Admiral - SKA

Admiral - SKA - 1:2

25 September 2023

In a tense battle, SKA edged past Admiral Vladivostok on the road, earning a hard-fought 2:1 triumph in the 2023/2024 KHL regular season.

Tyler Graovac initially handed Admiral the advantage in the second minute on the counter-attack. Nevertheless, SKA quickly set about taking the initiative, unleashing 17 shots on target during the opening stanza alone which were all fielded by home goaltender Pavel Khomchenko.

Our equaliser eventually arrived in the 27th minute, with the in-form Nikolai Polyakov pouncing on the rebound at close range.

Moments later, Daniil Gutik thought that he had reinstated Admiral's lead, but his marker from the slot was disallowed as a consequence of using a high stick.

The decisive moment of proceedings arrived midway through the ensuing third period.

Alone on the left faceoff circle, fellow fourth-liner Zakhar Bardakov got the better of Khomchenko with a stinging wrister.

In the closing stages, Admiral did apply heavy pressure on SKA, but excellent goalkeeper

Artemiy Pleshkov stood tall to the challenge.

SKA will now prepare to face Sibir in Novosibirsk on Wednesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 15:30 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

Admiral - SKA - 1:2 (1:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Graovac (Shevchenko, Korbit), 01.33

1:1 Polyakov (Zykov, Kamalov), 26.45

1:2 Bardakov (Polyakov, Zykov), 51.42

Goalkeepers: Khomchenko - Pleshkov