Avtomobilist - SKA

Avtomobilist - SKA - 4:2

22 October 2015

SKA’s first match of this away series took place against HC Avtomobilist in Yekaterinburg. Sergei Zubov made a few changes to the line-up following the match against Lada Togliatti at home, and new signing Nikita Gusev was paired with Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeny Dadonov in the second line. Evgeny Artyukhin returned to the fourth, while Mikko Koskinen kept his place in net. Igor Ustinsky was his opposite number for Avtomobilist.

It was a completely sold out arena in Yekaterinburg, and with their fiery support Avtomobilist came out all guns blazing. An early Vadim Shipachyov penalty didn’t help matters, and the hosts immediately took advantage. The puck was worked to the left faceoff circle, and Eero Elo one timed beyond Mikko Koskinen. Our players weren’t expecting such an aggressive start, and seconds later it was two. Alexei Simakov skated to the high slot, and wristed into the right corner. Avtomobilist were riding on adreanaline now, and only an expert Mikko Koskinen stop at point blank range prevented it from becoming three. Our players needed something to get them going, and a five on three powerplay did just that. First of all Andrei Kuteikin slapped in from the point, and then Vadim Shipachyov swept in glove side following a beautiful passing play. Newbie Nikita Gusev got an assist on both of those goals.

Our players felt a lot more confident following those two goals, however it was Avtomobilist who again began the brighter in the second. Vadim Shipachyov found himself sitting in the penalty box on a further two occasions, and at the second attempt Avtomobilist netted their third. Mikko Koskinen beat a heavy slap shot away from the point, but no one was on hand to prevent Nikolai Timashov from netting the rebound. That threw our team off course, and Avtomobilist spent the majority of the frame in our zone.

SKA were facing an uphill task moving into the third period, and very few clear cut chances were created. Constant penalties didn’t do anyone any favours either, and Avtomobilist’s task was being made a lot simpler. Indeed they continued to have the best opportunities, and Mikko Koskinen was forced into an excellent left pad save against Egor Dubrovsky’s backhander clean through. Nevertheless with the minutes ticking down our players did have a few openings, and Ilya Kovalchuk came the closest with two ferocious slappers from distance. It wasn’t to be though, and with the net empty Alexei Simakov rounded proceedings off. 2:4 today, and SKA will now travel to Khanty Mansiisk to play HC Yugra on Saturday.

Match protocol:

Avtomobilist – SKA – 4:2 (2:2, 1:0, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Elo (Simakov, Megalinsky), 02.42

2:0 Simakov (Golyshev), 02.56

2:1 Kuteikin (Kovalchuk, Gusev), 16.00

2:2 Shipachyov (Dadonov, Gusev), 16.54

3:2 Timashov (Koukal. Dubrovsky), 33.54

4:2 Simakov (Zhuravlyov, Koukal), 59.55

Goalkeepers: Ustinsky - Koskinen

Shots on target: 32 – 20

Penalty minutes: 8 – 38