Admiral – Neftekhimik 5:3 (end) | Medvescak – Avangard 2:6 (end)
final
Medvescak Zagreb
2:6 (0:4, 1:1, 1:1)
Avangard Omsk
Wednesday 10.12.2014, 19:30 • Dom Sportova • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and Avangard Omsk have continued their excellent form with a 6:2 thumping of Medvescak Zagreb in the Croatian capital! Their class was on show for everyone to see, and they won with a lot to spare. Denis Parshin with a double as well as Denis Kulyash, Chad Kolarik, Alexander Perezhogin and Nikita Pivtsakin found the net, with Mark Katic and Kurtis McLean replying for Medvescak. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting KHL action! (21:44:29)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:41
    The final few seconds are now already being played out, with Avangard Omsk coasting to an expert 6:2 triumph away from home in Croatia!
     
    57:51
    That goal though of course still won't make any difference to the final outcome, although it will give Medvescak a bit of heart. Avangard are very satisfied with what they have already, and are visibly slowing the pace down
     
    56:23
    Goal for Medvescak Zagreb!
    It was a delayed penalty coming up against Avangard, but with the sixth man out there Medvescak get one back! A clever cross ice pass finds KURTIS MCLEAN lurking on the left faceoff circle, and he gives Konstantin Barulin no chance! It's 2:6! Assists- Mathieu Carle and Geoffrey Kinrade
     
    55:01
    Blatak! Miroslav Blatak wants to get in on the fun as he rockets in a slapshot, and with bodies crowding all around him Calvin Heeter keeps his concentration to crouch and field!
     
    51:51
    Roman Berdnikov outpaces his opponent pinned up against the right hand boards, sears it across the face of goal, and despite stretching hard a teammate can't get his stick on it
     
    50:38
    Medvescak drift offside. The Croatian team just have been nowhere near good enough today, the difference in class compared to Avangard has seriously told!
     
    49:09
    Andrew Hutchinson has a rare patch of daylight for himself, he takes his time, lets a pacy slapshot go, and the netminder makes a very neat save flashing leather under pressure!
     
    46:51
    Goaltender Konstantin Barulin has to duck out of the way here as he avoids getting his mask smashed by a slapper from the point. He hasn't had an awful lot of work to do so far, with all of the action coming at the other end
     
    44:52
    Medvescak commit icing. To the home fans' credit they're not letting their team go down without support, as some of the more passionate fans are still singing loudly!
     
    43:40
    Goal for Avangard!
    The sixth goal has now clattered in for Avangard, they're not going to show any mercy at all! NIKITA PIVTSAKIN slaps from distance, and it's too hot for Calvin Heeter to handle! It's 1:6! Assists- Vladimir Sobotka
     
    42:46
    Shaone Morrisonn now trickles in at a tight angle again to the left, backhands it across the slot, and Konstantin Barulin is first to it to kill the danger
     
    41:37
    Kostovic! Speeding past the blue line peeling to the left Dario Kostovic takes up the play, and sends a fearsome slapper wide of the near post!
     
    40:18
    The third frame is go! There may not be much doubt about who's going to win, but Medvescak won't want to be humiliated!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 33-39
    Shots on target: 14-22
    Faceoffs: 26-19
    Hits: 14-9
    Penalty minutes: 27-0
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:47
    The home side are back at full strength as the final seconds of the period are upon us, the game is getting more and more fraught as time is rolling on!
     
    38:39
    Parshin! He could have already had a hat trick for himself! Set up blocker side on the doorstep Denis Parshin slaps the puck too hard, otherwise he was sure to hit the net!
     
    37:09
    Glumac! That's the second shorthanded chance in a matter of minutes for the Medvescak forward! Mike Glumac gets away on a two on one down the right wing, takes the shot on himself, and thumps into the side netting with Konstantin Barulin panicking!
     
    36:23
    Mike Glumac on the penalty kill looks as though he's going to skate clean through following a puck cough up on the opposite blue line, however at the final moment a visiting defenceman gets back heroically to slash the puck clear of danger!
     
    34:47
    Tempers are starting to get a bit flared here! A fight threatens to break out as Kirill Rasskazov is clutching his arm in pain, and lashing out against his arm Medvescak's Brock Trotter has been kicked out of the game with a 5+20 penalty!
     
    33:24
    As Calvin Heeter kicks out a powerful slapper from the left flank Medvescak have five players involved in the action again. The Russians have to be careful to keep their concentration at 100%!
     
    31:24
    Krystofer Kolanos however has immediately taken the wind out of his team's sails, as he has been sent to the penalty box for Medvescak as a result of cross checking. The home crowd finally had something to cheer about with that goal, and will be hoping that it's the start of an unlikely comeback!
     
    30:38
    Goal for Medvescak Zagreb!
    Out of virtually nothing Medvescak are on the board! Avangard poorly turn the puck over deep inside their own zone, and MARK KATIC to the right of the slot is free to ruin Konstantin Barulin's shutout hopes! It's 1:5! Assists- Martin St. Pierre and James Wright
     
    28:51
    Kolarik! Chad Kolarik is lurking between the faceoff circles, he is all alone with no one near him, but nevertheless he wrists only into the netminder's midriff! There's a feeling that Avangard can score as many as they want today!
     
    27:01
    The home goalkeeper sees a rising wrister come in from the high slot, and has no problem catching and freezing. The Dom Sportova has fallen practically silent, no one is enjoying seeing their team being demolished!
     
    25:39
    Medvescak's Nathan Perkovich is picked out skating on to the crease from behind the net on the right, he attempts to get the puck out from under his stick, and defencemen pressure him off balance
     
    24:30
    We have a short stoppage here as Calvin Heeter has had his mask knocked off its perch. He hasn't had time to even settle in, and he's already conceded and coming under siege!
     
    22:20
    Kalinin! On a lightning quick breakaway down the middle Sergey Kalinin has practically the whole goal to aim at, and he is denied well by the goaltender! Medvescak are unbelievably open, and they're getting punished heavily for it!
     
    21:19
    Goal for Avangard!
    Now he has his goal, and what a true stunner that it! Avangard are simply on fire! ALEXANDER PEREZHOGIN sprints down the right wing, with a beautiful move takes himself past two defencemen, and wonderfully beats the goalkeeper! Powerplay goal and it's 0:5! Assists- Nikita Pivtsakin
     
    21:05
    Perezhogin! That was a real opportunity for the fifth! Alexander Perezhogin is all alone on the left faceoff circle, it's a three on two, and he can only wrist hard into Calvin Heeter's waiting chest!
     
    20:03
    We;re underway in the second stanza here! Remember that Avangard are still on the powerplay, and we inform you that Medvescak have predictably pulled goaltender Mark Dekanich in favour of Calvin Heeter
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 12-16
    Shots on target: 7-10
    Faceoffs: 16-9
    Hits: 7-7
    Penalty minutes: 6-0
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:57
    Just before the buzzer goes off though a third penalty has been called against Medvescak, it's been the period from hell for them as Mark Katic has been punished for unsportsmanlike behaviour!
     
    19:50
    Goal for Avangard!
    Wow, this is brutal stuff from Avangard! They're going to town on their Croatian opponents! With just a few seconds left in the period Alexander Popov has a two on one on his hands down the left, and he squares far post for CHAD KOLARIK to score! It's 0:4! Assists- Alexander Popov and Alexander Perezhogin
     
    19:01
    With Nikolay Lemtyugov speeding down on to the crease Kirill Semyonov chucks the puck in towards him falling up against the left hand boards, although it's hit with too much pace for his teammate to catch up with
     
    18:19
    Icing is committed by Medvescak. The home side simply look a level below what they're up against today, as Avangard are cutting them to pieces when breaking out from their own zone!
     
    17:00
    Goal for Avangard!
    They're in no forgiving mood today that's for sure! The Medvescak defence just isn't at the races as a low backhand pass from the right travels on to the doorstep, and DENIS PARSHIN pokes his stick out to tap home! It's 0:3! Assists- Nikita Pivtsakin and Vladimir Sobotka
     
    16:28
    Medvescak dump the puck into the slot from deep again searching for any second rebounds, the goaltender loses sight of it for a moment, however before anyone can reach it he sits on it to freeze
     
    15:58
    The visitors are beginning to run away with it, the score may only be 2:0 in their favour but they are looking as though they can up their game whenever they need to!
     
    13:48
    Goal for Avangard!
    Avangard's class is really telling at times today! DENIS PARSHIN is allowed to advance all alone to the right faceoff circle, and fed with a brilliant cross ice dish he one times it into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 0:2! Assists- Erik Gustafsson and Miroslav Blatak
     
    13:36
    Sobotka! Vladimir Sobotka edges himself into space between the circles, wrists strongly, and Mark Dekanich is very grateful to watch that spin wide of the right hand post!
     
    12:52
    Just as Medvescak were starting to turn the tide a bit they have picked up a very untimely penalty, as now Mark Katic has been handed a two minute minor for interference
     
    11:23
    And now a dangerous wrister is fired in from the point, and with Mike Glumac sniffing around for any second helpings Konstantin Barulin gets his glove on it to freeze!
     
    10:30
    Flood! Out of nothing Medvescak should really be on terms! Mark Flood sprints down the left wing, is fed with a cutting cross ice pass, and looks to wrist directly into the netminder's chest when all alone!
     
    08:36
    Avangard will be very relieved to having got the breakthrough already, and that should help them settle into their game! Konstantin Barulin in their net has barely touched the puck at all so far!
     
    08:02
    Goal for Avangard!
    With their first real chance of the day Avangard draw first blood! DENIS KULYASH is fed waiting at the blue line, and he wrists firmly beyond the goalkeeper who appeared to be unsighted! It's 0:1! Assists- Kirill Semyonov
     
    06:27
    The hosts looked solid during that time and are back at full strength. Avangard are having all of the possession early on, but are struggling to get too many shots on goal away
     
    04:27
    We have the first penalty of the game and it's gone against Medvescak, with their defenceman Shaone Morrisonn being called for interference
     
    03:28
    Denis Parshin battles his way into the attacking zone, flicks the puck into the air bursting between two defenders, and before he can catch it up goaltender Mark Dekanich grabs a hold of it
     
    01:08
    Avangard's Alexander Perezhogin charges down the left wing, looks to have outpaced his opponent, and when looking to shot he is eventually pushed off the puck
     
    00:41
    Off we go inside the Dom Sportova in Zagreb! Avangard are big favourites today, however they can't be over confident! And we begin with the visitors committing a couple of offsides
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Russian and Croatian national anthems we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Medvescak Zagreb: Dekanich (Heeter)- Flood, Morrisonn, Kolanos, Leino, Wright- Popovic, Carle, Thomas, Bjorkstrand, McLean- Kinrade, Hutchinson, Trotter, Katic, St. Pierre- Kostovic, Glumac, Perkovich, Hedberg

    Avangard Omsk: Barulin (Shilin)- Blatak, Gustafsson, Sobotka, Parshin, Kalinin- Lyamin, Kulyash, Berdnikov, Lemtyugov, Wandell- Kulik, Pivtaskin, Popov, Perezhogin, Kolarik- Goncharov, Semyonov, Rasskazov, Kuryanov, Shirokov

    Referees: Alexey Ravodin, Jyri Ronn, Juris Balodis, Alexey Medvedev.
     
    Last campaign Medvescak made the first round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, where they were knocked out by eventual finalists Lev Prague. Avangard didn't make the playoffs, but went on to win the Nadezhda Cup.
     
    Medvescak lost a number of key players over the summer and they just haven't been able to cope, with only 43 points from 39 games, and lying in 13th place of the Western Conference. Avangard however have been in superb form, winning their past four on the bounce and second in the Eastern Conference with 75 points.
     
    Good evening and welcome to this KHL regular season match between Medvescak Zagreb and Avangard Omsk. The hosts have to win to keep any fluttering playoff hopes alive, whereas Avangard have no such worries.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 31. Katic (Pierre, Wright), 57. McLean (Carle, Kinrade) – 9. Kulyash (Semyonov), 14. Parshin (Gustafsson, Blatak), 17. Parshin (Pivtsakin, Sobotka), 20. Kolarik (Popov, Perezhogin), 22. Perezhogin (Pivtsakin), 44. Pivtsakin (Sobotka)

    Medvescak Zagreb: Dekanich (Heeter)- Flood, Morrisonn, Kolanos, Leino, Wright- Popovic, Carle, Thomas, Bjorkstrand, McLean- Kinrade, Hutchinson, Trotter, Katic, St. Pierre- Kostovic, Glumac, Perkovich, Hedberg
    Avangard Omsk: Barulin (Shilin)- Blatak, Gustafsson, Sobotka, Parshin, Kalinin- Lyamin, Kulyash, Berdnikov, Lemtyugov, Wandell- Kulik, Pivtaskin, Popov, Perezhogin, Kolarik- Goncharov, Semyonov, Rasskazov, Kuryanov, Shirokov
    Referees: Alexey Ravodin, Jyri Ronn, Juris Balodis, Alexey Medvedev
    Attendance: 4500