Amur - SKA - 2:1 OT

10 November 2022

In a tight battle, SKA only managed to pick up the one point against Amur Khabarovsk on the road in the 2022/2023 KHL regular season, conceding a slender 1:2 defeat in overtime.

SKA initially started with the initiative, creating a few promising chances in the attacking zone in the first period. When powering towards the net from the left wing, Danila Moiseev only had Amur goaltender Evgeny Alikin to beat, but he contrived to whip the puck over the crossbar. The onrushing Matvei Michkov was waiting for a pass on the doorstep.

Amur began to settle into the match towards the end of the stanza. The hosts went one step further in the second, dictating the play and carving open several big opportunities in front of Alexander Samonov's net.

At point-blank range, Ivan Nikolishin had Amur's best opportunity of the second frame, as his goalbound attempt was just pushed wide by Samonov's left arm after he managed to pounce on a rebound on the slot.

The home team made their superiority count in the penultimate minute of the period.

After being allowed to skate to a shooting position, Artur Gizadtullin whipped a strong wrister over Samonov's glove from distance.

That goal predictably sprung SKA into action.

We didn't have to wait long for our equaliser either. On the powerplay, Marat Khairullin got SKA back on level terms, lashing the puck high into the right corner in the third minute of the third period following a brilliant combination play with Mikhail Vorobyov.

Moments later, Stepan Falkovsky should have given SKA their maiden lead of proceedings, but he could only hit the pipe with the goal at his mercy. He had been picked out by a superb pass from Danila Moiseev on the opposite flank.

Both teams went on to waste powerplay opportunities during the remainder of a tense period. At the start of the ensuing overtime stanza, Khairullin missed a glorious chance to grab the win for SKA, blasting wide of the mark after an opponent had lost his stick.

That miss proved decisive.

In the subsequent play, Michal Jordan fired under the blocker for Amur after skating away 2-on-1.

SKA will now prepare to face Sibir in Novosibirsk on Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 13:30 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

Amur - SKA - 2:1 OT (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Gizdatullin (Lee), 38.36

1:1 Khairullin (Vorobyov), 42.20 PPG

2:1 Jordan (Grebyokin), 60.56

Goalkeepers: Alikin - Samonov

Shots: 55 - 55

Shots on target: 29 - 28