Back in business with slender home win!

27 March 2026

It wasn’t exactly pretty, but SKA squeezed to a crucial 1:0 win against CSKA Moscow at the Ice Palace to cut the series deficit to 1-2.

Following a disappointing trip to Moscow, our players were in dire need of a victory with the backing of the passionate home support, and they achieved just that with Joe Blandisi netting the only goal and Sergei Ivanov stopping all 22 shots which he faced.

Our players certainly had the better of a rather uneventful first period.

Starting with visible intent, SKA pinned CSKA deep inside their own zone for the majority of the frame, albeit without creating any realistic opportunities – with the exception of Scott Wilson’s rebound which was kicked to safety by the alert Dmitry Gamzin.

Not afraid to put bodies on the line, CSKA blocked 10 (!) shots in the first stanza alone! The visitors did begin to create openings of their own towards the end of the period, with their fourth line consisting of Vitaly Abramov, Rhett Gardner and Takhir Mingachyov particularly dangerous.

SKA did deservedly make the breakthrough in the early stages of the second frame.

And again Blandisi was the hero, neatly redirecting Yegor Savikov’s slap shot beyond Gamzin to score his second powerplay in as many games.

That set the tone for the period.

Dominant across the ice, the hosts refused to allow CSKA to clear their lines, swinging the puck effectively in the attacking zone and preventing the Muscovites from skating away on the counter. However, it has to be said that apart from Nikita Nedopyokin’s sharp shot at the doorstep, SKA barely had any clear looks at Gamzin’s net with the opponents defending stoutly.

Predictably, CSKA did begin to display urgency as time in the ensuing third period ticked by.

Nevertheless, while they huffed and puffed, CSKA didn’t ever really look like scoring. Ivanov only had to pull off the one superb save, darting across to his left post in time to deny Maxim Sorkin in spectacular fashion.

Gamzin was pulled for the extra skater in the concluding minute, but SKA held on relatively calmly – even after Andrei Pedan had been penalised for holding the puck in his glove.

Game four will take place in Saint Petersburg on Sunday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – CSKA – 1:0 (0:0, 1:0, 0:0)

Goals:

1:0 Blandisi (Savikov, Khairullin), 23.44 PPG

Goalkeepers: Ivanov – Gamzin

Shots: 60 – 50

Shots on target: 29 – 22

Faceoffs: 31 – 28

Blocked shots: 14 – 23

Hits: 33 – 37

Penalty minutes: 4 – 4