Admiral – Neftekhimik 5:3 (end) | Medvescak – Avangard 2:6 (end)
final
Admiral Vladivostok
5:3 (1:2, 1:1, 3:0)
HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Wednesday 10.12.2014, 11:00 • Fetisov Arena • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and Admiral Vladivostok have defeated HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in a 5:3 thriller! It was a simply fantastic game of hockey, with goals galore and plenty of talking points. Niclas Bergfors is the real hero for Admiral netting a hat trick, and Sergey Barbashyov and Shaun Heshla also netted. For the visitors Matt Anderson, Mikhail Zhukov and Igor Makarov hit the target. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more pulsating KHL action! (13:19:22)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:52
    The final seconds are ticking by now, with Admiral heading towards a hard fought 5:3 victory on home ice!
     
    59:22
    Stanislav Alshevskiy pulls to the left hand post, sneaks it across, and before anyone can get on the end of it Ivan Nalimov sweeps it up. It doesn't look as though Neftekhimik are even going to pull their goaltender!
     
    56:23
    A timeout has now been taken by Admiral, they don't want to let this victory slip out of their hands having made such an effort to come back from behind!
     
    56:23
    Maxim Rybin goes on an amazing skate blocker side for Neftekhimik, finds himself one on one, but just as he's preparing to celebrate he's shut down by an brilliant Ivan Nalimov glove save practically on the goal line!
     
    55:31
    Goal for Admiral!
    Neftekhimik have completely fallen apart, and Admiral are loving every minute of it! The puck pops out to the left of the crease, and with the netminder out of position NICLAS BERGFORS snipes it in! Powerplay goal and it's 5:3! Assists- Denis Osipov and Richard Gynge
     
    55:07
    And to make matters worse for the flailing Neftekhimik their head coach has been penalised for unsportmanlike behaviour, and Admiral have a golden opportunity to almost certainly finish the game as a contest! Forward Tim Stapleton will sit this one out for his team
     
    55:07
    Goal for Admiral!
    The comeback is complete! Admiral have come from 1:3 behind to move ahead for the first time today! SHAUN HESHKA lets rip slightly to the right on the blue line, and after a small deflection the goaltender is left helpless! It's 4:3! Assists- Felix Schutz and Konstantin Makarov
     
    54:24
    Zemchyonok! The puck falls back to Artyom Zemchyonok at the point, he absolutely blasts it, and the netminder is relieved to see that crash over his blocker and the bar!
     
    53:49
    Richard Gynge beats his opponents for sheer pace on the right flank, lashes it across looking for a telling deflection, but no one can get to it first before Alexander Sudnitsyn
     
    52:31
    Stapleton! The Admiral defence gets in a right mess as Tim Stapleton is on his own on the left faceoff circle, he fires, and Ivan Nalimov shuts the five hole in time to keep the game level!
     
    50:40
    The momentum is all with the hosts now, they are riding on a wave of emotion! You have to say that they are favourites now, although Neftekhimik will want to ride this storm out and go again!
     
    49:41
    Goal for Admiral!
    The Fetisov Arena explodes with joy, their team has tied it up! NICLAS BERGFORS wriggles free skating on to the doorstep, and he snaps home over the goalkeeper's blocker! It's 3:3! Assists- Richard Gynge and Jan Kolar
     
    49:27
    Bergfors! Finally Admiral create something as Niclas Bergfors charges down the right, wrists with power, and Alexander Sudnitsyn watches it fly inches wide of the far post!
     
    47:13
    Admiral as you would expect are seeing all the puck, but at the moment not being able to do an awful lot with it, Neftekhimik are making it very difficult for their opponents drive through them
     
    44:08
    Schutz! Felix Schutz opens up on the right faceoff circle, instead of shooting himself lashes it across the crease, and the onrushing Konstantin Makarov just isn't fast enough to catch up with it!
     
    42:01
    Tim Stapleton skates away on a Neftekhimik breakaway all by himself on the left wing, he's forced out wide, and his eventual effort doesn't challenge Ivan Nalimov near post
     
    41:41
    Neftekhimik's Alexander Sudnitsyn clings on to a dump from deep. He can expect to be a very busy man as time rolls on!
     
    40:13
    The third period is go! Admiral have pulled themselves back into the picture with that late second goal, and will be confident of completing the comeback!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 32-33
    Shots on target: 13-19
    Faceoffs: 18-24
    Hits: 5-7
    Penalty minutes: 6-6
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:38
    Andrey Ivanov wrists with some power from the high slot, and Ivan Nalimov crouched down takes it in not giving up any second helpings. And it's already the closing seconds of the second frame, with a thrilling third lying in store!
     
    37:58
    Admiral's Alexander Kuznetsov pulls to the left post, tries as hard as he can to poke it beyond the netminder, and after a moment's panic it's covered almost on the goal line
     
    36:43
    Oleg Li whacks the puck in glove side across goal, and eventually Alexander Gorshkov thumps it against the goalkeeper's pads! Out of the blue Admiral have woken up again!
     
    34:57
    Goal for Admiral!
    Neftekhimik looked in control, but the game is right back in the balance now! SERGEY BARBASHYOV sprints down the left flank, checks in front of his marker, and snaps a wrist shot low into the far corner! It's 2:3! Assists- Alexander Kuznetsov and Nikita Lisov
     
    34:40
    Alexander Gorshkov takes the play to behind the net on the left, swings back to the crease, and as a scramble threatens to erupt the goalkeeper dives on it to kill the danger
     
    33:45
    Ilya Zubov gobbles up the loose puck cutting in behind the attacking blue line, sharply cuts to the right, backhands it across, and no one is there to get a touch before Alexander Sunditsyn reaches out with his glove
     
    32:09
    Admiral again ice the puck. They looked very lively in the first period but they have seriously dropped off in this one, rarely troubling Alexander Sudnitsyn at all
     
    29:51
    Neftekhimik's Maxim Rybin escapes his marker on the left wing, takes aim from a way out, and Ivan Nalimov fields it well to freeze. Despite conceding three times already, the netminder hasn't really made any glaring mistakes!
     
    29:36
    It's now a five on five hockey game again. There was a feeling that the third Neftekhimik goal was coming, and now it's beginning to look like a mountain for Admiral to climb!
     
    28:30
    Goal for Neftekhimik!
    There is that third goal for the visitors! IGOR MAKAROV is brilliantly set away one on one down the middle of the zone, and he expertly beats Ivan Nalimov going upstairs on the goaltender! It's 1:3! Assists- Mikhail Zhukov
     
    28:10
    Ryasensky! Igor Makarov with the backhand lays it back to Evgeniy Ryasensky, the latter peels in off the right, and looks to hit the near post when closing in! The angle was just too difficult for him!
     
    27:37
    But that Neftekhimik powerplay has been promptly cut short, as Matt Anderson has been found guilty of holding his opponent's stick
     
    26:35
    Admiral have picked up a penalty out of nothing here, as forward Konstantin Makarov for slashing has been called. It's a promising opportunity for Neftekhimik to make themselves feel even more comfortable!
     
    25:01
    Icing is committed by the hosts. It's been a slightly quiet beginning to the period, Admiral aren't getting as many shots away at the moment as before, and Neftekhimik are sitting back more and more
     
    23:05
    The visitors looked solid during those couple of minutes, and with the puck well away from their own zone they're back at full strength
     
    22:10
    Konstantin Makarov wriggles away from his opponent on the left faceoff circle, thrashes away a wrist shot under pressure, and it gets deflected up and out of play
     
    21:05
    Just as a very dangerous backhanded drifts wide of Alexander Sudnitsyn's left hand post we have a penalty being called, as for high sticking Artur Amirov of Neftekhimik has been punished
     
    20:29
    The second period is go! Neftekhimik have been ruthless with their chances so far, and they will want to keep the game under their control!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 18-18
    Shots on target: 7-11
    Faceoffs: 7-12
    Hits: 4-3
    Penalty minutes: 4-2
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:41
    The final seconds of the first period are already upon us, with both teams looking to sprint into the attacking zone at any given opportunity!
     
    18:13
    Li! Oleg Li takes up the puck speeding past the blue line, has space in which to wrist, and Alexander Sudnitsyn confidently stands up to catch and cover
     
    16:23
    Seconds after that though Alexander Gorshkov powers through one on one, and also with his backhand fires off target glove side! We're being treated to a really entertaining encounter!
     
    15:59
    Goal for Neftekhimik!
    Neftekhimik are so clinical with their goal scoring chances today! The puck is bouncing all around the slot, and MIKHAIL ZHUKOV already laying on his side backhands it high into the right corner! Powerplay goal and it's 1:2! Assists- Maxim Rybin and Teemu Eronen
     
    14:19
    The referee has his arm up for the third time today and it's gone against Admiral, as their defenceman Shaun Heshka has been handed a two minute minor for interference
     
    13:15
    Neftekhimik are doing their best at the moment to take the sting out of the game, they don't want Admiral to build up ahead of steam at all
     
    12:07
    Richard Gynge takes up a huge rebound falling up against the right hand boards, carefully takes it back to between the circles, and before he can get an attempt away he's crowded out
     
    10:04
    Ivan Nalimov comfortably gloves a dump into the attacking zone from deep. The home fans are very relieved that their team has already equalled this game up, all the momentum is with them!
     
    08:56
    Goal for Admiral!
    You can't say that it hasn't been coming! NICLAS BERGFORS takes up the puck on a neat give and go on a tight angle to the right, swings sharply on to the slot, and backhands it between the goalkeeper's legs! Powerplay goal and it's 1:1! Assists- Ilya Zubov
     
    07:40
    The puck is moved cleverly to the right of the slot, Ilya Zubov has almost an empty net to aim at, but he contrives to only smack the post! Neftekhimik got lucky there!
     
    07:29
    Admiral are putting the heat on more and more and they've earned a powerplay for themselves, as Stanislav Kalashnikov of Neftekhimik has been penalised for cross checking
     
    06:40
    Sudnitsyn! Just how did he keep the puck out of his net, wow! Enver Lisin swings around to the right hand post on a wraparound, he can't stuff it over the line, and then on the following rebound he takes not one but two stabs at it, and Alexander Sudnitsyn stands tall to stone him cold!
     
    05:36
    Gynge! Richard Gynge is allowed to skate down the right, he closes in, and can only hit Alexander Sudnitsyn's pads when looking to go five hole!
     
    04:51
    The home side are back at full strength. They need to wake up soon, as Neftekhimik are looking very much on their game so far!
     
    04:07
    Egor Milovzorov closes down on the right wing, tries his luck with traffic building up in front of him, and after a couple of sharp deflections the goaltender gets his glove on it
     
    02:51
    Neftekhimik have started much the livelier, and immediately they have been gifted an opportunity to double their money, as home forward Ilya Zubov has been called for slashing!
     
    02:39
    Goal for Neftekhimik!
    Just as I said that the visitors break the deadlock! A goalmouth scramble erupts on Admiral's crease, and at the second attempt MATT ANDERSON backhands the puck past Ivan Nalimov! It's 0:1! Assists- Tim Stapleton
     
    01:35
    Ivan Nalimov in Admiral's net makes the first save of the day, as he kicks out a low wrister coming in from the right faceoff circle. He will be full of confidence, having picked up a shutout against Lada in Admiral's previous match
     
    00:36
    Off we go! It's a full house inside the Fetisov Arena in Vladivostok, and they want to see their team put on a good show!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now coming out on to the ice, and after the Russian national anthem we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Admiral Vladivostok: Nalimov (Proskuryakov)- Osipov, Heshka, Gynge, Bergfors, Zubov- Zemchyonok, Kuzmin, Makarov, Schutz, Lisin- Lisov, Kolar, Gorshkov, Ushenin, Li- Belyakov, Sokolov, Barbashyov, Kuznetsov, Ivanov

    HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk: Sudnitsyn (Kolppanen)- Berezin, Ryasensky, Milovzorov, Polygalov, Ivanov- Kalashnikov, Eronen, Stapleton, Anderson, Zdunov- Kosmachyov, Amirov, Makarov, Zhukov, Rybin- Bilalov, S Alshevskiy, Y Alshevskiy, Mnikhovich, Khokhryakov

    Referees: Denis Bondar, Alexander Sergeev, Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov.
     
    Last campaign Admiral made the KHL playoffs in their first season since they were founded, whereas Neftekhimik failed to make the post-season.
     
    This is a crucial encounter in the Eastern Conference playoff race, with Admiral currently on 39 points in 11th place, and Neftekhimik in 12th on 33. Both sides have won only two out of their past five games, and whoever wins today is going to start putting pressure on those sitting above them in the standings.
     
    Good afternoon and welcome to this KHL regular season match between Admiral Vladivostok and HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. This is another huge match up in the battle for a playoff spot, and the hosts will be confident of emerging victorious today.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 11:00.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 9. Bergfors (Zubov), 35. Barbashyov (Kuznetsov, Lisov), 50. Bergfors (Gynge, Kolar), 56. Heshka (Schutz, Makarov), 56. Bergfors (Osipov, Gynge) – 3. Anderson (Stapleton), 16. Zhukov (Rybin, Eronen), 29. Makarov (Zhukov)

    Admiral Vladivostok: Nalimov (Proskuryakov)- Osipov, Heshka, Gynge, Bergfors, Zubov- Zemchyonok, Kuzmin, Makarov, Schutz, Lisin- Lisov, Kolar, Gorshkov, Ushenin, Li- Belyakov, Sokolov, Barbashyov, Kuznetsov, Ivanov
    HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk: Sudnitsyn (Kolppanen)- Berezin, Ryasensky, Milovzorov, Polygalov, Ivanov- Kalashnikov, Eronen, Stapleton, Anderson, Zdunov- Kosmachyov, Amirov, Makarov, Zhukov, Rybin- Bilalov, S Alshevskiy, Y Alshevskiy, Mnikhovich, Khokhryakov
    Referees: Denis Bondar, Alexander Sergeev, Konstantin Gordenko, Viktor Tomilov
    Attendance: 5500