KHL
SKA St. Petersburg – Torpedo 6:3 (end)
final
SKA St. Petersburg
6:3 (3:1, 3:0, 0:2)
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Friday 27.02.2015, 17:30 • The Ice Palace of Saint Petersburg • KHL
     
    There indeed is the final buzzer, and SKA Saint Petersburg have held on to take the first game of this KHL Gagarin Cup first round series 6:3 at home! Torpedo showed character, although their lack in class did tell. Vadim Shipachyov ,Tony Martensson, Ilya Kablukov, Roman Cervenka, Jimmie Ericsson and Evgeniy Dadonov all netted for SKA, with Wojtech Wolski and Jarkko Immonen with a double replying for the visitors. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (00:34:26)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:47
    The final seconds are indeed already here, and SKA are heading for a tricky 6:3 opening Gagarin Cup playoffs win over Torpedo at home!
     
    57:34
    With time ticking down Torpedo are piling on the pressure, they haven't lost all hope yet! Defensively SKA are rather shaky at times that's for sure!
     
    55:22
    Kuteikin! It's a SKA three on one on the right wing, it's moved back to Andrey Kuteikin steaming down the centre, and h's one timer is denied by the sprawling Ivan Kasutin!
     
    54:41
    Makarov! Wojtech Wolski tees up Alexander Makarov at the high slot, however he contrives to wrist up and out of play! He's disappointed that he couldn't keep it down!
     
    52:12
    Krasnoslobodtsev! Torpedo are full of confidence now, they believe in miracles! Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev sprints down, pulls the trigger on the run, and it's directly down Mikko Koskinen's throat!
     
    50:57
    A timeout has now been taken by SKA, they are in a bit of trouble now and need to do something to change the tide!
     
    50:57
    Goal for Torpedo!
    This one has been counted now! A loose rebound falls to the right wing, and JARKKO IMMONEN wrists past the stranded Mikko Koskinen! It's 6:3!
     
    50:11
    Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev forces the puck over the line when on a shorthanded rush! But no, it's been ruled off for having too many players on the crease in front of the netminder! Head Torpedo coach Peteris Skudra isn't happy about that!
     
    48:36
    A penalty has been called against Torpedo here, and forward Alexey Potapov has been handed an untimely two minute minor for roughing
     
    48:33
    Kablukov! It's a seriously open game now! Anton Burdasov powers down the left flank, lashes it far post, and Ilya Kablukov is just too close to Ivan Kasutin to set himself!
     
    47:05
    All of a sudden panic seems to have come over SKA! The defence is all over the place, Mikko Koskinen is sliding about, and glove side Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev misses an already empty net from point blank range!
     
    45:41
    Goal for Torpedo!
    Torpedo have been rewarded for keeping the puck deep inside SKA's zone! It's played across from an awkward angle on the right, and WOJTECH WOLSKI bats it down and in! It's 6:2!
     
    44:00
    It's been a quiet start to the period so far, SKA are letting Torpedo hold more of the puck, while the hosts are waiting to step it up at any needed moment
     
    41:24
    Filatov! Nikita Filatov frees himself of his marker, wrists with danger from the right, and Mikko Koskinen gets his big frame in the way to deny him!
     
    40:50
    Here we go in the third period! SKA have this already wrapped up, surely, but Torpedo won't want to completely lay down!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after two periods:

    Shots: 35-27
    Shots on target: 20-13
    Faceoffs: 24-22
    Hits: 14-18
    Penalty minutes: 10-16
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:47
    Goal for SKA!
    It really could end up to be any sort of score today! Behind the net EVGENIY DADONOV holds up the puck, slides it back, and glove side it takes a killer deflection deceiving Ivan Kasutin! It's 6:1!
     
    39:00
    And for roughing in the aftermath Wojtech Wolski along with young SKA defenceman Dmitry Yudin is on his way to the penalty box
     
    39:00
    Wolski! Wojtech Wolski rips the sleeping Roman Rukavishninkov of the puck by the right boards, and is denied by the goaltender when cutting in close!
     
    37:54
    The puck is whipped across the face of goal from the left wing by tricky Finn Jarkko Immonen, and Mikko Koskinen calmly covers it with his glove not causing any panic. He has been as solid as a rock for SKA so far today!
     
    36:01
    Sakari Salminen is allowed to shield with the backhand, cut to the crease, and slides into Mikko Koskinen's waiting grasp! That was some sort of chance for Torpedo!
     
    35:45
    Vadim Shipachyov almost slips through one on one, however goaltender Ivan Kasutin gets to the puck first to cover. SKA are so full of energy today, they look like scoring with every attack!
     
    33:06
    Goal for SKA!
    That is surely that today! Maxim Chudinov wonderfully finds JIMMIE ERICSSON's stick on the slot, and the latter equally perfectly tips in! Powerplay goal and it's 5:1! Assists- Patrick Thoresen and Maxim Chudinov
     
    31:29
    Only seconds after coming back to full strength Torpedo have taken another needless penalty, as for interference Vladimir Malevich has been called
     
    30:45
    Thoresen! Patrick Thoresen has space bearing down on the left, attempts to lift the puck over Ivan Kasutin, and the netminder tips it over! That wasn't far away at all, SKA are putting on the pressure seriously hard!
     
    29:11
    Torpedo are now going to have to be with only four players, as Dmitriy Kazionov has been hit by the referees for cross checking
     
    28:31
    SKA do now have five players back on the ice again. They did better on that penalty kill, keeping Torpedo further away from their zone
     
    28:13
    Wolski! Wojtech Wolski slaps when bursting down the right wing, and as it threatens to get away from him Mikko Koskinen covers it up just in time! And for a bust up following that, SKA's Andrey Kuteikin and Vali Matti Savinainen of Torpedo have both been sent to the penalty box
     
    26:49
    Jarkko Immonen wrists not once but twice from the point, and traffic in front get the job done for SKA as it's deflected up and out of play
     
    26:15
    However the referee has his arm up for a penalty against the on fire hosts, as defenceman Yury Alexandrov has been found guilty of hooking
     
    25:32
    All the play is with SKA again now, that fourth goal was really needed as to feel comfortable again! Torpedo netminder Ivan Kasutin can expect to work a lot harder!
     
    23:24
    Goal for SKA!
    That is a very important goal for SKA who were coming under pressure! Lengthy build up play is finished off by ROMAN CERVENKA on the left faceoff circle, and he quite beautifully wrists into the far corner! Powerplay goal and it's 4:1!
     
    21:59
    The visitors have taken all the wind out of their own sails now however, as Denis Kazionov for interference while attacking has been penalised
     
    21:44
    Stolyarov! SKA look shaky all of a sudden! Viktor Tikhonov poorly coughs up the puck in his own zone, Gennady Stolyarov moves in from the right, however cannot find any room in which to get a shot away!
     
    20:23
    Torpedo have the first attack of the second frame, as by the right post Mikko Koskinen sticks it down with his glove with bodies piling up around him. They will have some confidence now!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 19-15
    Shots on target: 10-7
    Faceoffs: 9-11
    Hits: 9-9
    Penalty minutes: 2-4
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:51
    It's now already the final seconds of a pulsating first period, with that Torpedo goal knocking SKA off their stride at an important moment!
     
    19:23
    Goal for Torpedo!
    As that penalty was coming to an end Torpedo strike what could be a vital marker! JARKKO IMMONEN is found on the doorstep, and he brilliantly one times into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 3:1! Assists- Wojtech Wolski and Sakari Salminen
     
    19:12
    Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev skates into SKA's zone, with a defenceman in front of him tries his luck, and the crouching Mikko Koskinen takes it in at the second attempt
     
    17:35
    Out of virtually nothing SKA have picked up a penalty, as for high sticking forward Viktor Tikhonov has been punished! It's a great chance for Torpedo to get on the board!
     
    15:56
    Dmitriy Kalinin escapes his marker at the high slot, and when going five hole Ivan Kasutin sees it in time to get something on it. He has looked solid after being inserted into the game!
     
    14:23
    Ivan Kasutin makes his first save now, and what a save! A huge goalmouth scramble erupts, and Anton Burdasov's backhanded rebound is somehow swept away by the netminder!
     
    12:41
    Malevich! That was close for Torpedo! Defenceman Vladimir Malevich drifts all the way around the net to the right post, and his wraparound is shut down by Mikko Koskinen at the last moment!
     
    10:26
    On that note Torpedo have taken a well needed timeout, with netminder Evgeniy Biryukov now being pulled for Ivan Kasutin! He had a personal nightmare during those minutes!
     
    10:26
    Goal for SKA!
    Is this game already out of sight? ILYA KABLUKOV squeezes in from the right to the middle, and near post catches Evgeniy Biryukov unawares! It's 3:0! Assists- Anton Burdasov
     
    09:22
    And Torpedo thankfully for themselves at back at full strength, they need something on which to build with all the pressure coming at one end!
     
    09:19
    Ilya Kovalchuk pulls his stick back, and slams the puck against Torpedo's crossbar! The visitors really are living a charmed life at the moment, they weren't prepared for this at all!
     
    08:05
    Kuteikin! He really can hit them! On the left flank Andrey Kuteikin is set up for a huge slapper, and he fails to hit the target! It was an absolute rocket!
     
    07:22
    The visitors simply aren't learning their lesson at all, as now for interference again Torpedo Artyom Alyaev has handed SKA another man's advantage to keep the heat on!
     
    07:00
    Krasnoslobodtsev! Torpedo finally get something going here! As they're in danger of seriously going under Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev takes aim glove side, and with heavy traffic in front of him he misses the far post not by much!
     
    05:19
    Goal for SKA!
    SKA are most certainly rolling now! Patrick Thoresen feeds TONY MARTENSSON alone by the left hand post, and the latter makes no mistake! Powerplay goal and it's 2:0! Assists- Patrick Thoresen
     
    03:50
    Kuteikin! That was a gaping opportunity! Andrey Kuteikin is open between the circles, wrists as hard as he can, and he misses the left corner by inches!
     
    03:18
    We already have the first penalty and it's against the under pressure Torpedo, as Dmitriy Kazionov has been called for interference
     
    02:24
    SKA's netminder Mikko Koskinen makes his first save of the day, as he flashes leather brilliantly to shut down Jarkko Immonen from a tough opposite angle. Torpedo have to keep their heads, and try to keep the deficit at only one for as long as they can!
     
    01:09
    Goal for SKA!
    Wow, what a start for SKA! That's what they would have dreamed about! VADIM SHIPACHYOV is all alone just past the blue line, and he thrashes it over the goalkeeper's left pad and in! It's 1:0! Assists- Evgeniy Dadonov and Andrey Kuteikin
     
    00:18
    The KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs are underway! And the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace is completely full to the brim!
     
    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:

    SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ezhov)- Kalinin, Rukavishnikov, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Cervenka- Y Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Ketov, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, N Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Tikhonov- Ermakov, Yudin, Burdasov, Kablukov, Khokhryakov

    Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod: Biryukov (Kasutin)- Pepelyaev, Hietanen, Salminen, Immonen, Wolski- Blazhievskiy, Bernatskiy, Filatov, Galuzin, Krasnoslobodtsev- Malevich, Alyaev, Denis Kazionov, Dmitriy Kazionov, Stolyarov- Makarov, Potapov, Savinainen, Dvurechenskiy, Mozer

    Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Konstantin Olenin, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming.
     
    During the KHL regular season SKA beat Torpedo 5:2 in Saint Petersburg, before then following that up with a 1:0 shootout triumph away.
     
    As usual the KHL Gagarin Cup playoff series will be won by the first team to win four games, making it a best of seven. This series promises to be very intriguing, with regular season second placed and giants SKA taking on a very tricky Torpedo side, which only just sneaked into the post-season in seventh of the Western Conference with 90 points.
     
    Good evening and welcome to this KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs first round match between SKA Saint Petersburg and HC Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. We have all been waiting for the playoffs, as this is where the real business begins!
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 2. Shipachyov (Dadonov, Kuteikin), 6. Martensson (Thoresen), 11. Kablukov (Burdasov), 24. Cervenka, 34. Ericsson (Thoresen, Chudinov), 40. Dadonov – 20. Immonen (Wolski, Salminen), 46. Wolski, 51. Immonen

    SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ezhov)- Kalinin, Rukavishnikov, Kovalchuk, Ericsson, Cervenka- Y Alexandrov, Kuteikin, Ketov, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Chudinov, N Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Tikhonov- Ermakov, Yudin, Burdasov, Kablukov, Khokhryakov
    Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod: Biryukov (Kasutin)- Pepelyaev, Hietanen, Salminen, Immonen, Wolski- Blazhievskiy, Bernatskiy, Filatov, Galuzin, Krasnoslobodtsev- Malevich, Alyaev, Denis Kazionov, Dmitriy Kazionov, Stolyarov- Makarov, Potapov, Savinainen, Dvurechenskiy, Mozer
    Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Konstantin Olenin, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming
    Attendance: 12337