SLOVAN PUSHES LEADER SKA

SKA St. Petersburg – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 4:2 (1:1, 2:0, 0:1)

Goals: 5. Panarin (Ponikarovsky), 26. Kovalchuk (Shchipachov, Martensson), 27. Panarin (Ponikarovsky, Kucheriavenko), 43. Ponikarovsky – 8. Netík (Kukumberg), 44. Bartovič (Škoula)

Lineups:
SKA: Salák – Alexandrov, Rysensky, Kalinin, Kuteikin, Semenov, Chudinov, Yudin – Thoresen, Martensson, Tikhonov – Kovalchuk, Shchipachov, Červenka – Ponikarovsky, Kucheriavenko, Panarin – Makarov, Sigaryov, Skachkov
HC SLOVAN: Janus - Sersen, Škoula, Bartovič, J. Mikúš, Radivojevič - Mojžíš, Sigalet, Vondrka, Bližňák, Miklík - Kutlák, Štajnoch, Kukumberg, Šťastný, Netík - T. Mikúš, R. Mráz, Hudáček, Matoušek, Daňo

By the 4^th minute, SKA had set up in Slovan’s defensive zone, Ponikarovsky playing in Panarinov, whose shot into the top corner was unstoppable for Janus 1:0. But the hosts’ joy didn’t last long. In the 8^th minute, Kukumberg brought the puck over the blue line and fed Netík, who comfortably beat fellow Czech Salák in the SKA goal – 1:1. Half-way through the period, only the right post kept Thoresen from putting the home side ahead. At the other end, both Škoula and Sersen tested Salák in the 16^th minute. Slovan successfully defended while shorthanded, and even could have taken the lead, but Vondrka’s finish went just wide.

At the start of the second period most of the play was on center ice, both teams defending well. But an SKA powerplay brought pressure, which ended in a goal for the home team. Janus was able to keep out Martensson’s touch, but Shchipachov followed up to score. Within a minute, Panarin added another from up close, and we were behind by two – 3:1. Slovan did eventually create chances, thanks to the first line attack, but Radivojevič and Bartovič could not find the target. A similar fate also befell both Vondrka and Netík.

Early in the third period, Ponikarovsky broke away, and his backhand made the score 4:1. Despite the scoreline, Slovan fought hard, and a powerplay brought rewards, Milan Bartovič finishing off after Škoula’s powerful shot – 4:2. Čada’s charges then proceeded to play superbly, and SKA were at full stretch to keep them out. Daňo was presented with a huge chance in the 51st minute, but shot over the net. The home side then created chances in a powerplay, but janus was equal to all their efforts. The home side stood firm in the closing stages and the two-goal advantage remained.

Rostislav Čada: I thought we were a tough opponent throughout the game. Powerplays helped SKA in the second period – they created pressure and scored a goal. But we held on and kept up with them in spite of the scoreline. The goal at the start of the third was disappointing – it really settled the home team. We did manage to score in a powerplay, but that was all, and it wasn’t enough today.