KHL
CSKA – SKA St. Petersburg 2:3 (end)
final
CSKA Moscow
2:3 (0:1, 2:1, 0:1)
SKA St. Petersburg
Tuesday 07.04.2015, 18:30 • LDS CSKA • KHL
     
    There is the final buzzer, and SKA Saint Petersburg have become the first ever KHL club to come back from three down to take the series 4:3 with a 3:2 win today! They played to their strengths, and fully deserve to qualify for the grand final. Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeniy Dadonov and Patrick Thoresen struck for the victors, with Alexander Radulov and Stephane Da Costa replying for CSKA. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more pulsating KHL action! (21:23:30)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:36
    Oh dear, CSKA have now taken a terrible penalty with only 24 seconds to go! Stephane Da Costa has taken SKA's Anton Belov's head off, and he won't get away with doing that with the last few seconds already here! What a stunning effort this has been from SKA, simply wow!
     
    59:17
    The visitors have also chosen to take advantage of their timeout, they know how close they are and they don't want to throw away their lead now!
     
    58:34
    CSKA head coach has already opted to pull goaltender Kevin Lalande for the extra skater! It's the last roll of the dice for the hosts!
     
    58:34
    The puck almost gets away from Mikko Koskinen by the right post, however he does manage to get a hold of it in the end. And already CSKA have now taken a timeout!
     
    56:26
    Time is starting to tick down now and CSKA can't create anything as yet, SKA are defending with confidence while keeping the puck away from their zone for the most part
     
    52:31
    SKA are going to have to defend for their lives now, and Mikko Koskinen takes in the puck by his stick. The hosts are under pressure now, and have to go all out!
     
    51:34
    However seconds later at the other end CSKA defenceman Denis Denisov bats the puck down out of mid air and in! But no, the referee waves it off for a clear high stick and we play on with SKA still leading 3:2!
     
    50:41
    Goal for SKA!
    They have their craved lead once again! Anton Belov launches from the point, and blocker side PATRICK THORESEN tips it in with serious skill! It's 2:3! Assists- Anton Belov
     
    50:02
    Cervenka! What an opportunity to give SKA the lead again! Roman Cervenka is shut down five hole when one on one, and Jimmie Ericsson can't bury the rebound! The CSKA defence went missing there!
     
    49:01
    Da Costa! Stephane Da Costa moves forward with one defenceman covering him, and his dangerous looking attempt is deflected up and inches over Mikko Koskinen's crossbar
     
    47:15
    The puck really does have to stop being turned over by SKA in their own their own end! Again they do it as off the left boards it falls at Igor Grigorenko's stick, however he fails to control it when closing down
     
    45:35
    SKA were solid defending during that time though, and will be very pleased to be back at full strength
     
    43:35
    And now it will become a CSKA powerplay, as away defenceman Maxim Chudinov has taken a slashing penalty at a very unwisely time!
     
    42:47
    Both teams have had a penalty called against them here, as both for roughing SKA's Anton Burdasov and Grigoriy Panin of CSKA have been sent for a sit down
     
    42:38
    Vadim Shipachyov escapes his marker off the left faceoff circle, he puts in a rather difficult wrister, and home goaltender Kevin Lalande makes a tough diving save to deny him
     
    40:54
    The puck has dropped for the third period! CSKA will be feeling better about themselves having got on level terms, while SKA need a pick me up!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the first two periods:

    Shots:
    Shots on target: 28-17
    Faceoffs: 19-28
    Hits:
    Penalty minutes: 2-4
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:56
    The second period is now drawing to a close, with it all set up to be a thrilling third coming in a few minutes' time!
     
    39:13
    Goal for CSKA!
    Just like that it's all level again! SKA really do need the second break! The visitors poorly turn over the puck, and STEPHANE DA COSTA nets from a great position on the right up close! It's 2:2! Assists- Evgeniy Korotkov and Igor Grigorenko
     
    37:41
    Radulov! What a chance to make it a tied game already! Panic seems to be setting in for SKA as Alexander Radulov is all alone by the right post, however his feed across is brilliantly taken in by Mikko Koskinen! He should really have done better there!
     
    37:25
    The hosts are now laying siege to SKA's net, they have smelt blood and are going hard at it from all areas of the zone! That goal didn't look like coming but it will help them improve!
     
    36:28
    Goal for CSKA!
    Out of nothing CSKA get on the board! Andrey Stas dumps the puck in from the left flank, and ALEXANDER RADULOV expertly tips it in! It's 1:2! Assists- Igor Grigorenko and Andrey Stas
     
    34:13
    Cervenka! Roman Cervenka thumps his initial wrister over the crossbar, it lands back on the danger zone, however he is too much off balance to turn it on target! Kevin Lalande for CSKA didn't have a clue where it was and got lucky!
     
    32:02
    The puck stays well inside SKA's zone for what seems an age, it's launched in from the right boards as it makes its way back, and the netminder sees it all the way to not give up any rebounds
     
    30:44
    Grigorenko! Igor Grigorenko finds a small hole cutting in beyond the blue line, takes aim with power, and Mikko Koskinen kicks it wide! He will have more work to do now!
     
    29:10
    Pyotr Khokhryakov holds the puck on an awkward angle to the right, slides it across, and with Ilya Kablukov hacking away for it Kevin Lalande freezes! SKA are looking ever more confident, and will be thrilled to already have a two goal lead in such a game!
     
    27:33
    Goal for SKA!
    Just what an important goal this could be for SKA! The puck pops out to the left of the crease, and EVGENIY DADONOV sends it home top shelf far post! It's 0:2!
     
    25:21
    Not too much was created by SKA during that time, and their opponents are back at full strength again
     
    25:01
    Patrick Thoresen wanders in when open on the left, wrists with Jimmie Ericsson blocking the goaltender's view, however Kevin Lalande still flashes leather neatly
     
    23:21
    The hosts have now received their first penalty here, as for hooking Grigoriy Panin has been punished
     
    23:00
    Hjalmarsson! That was a bit of a mess defensively for SKA! Mikko Koskinen loses sight of a bouncing puck blocker side, it eventually rolls back to Simon Hjalmarsson at the blue line, and his slapper is confidently taken in by the goalkeeper!
     
    22:35
    Alexander Radulov of CSKA and SKA's Nikolay Belov go down in a heap here and it's the former who looks to come out worse, as the doctors are now coming out on to the ice to give him treatment!
     
    22:16
    Thoresen! Patrick Thoresen slips in behind on the right, however while wristing goaltender Kevin Lalande comes out large to make his task harder!
     
    20:11
    As we begin in the second frame SKA come back to full strength. CSKA have held much of the play so far, while SKA are patiently waiting for their moment going forward
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening period of play:

    Shots: 24-12
    Shots on target: 12-8
    Faceoffs: 9-17
    Hits: 7-8
    Penalty minutes: 0-4
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:57
    The last few seconds of the first period are now here, with SKA so far in the box seat!
     
    19:23
    Alexander Radulov now hangs out to the right wing, shoots dangerously with bodies piling up on the crease, and the netminder gets everything behind it
     
    19:06
    Da Costa! The SKA defence goes missing slightly, Stephane Da Costa is alone at the doorstep, and he's stoned twice by the excellent Mikko Koskinen as it threatened to get away from him!
     
    18:07
    Following a poor turnover in their own zone SKA are again going on the penalty kill, as forward Artemiy Panarin has been penalised for hooking
     
    17:22
    CSKA captain Denis Denisov goes down in a heap deep inside his own zone after a heavy hit by SKA's Alexey Ponikarovskiy and he's feeling the pain, he really did fall on to the ice awkwardly!
     
    15:31
    Ilya Kovalchuk now though takes aim from the right wing, the rebound pops out to Tony Martensson, and CSKA's Kevin Lalande does well to react in time to hold!
     
    14:41
    The hosts are attacking dangerously so far as SKA's defence is coming under some pressure, and they will need to lose some of their nerves to settle into the game
     
    13:35
    Da Costa! SKA's goalkeeper didn't look comfortable there! Looking for a prompt response Stephane Da Costa wrists weakly from the high slot, and at the second attempt Mikko Koskinen manages to sit on the puck to freeze!
     
    11:01
    Goal for SKA!
    There is that all important breakthrough and it's for SKA! ILYA KOVALCHUK receives on the right faceoff circle, and his tricky wrister seems to sneak through Kevin Lalande's pads without any deflections! It's 0:1! Assists- Patrick Thoresen
     
    08:36
    Lyubimov! Alexander Radulov backhands the puck to Roman Lyubimov to the left of the slot, he tries to flick it over SKA goaltender Mikko Koskinen, and in the end it finds only the side netting! That wasn't too far away!
     
    05:59
    It's been quite an even start here so far, CSKA are seeing a bit more of the puck while SKA are looking powerful when breaking away and setting up
     
    03:33
    SKA are now thankfully for their sake back at full strength. They will be relieved to having not conceded there, and can now start over again
     
    02:24
    A goalmouth scramble erupts on SKA's crease, and Alexander Radulov bundles it in from practically on the goal line! But no, after a second look the referees ruled that he kicked it in on purpose, and we play on still at 0:0!
     
    01:23
    And now we already have the first penalty of the day, as SKA defenceman Roman Rukavishnikov has been punished for interference
     
    00:54
    Dadonov! That was an early opportunity for SKA! Artemiy Panarin twisting behind the net feeds Evgeniy Dadonov between the circles, and the latter wrists past the left post first time!
     
    00:24
    Here we go! Someone will qualify for the KHL Gagarin Cup final, with someone else going out!
     
    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:

    CSKA Moscow: Lalande (Galimov)- Denisov, Zaitsev, Lyubimov, Grigorenko, Radulov- Bondarev, Kiselevich, Mursak, Hjalmarsson, Da Costa- Panin, Egorshev, Korotkov, Zharkov, Volkov- Misharin, Stas, Mamin, Kvartalnov, Makarov

    SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ezhov)- Chudinov, A Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Kovalchuk- N Belov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Khafizullin, Rukavishnikov, Burdasov, Ericsson, Cervenka- Yudin, Barabanov, Ponikarovskiy, Kablukov, Khokhryakov

    Referees: Alexey Anisimov, Vyacheslav Bulanov, Dmitriy Sivov, Sergey Shelyanin.
     
    CSKA finished in first place of the KHL regular season, with SKA one place behind.
     
    It's been a record breaking series, as SKA have become the first ever KHL team to come back from 0:3 down to make it 3:3. CSKA won their their first two games at home 3:0 and 3:2 in overtime before taking a 3:1 victory away from Saint Petersburg, however after that SKA kicked into action. They took the fourth game 4:1 before winning 6:2 away and 2:1 in overtime at home, and hold the initiative coming into this one. Today's hosts got his far by beating HC Sochi and Jokerit Helsinki 4:0 and 4:1 respectively, as SKA defeated HC Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and HC Dynamo Moscow both by a score of 4:1.
     
    Hello and welcome to this KHL Gagarin Cup Western Conference final series match between HC CSKA Moscow and SKA Saint Petersburg. This has been quite an extraordinary series so far, and it all comes down to a dramatic game seven.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 18:30.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 37. Radulov (Grigorenko, Stas), 40. Costa (Korotkov, Grigorenko) – 12. Kovalchuk (Thoresen), 28. Dadonov, 51. Thoresen (Belov)

    CSKA Moscow: Lalande (Galimov)- Denisov, Zaitsev, Lyubimov, Grigorenko, Radulov- Bondarev, Kiselevich, Mursak, Hjalmarsson, Da Costa- Panin, Egorshev, Korotkov, Zharkov, Volkov- Misharin, Stas, Mamin, Kvartalnov, Makarov
    SKA St. Petersburg: Koskinen (Ezhov)- Chudinov, A Belov, Thoresen, Martensson, Kovalchuk- N Belov, Kuteikin, Panarin, Shipachyov, Dadonov- Khafizullin, Rukavishnikov, Burdasov, Ericsson, Cervenka- Yudin, Barabanov, Ponikarovskiy, Kablukov, Khokhryakov
    Referees: Alexey Anisimov, Vyacheslav Bulanov, Dmitriy Sivov, Sergey Shelyanin
    Attendance: 5600