Zykov the difference in Sochi

12 September 2026

Valentin Zykov scored the only goal of the game on Saturday evening as SKA sneaked to a less than memorable 1:0 victory away at Sochi.

In a game which produced few talking points, the 31-year-old's well-taken effort in the 28th minute proved the difference between the teams as SKA goalkeeper Sergei Ivanov tallied an impressive 33-save shutout.

Competing in their first home outing of the campaign, Sochi started with enthusiasm and just about shaded the early knockings.

However, when receiving a superb pass from Ignat Lutfullin on the counter, Zykov ruthlessly lashed past home netminder Pyotr Andreyanov to give SKA the decisive breakthrough.

Matvei Korotky then thought he had registered our second when completing a wonderful passing play, but his marker was ruled out for offside.

The hosts predictably upped their aggression and urgency in the third period. Nonetheless, with Ivanov simply refusing to be beaten, SKA successfully saw it out.

Our players will now prepare to host the Shanghai Dragons in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

Sochi - SKA - 0:1 (0:0, 0:1, 0:0)

Goals:

0:1 Zykov (Lutfullin, Maklyukov), 27.37

Goalkeepers: Andreyanov - Ivanov

Shots: 67 - 74

Shots on target: 33 - 25

Face-offs: 24 - 14

Blocked shots: 22 - 19

Hits: 20 - 19

Penalty minutes: 2 - 4