KHL
SKA St. Petersburg – Torpedo 6:3 (end) | SKA St. Petersburg – Torpedo 1:2 (end)
final
SKA St. Petersburg
1:2 (1:2, 0:0, 0:0)
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Saturday 28.02.2015, 15:00 • The Saint Petersburg Ice Palace • KHL
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 15:00.
     
    Hello and welcome to this KHL Gagarin Cup first round playoff match between SKA Saint Petersburg and HC Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. This is the second game in the series, with the first having been played yesterday.
     
    It really was a rip roaring affair yesterday, as SKA, despite seeing a 6:1 lead be cut, held on to take game one 6:3. That will give the Saint Petersburg side a lot of confidence going into this one, however that late Torpedo comeback will have given them something to build on for today.
     
    Today's hosts SKA finished in second place of the Western Conference during the regular season, with Torpedo being the seventh seeds.
     
    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: Kasutin (Biryukov)- Hietanen, Pepelyaev, Galuzin, Filatov, Krasnoslobodtsev- Blazhievskiy, Bernatskiy, Wolski, Salminen, Immonen- Alyaev, Malevich, Stolyarov, Mozer, Dmitriy Kazionov- Makarov, Denis Kazionov, Savinainen, Dvurechenskiy, Potapov

    Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Konstantin Olenin, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming.
     
    The teams are now being presented to the expectant crowd, and after the Russian national anthem we'll be beginning!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:18
    Here we go! SKA will want to take control over this series today, while Torpedo would love an away win!
     
    02:25
    We have the first shot on target here, as Roman Cervenka's effort is taken in by Torpedo netminder Ivan Kasutin. SKA will aim to have the initiative today, with their visitors searching for chances on the counterattack
     
    04:21
    Torpedo hold the puck deep inside SKA's zone for what seems an age, Artyom Alyaev ends up slapping, and at the second attempt Mikko Koskinen covers it up with his stick
     
    07:11
    Goal for Torpedo!
    It has been deserved as Torpedo have been sharp during these first few minutes! A huge goalmouth scramble erupts, and EVGENIY MOZER stuffs it over the line! It's 0:1! Assists- Dmitriy Kazionov
     
    08:01
    That will be a bit of a shock to the system for SKA, and they will want to get back on terms as soon as they van! They haven't got out of the blocks at all today so far!
     
    08:11
    Andrey Ermakov loses sight of the puck behind his own net, it crawls around to the right post, and Mikko Koskinen is alert killing the danger with his glove
     
    09:02
    The first penalty of the day has been called and it's against both sides, with SKA's Roman Cervenka called for interference while Jarkko Immonen of Torpedo for roughing has also been punished
     
    09:29
    Goal for Torpedo!
    Torpedo are threatening to take this game by the scruff of the neck! ARTYOM BLAZHIEVSKIY takes aim from between the circles, and Mikko Koskinen fails to get enough on it! It's 0:2! Assists- Vladimir Malevich and Gennady Stolyarov
     
    11:08
    And now it's a full strength hockey game again. SKA haven't created a thing yet, they have to wake up to stop this game from getting away from them!
     
    12:22
    Goal for SKA!
    That could be just what SKA need! ROMAN RUKAVISHNIKOV powers in from the right flank, and at the second attempt forces the puck into the net It's 1:2! Assists- Evgeniy Ketov
     
    14:19
    You can feel the energy going through SKA now, they want to get back level very quickly! Torpedo however have to remain solid, and not lose their heads at the back
     
    16:08
    SKA's pressure has now earned a very useful powerplay, as Torpedo defenceman Vladimir Malevich has been penalised for slashing
     
    17:42
    Tikhonov! What a chance to find the net! Ilya Kovalchuk is all on his own down the right, he squares for Viktor Tikhonov, and somehow the latter doesn't score! It seemed impossible to miss!
     
    18:08
    Torpedo will be very relieved to come back to full strength, and they can continuing defending now with five outfield players
     
    19:44
    The final seconds of the opening period are now upon us, with Torpedo having the better of things at the moment!
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    Statistics after the first period:

    Shots: 17-16
    Shots on target: 9-10
    Faceoffs: 7-9
    Hits: 12-13
    Penalty minutes: 2-4
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    21:47
    The second stanza is go! SKA are only down by one now, and will be sure of getting their second!
     
    22:19
    Ilya Kablukov beats his opponent for pace on the right wing, backhands it across, and with Anton Burdasov it's deflected out wide!
     
    25:17
    Icing is committed by Torpedo. It's been a better start to the period from SKA now, they are visabally pressing with more desire against the boards
     
    27:12
    Very little is still happening here, for all of their possession SKA are wasteful with it when breaking forward and are lacking any real ideas
     
    29:11
    A very sneaky feed is flashed across SKA's slot from the left, and no one can reach it! Mikko Koskinen would have had a job getting anything on it from point blank range!
     
    29:44
    SKA have taken a very unneeded penalty here, as Anton Burdasov has cheaply been called for tripping while attacking
     
    31:44
    Not an awful lot was created during that time though, and SKA won't want to take any more silly fouls as they're back to full strength
     
    33:24
    Torpedo work the puck cleverly back to the point, Sergey Bernatskiy takes a huge slap, and Mikko Koskinen does well to hold on to it! The visitors are very tricky when attacking!
     
    34:09
    SKA's Evgeniy Dadonov gets something going for his team from distance, however it doesn't really trouble Ivan Kasutin at all
     
    34:28
    A massive powerplay opportunity is coming up for SKA now, as Dmitriy Kazionov of Torpedo has been found guilty of slashing
     
    35:46
    Jimmie Ericsson hangs on the doorstep for the puck, takes two hacks at it, and in the end Ivan Kasutin flashes leather to catch it! The pressure is being upped slightly!
     
    36:27
    The visitors' penalty kill is working a lot more effectively today, and they are back at full strength. They're still keeping SKA at distance solidly, defending with confidence
     
    37:30
    Kablukov! Ilya Kablukov is all on his own to the right of the slot, slips it across the face of goal, and Evgeniy Ketov just can't get something on it! That was an ideal chance to get their second!
     
    38:14
    Torpedo's forward Vladimir Galuzin has been caught delaying the game, and it's another SKA powerplay! Torpedo have to commit less fouls at such a time in the game!
     
    39:51
    The second period is now drawing to a close, and SKA are still down by one as they can't get their game together in the attack!
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes:

    Shots: 35-30
    Shots on target: 21-19
    Faceoffs: 19-14
    Hits: 19-22
    Penalty minutes: 4-8
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:21
    As the third and vital period begins, Torpedo come back to full strength again. SKA have only one period left to score again, and Torpedo are very solid at the back today!
     
    41:38
    Here's a rather strange moment, as the net falls directly on top of Mikko Koskinen capturing him in it! That was odd to look at!
     
    43:34
    Shipachyov! Vadim Shipachyov is almost through one on one, however when pulling to the left he loses control of the puck and it comes to nothing!
     
    44:36
    Torpedo commit icing. So little is being created by SKA at the moment, it isn't hard for Torpedo to clear their lines when the puck does roll near towards their net
     
    46:11
    Mikko Koskinen crouches down glove side, catches the puck and comfortably holds on. He has been solid enough for SKA after conceding those two early goals in the first period
     
    46:41
    Evgeniy Ketov shows a remarkable show of speed here and he's earned a vital SKA powerplay, as for hooking Torpedo's Sergey Bernatskiy has been called
     
    48:41
    And another penalty has been called against Torpedo, they can't keep doing this! And this is a really silly one, as they have been caught with having too many men on the ice!
     
    50:51
    Ilya Kovalchuk wrists directly into Ivan Kasutin's midriff from the blue line, and Torpedo are back at full strength. SKA can't get set up in Torpedo's zone for a prolonged amount of time, and despite all their pressure aren't creating many chances!
     
    53:00
    The puck is set back to the point, Andrey Kuteikin wrists with serious power, and with his stick Ivan Kasutin somehow keeps it out! He can expect to be a very busy man now as time begins to run down!
     
    54:40
    Wojtech Wolski twists around the net to the right post, and his deflected wraparound is caught by Mikko Koskinen. Torpedo are doing a great job of keeping the puck out of their zone, and in turn seriously frustrating their opponents!
     
    57:25
    Less than three minutes remain already. so little time is left for SKA to equalise! They have to force the issue!
     
    58:17
    SKA have now called a timeout! They have to come up with a master plan as Torpedo are so far standing firm!
     
    59:08
    And goaltender Mikko Koskinen has now been pulled for the extra skater! It's their final roll of the dice!
     
    59:55
    The final seconds are now here, and Torpedo are taking away a very valuable victory away 2:1!
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    There's the final buzzer, and HC Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod have made it a tied 1:1 series with a 2:1 away victory against SKA Saint Petersburg! They were tactically stronger than SKA, and fully deserve their victory. Evgeniy Mozer and Arryom Blazhievskiy struck for the victors, with Roman Rukavishnikov replying for SKA. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more thrilling KHL action! (01:14:37)
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 13. Rukavishnikov (Ketov) – 8. Mozer (Kazionov), 10. Blazhievskiy (Malevich, Stolyarov)

    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: Kasutin (Biryukov)- Hietanen, Pepelyaev, Galuzin, Filatov, Krasnoslobodtsev- Blazhievskiy, Bernatskiy, Wolski, Salminen, Immonen- Alyaev, Malevich, Stolyarov, Mozer, Dmitriy Kazionov- Makarov, Denis Kazionov, Savinainen, Dvurechenskiy, Potapov
    Referees: Vyacheslav Bulanov, Konstantin Olenin, Sergey Misyur, Stanislav Raming
    Attendance: 12336