|
Galiev's two goals bring a victory for AkBars in Game 1 of KHL finals |
|
|
|
|
|
Follow me for KHL/IIHF/NHL hockey coverage
The Gagarin cup finals -AkBars Kazan vs CSKA Moscow got underway in Tatarstan city - Kazan with a score of 2-1 (1-0,0-1,1-0).
The first period began with AkBars forcing their game on the opposing side, even much so that at 4:28 mark of the period CSKA got penalized for having too many men on the ice. The Moscow team managed to kill the penalty and slow down the pace. A few shifts later AkBars circled opposing zone for a longer period of time and that was what they needed - Stanislav Galiev made it 1-0 for AkBars.
Although CSKA tried to push back another offensive zone penalty was awarded to their team - this time it was Greg Scott with a goalie interference penalty. AkBars couldn't manage a whole lot thus giving the opposing side another successful kill and 1-0 after first 20 minutes.
CSKA flew out to start the 2nd period controlling the puck for the majority of the time yet their fun was cut short by yet another penalty, this time Naumenkov went to the box for tripping. AkBars weren't as good as on previous man advantages, but Lars Johansson had to make some saves out there to eventually kill another penalty. Both teams exchanged scoring chances and 33 minutes into the game CSKA finally managed to tie the game up, Valery Nichuskin stood by the net re-directing the puck and making it 1-1.
CSKA side gained some confidence from that goal and kept attacking, a single dangerous counter-attack by AkBars' Azevedo didn't lead to a whole lot and it was tied 1-1 after two periods.
The 3rd period was a back-and-forth hockey between both sides and the first stoppage of play came in the seventh minute of the period. The first stoppage played a favor for AkBars where moments later from their own defensive zone Vladimir Tkachyov sent Danis Zaripov into the offensive zone who then threw a quick pass to Galiev and it was 2-1.
Game pace didn't drop a whole lot even with AkBars breaking the hearts of CSKA, it even lit a flame under the butts of the army team players, you could see that they wanted to get that one more goal to tie the game up and potentially force OT. While CSKA pushed AkBars switched to a more defensive game not allowing their opposing side expand in their zone. Towards the end of the period, once again Moscow team was caught with too many men on the ice, giving AkBars yet another PP. AkBars held on to the puck, passed it around tried a few shots but it was their plan to keep the puck away from shorthanded CSKA and grant victory to make it 1-0 in the KHL Gagarin cup final series.
Join the Discussion:
»