokomotiv have made their task harder here as they looked to build up some pressure, forward Sergey Plotnikov has been penalised for interference
	44:20	The puck is thrown into SKA's crease from the right faceoff circle by Emil Galimov, and with Vladislav Kartaev hacking away for it Alexander Salak eventually manages to freeze while sliding out of his net!
	43:21	As Andrey Kuteikin's blast from the point is kicked out by Curtis Sanford Lokomotiv's Martin Thornberg looks in real pain, and with blood streaming from his lip he is being helped off the ice. No penalty has been called on that play though!
	42:51	Averin! Egor Averin escapes the visiting defence, takes on a high wrist shot to the left of the slot but Alexander Salak bats it up and out of play! Lokomotiv have to show their character again trailing for the second time today!
	41:39	Goal for SKA! Just like in the previous period SKA are simply the more alert in the opening few minutes! PATRICK THORESEN bullies his way onto the crease from the right hand boards, and he brilliantly finds the far corner! It's 1:2!
	41:22	Skating all alone past the blue line Daniil Apalkov thrashes in on net, but the netminder with no one in front of him has no problems with taking it in
	40:23	Egor Averin with a sharp wrister skating off the left faceoff circle looks to catch the goalkeeper out glove side, but Alexander Salak flashes leather expertly
	40:11	The third and deciding period is underway! At 1:1 it's very delicately poised, with both teams looking capable of striking a killer blow!
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Statistics after the first two periods: Shots: 40-41 Shots on target: 17-21 Faceoffs: 25-16 Hits: 11-9 Penalty minutes: 4-8
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:44	A highly eventful second stanza is now in its final seconds, with a very intriguing third lying in wait!
	38:54	Thoresen! Just how didn't he find the back of the net! Roman Cervenka fools Curtis Sanford, dishes to Patrick Thoresen at the left of the slot but with a practically empty net to aim at the latter hits only the side netting! SKA are having all the chances now!
	38:47	Artemiy Panarin speeds away down the right for SKA, wrists with pace looking to find the near corner but it's held on with no rebound given
	38:21	The puck is slid cleverly into the Lokomotiv crease from the right wing, Evgeniy Ketov gets his stick on it but Curtis Sanford sees it well to freeze at the first attempt!
	37:37	Lurking at the blue line unmarked Andrey Kuteikin thumps the puck in, but with no traffic in front of him the goalkeeper fields it solidly
	36:48	Dmitriy Kalinin for the visitors opts to dump the puck into the danger zone from just being the left faceoff circle, and after Curtis Sanford padded it out rather carelessly no one can find the rebound!
	35:38	That goal seems to have given Lokomotiv some serious confidence and they are laying siege to SKA's crease! Their equaliser didn't really look like coming but they are riding on adrenaline now!
	33:30	Goal for Lokomotiv! And immediately SKA have been punished for their wastefulness! SERGEY PLOTNIKOV picks up the puck from behind the net, twists around to the right of the slot and wrists ruthlessly into the near corner! Alexander Salak just didn't expect it and it's 1:1! Assists- Egor Yakovlev and Jiri Novotny
	32:43	Dadonov! It maybe should have been two for SKA there! Evgeniy Dadonov squeezes his way through one on one, he opts to go for an unexpected backhander but Curtis Sanford reads the play and kicks it out! What a chance that was!
	30:44	Alexander Salak had a few difficult looking saves to make during that time but SKA are now back at full strength. Both side's penalty kills are working perfectly so far!
	28:44	Lokomotiv have a very promising opportunity to put the pressure on here as SKA forward Tony Martensson has been sent to the penalty box for slashing
	28:03	Egor Averin's wrister from distance takes an awkward deflection, and Alexander Salak has real trouble deflecting that out of danger with opponents closing him down!
	26:56	Martin Thornberg out of nothing suddenly finds himself with a two on one down the right flank, but he takes too long making a decision and it comes to nothing! He was caught in two minds there!
	25:28	Alexander Kadeikin digs the puck out from under his stick hanging by the right faceoff circle, looks to move more central but his eventual effort is deflected up and out of play
	23:53	The visitors have really taken the initiative now and they look full of confidence! The first goal in such tactical games almost always proves to be crucial, Lokomotiv have a challenging task in front of them!
	22:26	Goal for SKA! Right at the beginning of the second period SKA do indeed draw first blood! With the puck bobbling all around the Lokomotiv slot ALEXANDER BARABANOV takes a whack at it on the doorstep, and the goalkeeper can't stop it! It's 0:1! Assists- Dinar Khafizullin and Ilya Kovalchuk
	20:48	And Lokomotiv are back at full strength. The hosts had the better of the chances during the opening 20 minutes, but SKA will be waiting for their chance to strike!
	20:01	The second stanza is go with SKA still on the powerplay for a further 00:48!
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Statistics after the opening period of play: Shots: 25-18 Shots on target: 8-6 Faceoffs: 12-10 Hits: 5-5 Penalty minutes: 4-6
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:51	With Lokomotiv so far defending on this penalty kill effectively the first period is now drawing to a close!
	18:48	Both teams keep taking it in turns to hand each other powerplays and now it's SKA with a numerical advantage, as Lokomotiv's Jiri Novotny has been punished for hooking
	18:33	Alexandrov! Yury Alexandrov outmuscles his opponent, has room at the blue line, but his attempt is shut down by Curtis Sanford's pads! And with the puck spinning free Evgeniy Dadonov can't get his stick on the rebound!
	16:49	Lokomotiv are holding the puck really well deep inside SKA's zone, but they just can't find many decent shooting opportunities! And the visitors surviving that scare are back at full strength
	14:49	This period really is being littered with penalties and here's already the fourth, as SKA's Maxim Chudinov has been handed a two minute minor for holding
	14:16	Belov! Patrick Thoresen with a clever feed across the face of goal when sprinting down the right finds the onrushing Anton Belov, but the defenceman can only deftly tip it over the crossbar!
	13:43	Kirill Kapustin cuts into the attacking zone from deep with no support around him, wrists when pulling to the left and Alexander Salak confidently covers
	12:33	SKA themselves get something going in the attack now as off a faceoff draw on the left Andrey Kuteikin takes on a slapshot, but it's directly down Curtis Sanford's throat
	11:41	And Lokomotiv again pass up a gaping chance! Sergey Plotnikov slaps in when pinned against the boards on the left, it trickles through to the far post and somehow Jiri Novotny pokes off target with the netminder already on his backside! The home fans can't believe that didn't go in!
	10:34	Lyubushkin! What a fantastic opportunity to give Lokomotiv an early lead! Found all on his own closing down to the high slot Ilya Lyubushkin has the goal at his mercy, but it takes a sharp deflection and rolls wide of the right post! That was a real opening!
	09:49	Artemiy Panarin wriggling free between the circles gets a wrister away when completely surrounded, and Curtis Sanford gratefully watches it drift well wide of his left hand post
	09:01	It's now a five on five hockey game again. Lokomotiv are seeing more of the puck early on, and they'll want to keep it well away from their on fire opponents!
	07:31	We are pleased to say that finally we have pictures from Yaroslavl! And Egor Averin twisting on the right faceoff circle backhands from a very promising position, but goaltender Alexander Salak positions himself excellently to save!
	05:38	The penalties keep on coming one after another! Patrick Thoresen is the next to be in the referee's bad books afetr being penalised for interference!
	03:31	And almost immediately SKA themselves are going to have a man's advantage, as Lokomotiv's Ilya Lyubushkin has been called for high sticking
	03:21	The hosts couldn't create anything during that time though and SKA are back at full strength
	01:21	We already have the first penalty of the game though, as Andrey Kuteikin of SKA has been penalised for holding
	01:01	Off we go in the Arena 2000! At the moment we are having problems with the pictures from Yaroslavl, but we will get back to you as soon as we can!
	00:01	Game started.
		The teams are out on to the ice, and after the Russian national anthem we'll be getting underway!
		Starting lineups: Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Sanford (Kolesnik)- Kronwall, Yakovlev, Averin, Novotny, Plotnikov- Holos, Vasiliev, Konkov, Apalkov, Thornberg- Lyubushkin, Vishnevskiy, Platt, Sprukts, Kapustin- Gorokhov, Galimov, Grachyov, Korshkov, Kartaev SKA St. Petersburg: Salak (Ivannikov)- Kalinin, Yudin, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Barabanov- Y Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Tikhonov, Dadonov- Chudinov, Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Cervenka- Khafizullin, Ermakov, Ponikarovskiy, Kadeikin, Ketov Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Konstantin Olenin, Sergey Morozov, Ivan Sazonov.
		Last term Lokomotiv knocked out SKA in the Western Conference semi finals, meaning that today's visitors have revenge on their minds today. In the first game of this season they both met however, with SKA coming out on top in Saint Petersburg 5:3.
		Lokomotiv have had a rather rough beginning to the new KHL campaign, and have already brought back legendary coach Dave King to reverse their fortunes. At the moment they sit in tenth place of the Western Conference with 27 points, whereas SKA are simply flying. They have lost just once out of 21 games so far, and leading the way in the overall table with 59 points.
		Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and SKA Saint Petersburg. This promises to be a true thriller, with Lokomotiv being one of the most awkward opponents for SKA.
		Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 34. Plotnikov (Yakovlev, Novotny), 56. Konkov (Thornberg, Apalkov), 65. Kronwall – 23. Barabanov (Khafizullin, Kovalchuk), 42. Thoresen

Shootout:

1. series:

0:0 Apalkov (LOK)

0:0 Kovalchuk (SKA)

2. series:

0:0 Konkov (LOK)

0:1 Panarin (SKA)

3. series:

1:1 Kronwall (LOK)

1:1 Cervenka (SKA)

4. series:

1:1 Panarin (SKA)

1:1 Kronwall (LOK)

5. series:

1:1 Kovalchuk (SKA)

2:1 Kronwall (LOK)

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Sanford (Kolesnik)- Kronwall, Yakovlev, Averin, Novotny, Plotnikov- Holos, Vasiliev, Konkov, Apalkov, Thornberg- Lyubushkin, Vishnevskiy, Platt, Sprukts, Kapustin- Gorokhov, Galimov, Grachyov, Korshkov, Kartaev

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

Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Konstantin Olenin, Sergey Morozov, Ivan Sazonov

Attendance: 9000

1st period
	01:21
	03:31
	05:38
	14:49
	18:48
1st intermission
2nd period
	22:26
	28:44
	33:30
2nd intermission
3rd period
	41:39
	45:08
	47:29
	49:52
	55:47
	56:39
After 3rd period
Overtime
	60:30
before shootout
Shootout
	65:00
after shootout