One goal not enough in Minsk

2 March 2025

Marat Khairullin scored an excellent goal towards the end of the second period for SKA, but two conceded goals against Dinamo Minsk in the first resulted in a slender 1:2 away setback.

The damage was done within the maiden six minutes of the opening stanza.
Chris Tierney broke the deadlock for the Belarusian hosts on the powerplay, before familiar face Vadim Shipachyov subsequently repeated the trick.

SKA immediately found themselves in a difficult position. Nevertheless, our players managed to steady the ship during the remainder of regulation time, creating plenty of scoring chances and aided by reliable goalkeeping from the rock-solid Yegor Zavragin.

The deficit was eventually cut in half midway through the second frame.
Khairullin completed a flowing play in expert fashion, whipping the puck home from the right circle.

However, despite plenty of pressure and chances in the third period, SKA couldn’t find that elusive equaliser.

Our team will now prepare to face CSKA in Moscow on Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

Dinamo Minsk – SKA – 2:1 (2:0, 0:1, 0:0)

Goals:

1:0 Tierney (Pinchuk, Gorbunov), 03.07 PP

2:0 Shipachyov (Stas, Volkov), 05.27 PPG

2:1 Khairullin (I. Demidov, Vorobyov), 36.44

Goalkeepers: Demchenko – Zavragin

Shots: 70 – 63

Shots on target: 33 – 30

Faceoffs: 26 – 32