Arlan tames Katowice

Arlan Kokshetau and GKS Katowice opens the Continental Cup Superfinals at SSE Arena in Belfast in a game dominated for two periods by the opponent team, despite the surprising absence of Eli Sherbatov and Aleksandr Syrei, both signed for the last act of the trophy but unable to  take the ice because already played for another club in the competition. An inexplicable ingenuity by Kazakh club. After a long-range shot by Niko Tuhkanen, blocked by Poloshkov, at 11:44 Arlan opens the score: Savenkov deflects a pass from Denis Klemeshov, Kevin Lindskoug rebouns but same Klemeshov tapping in to the net. One minute after, Kazakh team double the score with Borovikov finishing a power play unit move with Jesse Rohtla in the sinbin. The goals become three at minute 18 when Dmitri Potaichuk perfectly finished a superb move of first line, again on power play.

Katowice is back on ice in the central period with a different spirit, more aggressive and precise in the passes. The dominance results in the first goal for Polish team, scored on double power play by Finnish defender Niko Tuhkanen, with a shot in the front of the net. Jesse Rohtla shows all his skill at 27:16 when he steals the puck in the defensive zone beating Poloshkov with a precise shot in the upper angle. At minute 24 Lindskoug keeps his team in the game outstanding blocked a shot by Potaichuk, repeating the good job at 37 on Anton Petrov. In the last period Arlan goalie Ivan Poloshkov become the hero with a series of great saves, while his team is totally dominated in the first part by Katowice that frankly deserves to score. Arlan shows great solidity in resisting in the best moment of the opponents, before to give the knockout at 54:21 with Denis Klemeshov. Katowice pulls the goalie in a desperate quest for a miracle, but Kazakh earns the first three points

MVP: Jesse Rohtla – Ivan Kiselov

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