Lokomotiv keep lacklustre SKA at bay

27 January 2026

SKA’s miserable run of form continued on Tuesday evening, suffering a 1:3 loss to reigning Gagarin Cup champions Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in Saint Petersburg.

Dominant throughout, Lokomotiv were rarely troubled at the Ice Palace, coasting to a comfortable victory with minimal fuss which has left SKA with five defeats on the bounce.

Maxim Shalunov set the tone in the very first shift, beating Sergei Ivanov with a sharp wraparound.

And the same player was at the forefront of the action again in the second stanza, as his initial attempt forced Ivanov into giving up a big rebound which was whipped home by the off-balance Alexander Radulov.

Our players huffed and puffed as they searched for a way back into proceedings. Chances were at a premium, though, and the visitors made sure of the two points with Shalunov’s late-empty netter.

SKA did at least ruin Daniil Isayev’s shutout hopes with only 20 seconds remaining on the clock as Rocco Grimaldi’s pass was inadvertently deflected in by an away defenseman, but it made little difference to the outcome.

Our team will now prepare to face Spartak in Moscow on Friday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Lokomotiv – 1:3 (0:1, 0:1, 1:1)

Goals:

0:1 Shalunov (Radulov, Sergeyev), 00.28

0:2 Radulov (Shalunov, Kiryanov), 33.22

0:3 Shalunov (Radulov), 59.20 EN

1:3 Grimaldi (Nedopyokin, Menell), 59.40

Goalkeepers: Ivanov – Isayev

Shots: 36 – 67

Shots on target: 22 – 31

Faceoffs: 14 – 33