KHL
Cherepovets – Novokuznetsk 3:0 (end)
final
Severstal Cherepovets
3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Friday 06.02.2015, 17:00 • Ice Palace of Cherepovets • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and HC Severstal Cherepovets have maintained their play-off push with a comfortable 3:0 triumph over Metallurg Novokuznetsk! They were never troubled in truth, and they could have scored a lot more. Evgeniy Mons, Anatoliy Nikontsev and Sergey Monakhov found the net, with Jakub Stepanek faultless between the pipes. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (19:21:32)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:53
    It is now the final seconds of the game, as Severstal are cruising to a priceless 3:0 victory on home ice!
     
    59:28
    Metallurg defenceman Kayde Fairchild all of sudden finds himself one on one, he sharply goes blocker side, and Jakub Stepanek comes up with a huge save to keep his shutout intact!
     
    58:21
    Galimov! That's the first true Metallurg chance for a very, very long time! A loose Severstal lets in Ansel Galimov, and his screamer of a wrist shot clatters into the boards!
     
    57:37
    It's gone all quiet here now, Metallurg know that the game is up and both teams are playing the final few minutes out
     
    55:08
    Buchnevich! Again he's at the heart of the action! Pavel Buchnevich takes on the entire Metallurg defence, takes a slash when skating down, and it whistles past the right post!
     
    54:25
    Severstal's star forward Pavel Buchnevich twists around from the right faceoff circle, shoots with power, and it's a very awkward puck for the netminder to grab!
     
    52:43
    Mons! Sergey Monakhov displays his physical strength on the left, picks out Evgeniy Mons on the tip of the slot, and the latter one times it into Rafael Khakimov's chest!
     
    50:41
    Logan Pyett wrists from the blue line with heavy traffic in front of him, and the Metallurg shuffle it out wide. Severstal are having an easy time of it today, as their visitors have barely given them a challenge!
     
    49:36
    Goal for Severstal!
    They most certainly have deserved that! Anatoliy Nikontsev battles for the puck against the right boards, squares it, and SERGEY MONAKHOV clinically finds the net! It's 3:0! Assists- Anatoliy Nikontsev
     
    47:33
    Alexey Kosourov shows a promising turn of pace on the right, and having shook off his marker he wrists powerfully into Jakub Stepanek's glove
     
    47:13
    And both teams have their full quota of players back into the action again. Chances aren't coming overly regularly, as Severstal will be more focused on keeping the back door shut as time rolls on
     
    45:13
    Metallurg netminder Rafael Khakimov is rolling around in pain, and indeed Severstal forward Evgeniy Mons has equalled the numbers up as a result of tripping
     
    44:48
    The heat is building inside Metallurg's zone, and they have been forced into taking a penalty as Nikita Khlystov has been called for tripping
     
    44:20
    Directly off a faceoff draw on the right a strong wrist shot is dashed in, and Rafael Khakimov is happy to see it drift wide of his blocker
     
    42:57
    Sergey Monakhov thrashes in a wraparound attempt by the right post, and despite the goal horn going off the referees wave play on! The home fans are up on their feet about that!
     
    41:37
    Metallurg thump the puck into the danger zone from well outside the attacking zone, and Jakub Stepanek isn't sleeping as he gathers comfortably
     
    41:30
    After that late bust up in the second, it's a five on five hockey game again. Severstal's Nikolay Kazakovtsev did receive a 2+10 punishment however, and he will stay in the penalty box for a further eight minutes
     
    40:23
    The third period has begun! Severstal have their own destiny in their hands, but they can't afford to take their foot off the gas!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots: 46-21
    Shots on target: 25-11
    Faceoffs: 27-19
    Hits: 8-13
    Penalty minutes: 16-6
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:51
    It is now the final seconds of the second frame, with Metallurg having to show some character if they want to make it a real contest!
     
    39:30
    Virtually out of nothing a fight begins next to Severstal's bench! Metallurg's Nikita Kamalov throws off his gloves with Nikolay Kazakovtsev of Severstal, and both are off to the penalty box for that!
     
    39:02
    Pavel Chernov is the next to try his luck for the home team, as his fired cannon is fielded solidly by the netminder crouched down on his knees
     
    38:41
    Kagarlitskiy! What a brilliant chance to score the third! A terrible turnover lets in Dmitriy Kagarlitskiy slightly to the right, and Rafael Khakimov makes an expert glove save to shut him down!
     
    38:03
    As soon as I say that Metallurg forward Alexander Romanov wriggles free down the right flank, dumps in a rising wrister, and it's neatly caught by the goalkeeper
     
    37:51
    All of the possession is being had by the hosts, Metallurg really are contributing very little to the game! Severstal's Jakub Stepanek is a spectator most of the time!
     
    35:32
    Maxim Trunyov wrists skating back to the point, the rebound pops back to the tip of the crease, and the ensuing rebound sails inches wide of the left hand post!
     
    34:04
    As Dmitriy Kagarlitskiy's low effort from the left is kicked away near post, Metallurg come back to full strength, Both side's penalty kills are working a treat today!
     
    32:04
    A foul has unsurprisingly been found during that play, and for tripping Metallurg's Nikita Khlystov has made his team's task a lot harder!
     
    32:04
    Buchnevich! Pavel Buchnevich glove side brilliantly cuts to the crease, and just as he's shaping to shoot he roughly barged off the puck! It could have been three just like that!
     
    31:20
    Goal for Severstal!
    That will make them feel more at ease! Metallurg's defence goes missing as it's a Severstal two on one down the right, and far post ANATOLIY NIKONTSEV makes no mistake! It's 2:0! Assists- Nikolay Stasenko and Vadim Berdnikov
     
    30:49
    Icing is committed by Severstal. The Ice Palace of Cherepovets is full to the rafters today, and their home fans are enjoying what they are seeing from their team!
     
    29:24
    Metallurg's powerplay isn't particularly effective today, and their opponents have five players on the ice again
     
    27:24
    They have taken a rather untimely penalty here though, as for hooking defenceman Ilya Khokhlov has been penalised
     
    27:11
    Rafael Khakimov now clings on to another slapper from the blue line. Severstal are attacking with force, and they want to keep putting the heat on their opponents with the score only 1:0!
     
    25:40
    Severstal's Zakhar Arzamatsev finds a bit of space between the circles, he winds up with feeling, and the goaltender has an awkward job of fending it off!
     
    23:58
    Romanov! That was an ideal opportunity to get Metallurg on the board! Off a clever dish from the left wing Alexander Romanov is clean through, however he can't take the puck under his spell and the moment is lost!
     
    22:24
    Away netminder Rafael Khakimov makes a couple of quickfire stops off fierce attempts from distance! Despitr already having conceded once, he has been reasonably solid so far
     
    21:26
    Severstal didn't have a lot to do in their own zone and they're back at full strength
     
    20:42
    The second stanza is go! And remember that for a further 01:26 Metallurg are on the powerplay as they aim to get back on terms!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 24-12
    Shots on target: 12-7
    Faceoffs: 13-12
    Hits: 5-7
    Penalty minutes: 2-2
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:51
    The first period is now drawing to a close, with Severstal firmly in control of proceedings at the moment!
     
    19:26
    A rather unneeded penalty has been taken by Severstal now, as Dmitriy Konev has been found guilty of high sticking against his opponent
     
    18:01
    Pyett! Nikolay Kazakovtsev powers behind the net on the right, swings it to the doorstep, and on a juicy rebound Logan Pyett can only find the goalkeeper's midriff!
     
    17:08
    Metallurg aren't having any time inside Severstal's zone at all yet, they aren't taking too much care of possession when with the puck!
     
    16:11
    Tricky forward Dmitriy Kagarlitskiy pulls back to the point, lashes it through looking for a telling touch, and in the end it falls into Rafael Khakimov's grasp
     
    15:23
    Vadim Berdnikov forces himself on to the left of the slot, squeezes the puck across goal, and no one is fast enough to catch up with it
     
    14:21
    Again it's Sergey Monakhov who's on the chase, although this time before he can shoot the netminder emerges from his net to take charge of the situation
     
    13:41
    Severstal's Sergey Monakhov speeds away on the right wing, wrists with pace, and Rafael Khakimov beats it away with his blocker
     
    13:21
    The puck is being played about by both sides flying from one end to another, without too much control on show so far
     
    11:42
    We do indeed now seem to have moving pictures from Cherepovets, and hopefully that will continue for the foreseeable future!
     
    08:55
    Goal for Severstal!
    The hosts break the deadlock! Dmitriy Kagarlitskiy strips a Metallurg defenceman of the puck, pushes forward, and tees up EVGENIY MONS on the right faceoff circle to score! It's 1:0! Assists- Dmitriy Kagarlitskiy
     
    06:56
    Metallurg's were solid defending during that time, and they're back at full strength
     
    04:56
    We have the first penalty of the day here, as Metallurg's Nikita Popov has been called for interference
     
    00:23
    Here we go! Severstal will be wanting to keep their two match winning streak going!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and after the Russian national anthem we'll be getting underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Severstal Cherepovets: Stepanek (Magarilov)- Konev, Arzamatsev, Trubachyov, Trunyov, Buchnevich- Stasenko, Antropov, Kazakovtsev, Monakhov, Kovyrshin- Urbom, Khokhlov, Kagarlitskiy, Mons, Chernov- Pyett, Berdnikov, Kuptsov, Nikontsev, Thuresson

    Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Khakimov (Kareev)- Khlystov, Kamalov, Romanov, Maltsev, Stoa- Popov, Fairchild, Turukin, Komaristiy, Plotnikov- Kapotov, Dorofeev, Galimov, Sentyurin, Garifulin- Gavrilichev, Mitryakov, Malinovskiy, Kosourov

    Referees: Denis Bondar, Roman Schenyov, Ivan Nazarov, Ivan Fateev.
     
    This will be the second meeting between these two sides this campaign, with Severstal having thrashed Metallurg 7:3 in Novokuznetsk.
     
    Despite beginning the season rather averagely Severstal are in the mix of a huge play-off race in the Western Conference, and a win today will take them level on 71 points with Dinamo Riga in eighth place. Metallurg on the other hand have an almost impossible task, languishing in 13th of the Eastern Conference with a megre 46 points.
     
    Hello and welcome to this KHL regular season match between HC Severstal Cherepovets and Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Both sides are losing hope of making the play-offs, however we should be in for an entertaining clash.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:00.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 9. Mons (Kagarlitskiy), 32. Nikontsev (Stasenko, Berdnikov), 50. Monakhov (Nikontsev)

    Severstal Cherepovets: Stepanek (Magarilov)- Konev, Arzamatsev, Trubachyov, Trunyov, Buchnevich- Stasenko, Antropov, Kazakovtsev, Monakhov, Kovyrshin- Urbom, Khokhlov, Kagarlitskiy, Mons, Chernov- Pyett, Berdnikov, Kuptsov, Nikontsev, Thuresson
    Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Khakimov (Kareev)- Khlystov, Kamalov, Romanov, Maltsev, Stoa- Popov, Fairchild, Turukin, Komaristiy, Plotnikov- Kapotov, Dorofeev, Galimov, Sentyurin, Garifulin- Gavrilichev, Mitryakov, Malinovskiy, Kosourov
    Referees: Denis Bondar, Roman Schenyov, Ivan Nazarov, Ivan Fateev
    Attendance: 3960