ZAG 2:5 MIN | Medvescak Zagreb - HC Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

KHL

Medvescak – Dinamo Minsk

2:5 (end)

final

Medvescak Zagreb

2:5 (1:1, 0:1, 1:3)

HC Dinamo Minsk

Wednesday 19.11.2014, 20:00 • Dom Sportova • KHL

		The final buzzer has now sounded, and HC Dinamo Minsk have won their first game in six with an emphatic 5:2 triumph against Medvescak Zagreb in Croatia! They soaked up plenty of pressure, and took their chances expertly. Charles Linglet, Dmitriy Meleshko, Artur Gavrus, Ryan Vesce and Alexander Materukhin all struck, while Pascal Pelletier and Brandon Segal found the net for Medvescak. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting KHL action! (22:24:38)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:51	The home fans may still be in fine voice, but as we enter the last few moments Dinamo are in the end coasting to a 5:2 victory away from home!
	58:53	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! And Medvescak have indeed been punished for that! After Jonathan Cheechoo smacked the left hand post ALEXANDER MATERUKHIN receives on the tip of the crease, and he makes no mistake! It's 2:5! Assists- Alexey Kalyuzhniy and Matt Ellison
	58:41	Dinamo can look forward to taking a very well needed three points now, but despite that fourth the hosts' goaltender is still on the bench!
	58:37	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! That is most certainly that now! Dinamo break out from their own zone, and inches out of Medvescak's zone RYAN VESCE hits the empty net! It's 2:4! Assists- Charles Linglet
	58:11	With still just under two minutes to go Calvin Heeter has already been swapped for the extra skater!
	56:46	Kalyuzhniy! He could have finished it! Chasing down a loose puck Matt Ellison whips it across the face of goal glove side, and Alexey Kalyuzhniy with the goal at his mercy hits only Kelvin Heeter's pads!
	54:15	Icing is committed by Dinamo. The atmosphere inside the arena is heating up with every minute, it is promising to be a grandstand finish here!
	53:48	Bill Thomas sneaks down the right wing, takes on a wrister glove side, and it drops directly into the goaltender's stomach
	52:33	Carle! That was the chance to bring his team level! On the tip of the slot slightly to the left Mathieu Carle is all on his own with the goalkeeper, but Danny Taylor makes an excellent pad save to keep him at bay!
	51:48	The puck is thrown into Danny Taylor's crease from way outside the attacking zone, and with an opposing forward lurking nearby he freezes taking no chances
	51:05	The visitors are sitting back very defensively already despite just under half of the stanza still to go, they don't want to be shutting up shop too early!
	48:50	Alexander Materukhin twists in and around his opponents drifting from the right to the left, but he can't find the target with his eventual effort! The Dom Sportova has seen its volume levels rise with that second Medvescak marker!
	46:49	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! It seemed as though they were falling out of the game, but they have real hope now! BRANDON SEGAL wrists the puck fiercely on the right faceoff circle, and it sneaks under Danny Taylor's blocker and in! It's 2:3! Assists- Patrick Bjorkstrand
	45:13	Alexander Kulakov piledrives down the right flank, opts to drive to the net himself, and his backhander doesn't have enough on it to trouble the goalkeeper near post
	43:58	Medvescak's Kelvin Heeter will be very disappointed to having let that one sear past him! Dinamo can feel a lot more comfortable and confident in themselves two to the good!
	42:08	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! That could prove to be such a crucial goal in this game! ARTUR GAVRUS moves in past the blue line, wrists early, and it catches the goaltender completely unawares flying high into the left hand corner! It's 1:3! Assists- Lukas Krajicek
	41:41	Pelletier! Lengthy patient build up play tees up Pascal Pelletier on the right faceoff circle, he takes his time, and eventually wrists hard into Danny Taylor's midriff!
	40:52	The third period has got started! Dinamo have slightly been the better side so far, but they have a long twenty minutes ahead of them to keep their lead!
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play: Shots: 37-51 Shots on target: 21-30 Faceoffs: 23-25 Hits: 11-9 Penalty minutes: 10-6
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:41	It's already now the final seconds of the second period with Dinamo sitting in the box seat ahead of the deciding third!
	39:13	Alexander Materukhin deftly tips a seriously strong slapper from the point, but he doesn't get enough on it to trouble the netminder
	38:44	And Danny Taylor has been simply floored here! Bill Thomas loses balance jumping on to the crease, and he barges into the Dinamo netminder's head! Maybe he can be grateful not to be handed a penalty!
	37:55	Pascal Pelletier of Medvescak dumps the puck into the danger zone from deep, and with no one around him at all Danny Taylor is happy to keep a hold of that
	36:55	Nevertheless Dinamo looked solid killing that penalty despite a couple of hairy moments. They can't afford to hand the initiative to their Croatian opponents after taking their first lead of the game!
	34:54	The visitors have picked up a needless penalty here though to create some extra pressure for themselves, as for high sticking defenceman Ilya Shinkevich has been ordered to take a brief rest
	34:29	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! Finally the Belorussians have struck for the second time, this time the goalkeeper is helpless! Artur Gavrus strips his opponent of the puck on the right wing, and with a two on one on his hands he dishes to DMITRIY MELESHKO far post who hits the net! It's 1:2! Assists- Artur Gavrus and Alexander Kulakov
	33:49	Medvescal's Geoffrey Kinrade does a full 360 at the high slot, but under pressure weakly backhands it wide of the goalkeeper's right pad
	32:56	How many opportunities do Dinamo want, they're knocking on the door like never before! Ryan Vesce sprinting in blocker side has his wrister kept out with the glove, and on the following rebound Jonathan Cheechoo and co. fail to stuff it beyond the goalkeeper from every angle possible!
	31:17	Wright! An unexpected feed from behind the net to the left post is picked up by James Wright, who has his one timer beaten away by the goaltender's blocker when having no time to think!
	29:15	Medvescak have five players on the ice again and won't be wanting to commit any more fouls, both teams' powerplays are very dangerous!
	29:00	Alexey Kalyuzhniy is the next to try his luck, as on the right faceoff circle he thumps into Calvin Heeter. He is on his game at the moment for sure, somehow preventing Dinamo from grabbing their second!
	28:09	Nick Bailen goes on a stunning skate showing some quite wonderful skills powering in from the left hand boards, and on the eventual rebound Dmitriy Meleshko is denied by an instinctive glove save! That just had to go in!
	27:25	Vesce! The chances are coming and going for both sides! The puck lands on to the stick of Ryan Vesce standing at an awkward angle to the left, and Calvin Heeter has to make a superb reaction pad save to keep it out!
	27:15	The hosts are picking up serious momentum, however they have burst their own bubble here! Seconds after Bill Thomas rolled the puck against the netminder's body from point blank range, Medvescak captain Andrew Murray has been called for boarding
	24:27	Dinamo were rather lucky to get away with that, and they will be very happy to come back to full strength again
	24:17	Leino! Just how didn't he hit the net, it was easier to miss! The puck smacks back off the boards to the right post, the goalkeeper is all at sea, Ville Leino has an empty net to aim at but he fires against a covering defender instead!
	23:59	Flood! Mark Flood almost makes up for his penalty shot foul just a couple of minutes ago as he winds up on the right faceoff circle, and his heavy slapper is fielded solidly by Danny Taylor!
	22:27	Medvescak are a bit shaky defensively but they have been gifted a powerplay to take the pressure off themselves, as Dinamo's Jonathan Cheechoo has been penalised for interference
	21:45	Up skates Alexander Materukhin, he sharply cuts glove side, but he fails to slip it under Calvin Heeter! We play on still at 1:1
	21:45	Out of virtually nothing Dinamo have been ranted a penalty shot! Alexander Materukhin was completely chopped down by Mark Flood when one on one, and the referees have indicated a penalty shot!
	20:36	The second stanza is go! Medvescak will definitely be wanting to take back their advantage after having conceded so late in the first!
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Statistics after the first period: Shots: 16-23 Shots on target: 9-12 Faceoffs: 12-11 Hits: 5-3 Penalty minutes: 8-2
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:52	And already we are into the final seconds of a very entertaining initial 20 minutes, with Dinamo very relieved to be heading into the dressing room level!
	19:31	Goal for Dinamo Minsk! Just as the period was drawing to a close Dinamo have their craved equaliser! The puck is flashed to the doorstep from the right where CHARLES LINGLET is steaming in, and he goes waterbottle on Calvin Heeter! It's 1:1! Assists- Ryan Vesce and Matt Ellison
	18:52	Medvescak really are getting into some penalty trouble now! Dinamo will have a short five on three coming up here, as for delaying the game Mark Flood has been sent for a sit down!
	17:03	Just as the hosts came back to full strength the whistle has been blown against them for the second time in a row, as forward Matt Anderson has been found guilty of holding
	16:59	Jonathan Cheechoo, an ex favourtie of the Medvescak faithful, takes a whack at the puck from an awkward angle on the right, and near post Calvin Heeter fields it well
	15:01	Nevertheless Dinamo have been handed with another powerplay chance of their own to get back on level terms already! Shaone Morrisonn has been punished for high sticking, and the home fans aren't happy about that at all!
	14:24	Goal for Medvescak Zagreb! There is the breakthrough which has been coming closer! A mad goalmouth scramble erupts as Brandon Segal's effort to the left of the slot is stoned, and eventually on the rebound PASCAL PELLETIER taps home with the netminder out of position! Powerplay goal and it's 1:0! Assists- Martin St. Pierre and Brandon Segal
	14:03	The second penalty has now been called and this time it's against Dinamo, as Nick Bailen has been handed a two minute minor for high sticking
	13:15	Danny Taylor in Dinamo's net makes a neat glove save sweeping up a wristed puck floating in from the left. Medvescak are showing more aggression as the period drifts on, with Dinamo happy to sit back and counter when they can
	11:40	Materukhin! Lurking by the left hand post Alexander Materukhin is dished with a wonderful cross ice feed, takes his time, but can only fire directly into the goalkeeper's chest! That was a real chance! And Medvescak are now of course back at full strength
	10:41	Bill Thomas breaks away for Medvescak shorthanded here, it's a two on one, takes on the shot early, and it's comfortable for Danny Taylor to hold on to
	09:36	We have the first penalty of the game here and it's against the hosts, as their defenceman Shoane Morrisonn has been penalised for high sticking
	07:08	Patrick Bjorkstrand powers down the right flank, almost skates behind the net, but when wristing near post the netminder deflects it up and out of play! The pace is really picking up!
	05:19	Pelletier! That was the first opening of note for Medvescak there! Drifting to the right of the slot unchallenged Pascal Pelletier takes aim, and after saving the first shot Danny Taylor has to rely on his defencemen to bundle away the rebound!
	01:52	Dmitriy Meleshko of Dinamo falls up against the left hand boards, and despite still being able to dump it into the slot no one is there to connect
	01:10	Icing is committed here by Dinamo. Medvescak will be desperate to take all three points on home ice today, three points which would take them to within touching distance of a playoff spot
	00:50	Off we go inside the Dom Sportova in Zagreb! And Dinamo have a very quick attack here, as charging down the left wing Lukas Karjicek wrists into debutant goalkeeper Calvin Heeter's grasp!
	00:01	Game started.
		The teams are now emerging out on to the ice, and after the Croatian and Belorussian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
		Starting lineups: Medvescak Zagreb: Heeter (Owuya)- Carle, Morrisonn, Thomas, Leino, Anderson- Flood, Martinovic, Segal, Wright, Bjorkstrand- Kinrade, Popovic, Pelletier, Katic, St. Pierre- Glumac, Murray, Perkovich, Hedberg HC Dinamo Minsk: Taylor (Karnaukhov)- Krajicek, Goroshko, Ellison, Materukhin, Kalyuzhniy- Nogachyov, Bailen, Linglet, Vesce, Cheechoo- Shinkevich, Svarny, Kulakov, Meleshko, Gavrus- Lisovets, Drozd, Zakharov, Razvadovskiy Referees: Pavel Komarov, Yury Tsyplakov, Yury Ivanov, Alexander Nesterov.
		Last season Medvescak made the first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, whereas Dinamo reached the final of the consolation tournament the Nadezhda Cup.
		Medvescak and Dinamo are separated by just six points in the Western Conference, with the Belorussians being in seventh place with 43 points, and Medvescak sitting in ninth with 37. Today's hosts are on decent form, having won three out of their past five, whereas Dinamo are going through a rough patch, dropping five on the bounce. To spice things up a bit, Dinamo have four ex Medvescak players in the lineup today.
		Hello and welcome to this KHL regular season match between Medvescak Zagreb and HC Dinamo Minsk. This is a vital match, with both scrapping around for a playoff berth in the same conference.
		Welcome. Game starts at 20:00.

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 15. Pelletier (Pierre, Segal), 47. Segal (Bjorkstrand) – 20. Linglet (Vesce, Ellison), 35. Meleshko (Gavrus, Kulakov), 43. Gavrus (Krajicek), 59. Vesce (Linglet), 59. Materukhin (Kalyuzhniy, Ellison)

Medvescak Zagreb: Heeter (Owuya)- Carle, Morrisonn, Thomas, Leino, Anderson- Flood, Martinovic, Segal, Wright, Bjorkstrand- Kinrade, Popovic, Pelletier, Katic, St. Pierre- Glumac, Murray, Perkovich, Hedberg

HC Dinamo Minsk: Taylor (Karnaukhov)- Krajicek, Goroshko, Ellison, Materukhin, Kalyuzhniy- Nogachyov, Bailen, Linglet, Vesce, Cheechoo- Shinkevich, Svarny, Kulakov, Meleshko, Gavrus- Lisovets, Drozd, Zakharov, Razvadovskiy

Referees: Pavel Komarov, Yury Tsyplakov, Yury Ivanov, Alexander Nesterov

Attendance: 5500

1st period
	09:36
	14:03
	14:24
	15:01
	17:03
	18:52
	19:31
1st intermission
2nd period
	22:27
	27:15
	34:29
	34:54
2nd intermission
3rd period
	42:08
	46:49
	58:37
	58:53
Final