O'Reilly Sets Up Metallurg For Third Win in a Row

The Matchup:

Metallurg 

Magnitogorsk 

(4-0-2-2)

vs

HC Slovan

Bratislava

(4-2-1-2)

Players You May Recognize

Former Pens:  Miroslav Satan

Recap

After back to back blowout wins, a few of Metallurg Magnitogorsk's players entered this game amongst the KHL league leaders.  Center Cal O'Reilly began the day 3rd in assists, with 7 in 8 games.  Winger Sergei Mozyakin came into this matchup 4th in goals (5), 5th in points (10), and leading the league in game winning goals (3).  Meanwhile, goalie Ari Ahonen was 2nd in goals against average (1.63).

The KHL's website lists him a less intimidating "Shatan"

Ahonen would not get the start though as Georgi Gelashvili was between the pipes against HC Slovan Bratislava.  Slovan entered the game in 4th place in the Western Conference as they continue through their inaugural season in the KHL.  Last year, HC Slovan won the Slovak Championship behind leading point scorer and captain, Miroslav Satan.  Over the summer, they petitioned to join the KHL and were accepted.

Much like the last two wins, Metallurg was off to a quick start on the opening faceoff and would score just a few shifts later.  Defenseman Georgi Misharin pinched into the zone and chipped a puck behind the net to Cal O'Reilly.  O'Reilly quickly fed the puck in front to Enver Lisin who scored from about 3 feet away.  After Metallurg took a 1-0 lead, the teams traded powerplay opportunities and Slovan picked up their pace.  The first would end 1-0 though.

The second period started with more failed powerplay opportunities, first by Metallurg and then by Slovan.  As Slovan's powerplay ended though, Cal O'Reilly made a great diving play at the red line to chip the puck up to Sergei Mozyakin who had just exited the penalty box.  Mozyakin entered the zone on a breakaway and scored on a top shelf wrist shot to make it 2-0 Metallurg.  The second period came to a quiet end with Metallurg holding on to their 2 goal lead.

Slovan finally got on the board 7 minutes into the 3rd period as Miroslav Satan and Libor Gudachek entered the offensive zone 2 on 2.  Satan passed to Gudachek on the right, who beat goalie Gelashvili with a seemingly harmless wrist shot.  The goal sparked Slovan and they tied the game roughly a minute later.  Andrei Stastny got away from Evgeni Malkin on the boards behind the net and deked around defenseman Viktor Antipin in the slot before beating Gelashvili with a nice backhander.

The tie would last 5 minutes before Metallurg took the lead back for good.  As Metallurg worked the perimeter on a delayed penalty, Evgeni Biryukov took a shot from the point and Mikhail Yakubov put a stick on the shot to deflect it into the net.  Slovan pushed for the tying goal in the last minute with their goaltender pulled, but Metallurg held on until the final buzzer.

Starting to like that Steel Fox more than Iceburgh.

Final Score:  Metallurg wins 3-2.  

Metallurg moves to 5-0-2-2 and HC Slovan Bratislava drops to 4-2-1-3.

Player Notes

Things I don't like: Malkin on the ground
after a scrum.

Evgeni Malkin - Malkin had a very quiet game, only recording 2 shots in 22:48 of ice time.  He did go 14 for 24 in the faceoff circle, though he seemed to struggle with big offensive zone faceoffs.  He retained the same linemates from last game (Mozyakin and Platonov) and seems to be developing great chemistry with Mozyakin especially.

Sergei Gonchar - Gonchar was also quiet in this one, only recording 1 shot in 20:56 of ice time.  A big reason both him and Malkin were quiet was because of a great penalty kill effort by Slovan.  Gonchar and Malkin were kept to the perimeter on the powerplay and were pressured immediately before they had the opportunity to create chances.

Cal O'Reilly - O'Reilly added 2 assists to keep him amongst the league leaders and had another great defensive game on the penalty kill and overall.  Through the 5 games I have watched, O'Reilly has been a very solid 2 way center and has shown great vision for where his teammates and/or the puck will end up.

Miroslav Satan - As captain of HC Slovan, Satan led by example and effort in his skating all over the ice.  He was limited to 1 shot in 18:39 of ice time and recorded an assist, but he was easily noticeable because of his presence all over the rink.  He was accountable in the defensive zone and tried to create in the offensive zone, though Metallurg defended him pretty well.  Satan looked far more comfortable with HC Slovan than he ever did in Pittsburgh.

Next Game:  10/1, 9am EST vs CSKA

Links:

onhockey.ru came up big with the live stream again.  It looks like that may be the most dependable site for KHL streams.