Game four. Dinamo Minsk - SKA

Game four. Dinamo Minsk - SKA - 2:1

8 March 2021

In the fourth match of the 2020/2021 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs first round, SKA came up short against Dinamo Minsk, conceding a narrow 1:2 defeat which consequently means that the series will now return to Saint Petersburg with our lead leading 3-1.

SKA initially made the perfect start by opening the scoring in the 18th minute with Andrei Kuzmenko connecting with Lukas Bengtsson's wonderful pass to the left flank.

However, Dinamo Minsk subsequently made a major improvement, equalising on the powerplay in the early stages of the second period as Artyom Demkov completed a flowing move between the faceoff circles.

Minsk went on to take the lead in the 47th minute as Denis Mosalyov pounced on a wicked ricochet to bundle the puck over the line. SKA head coach Valeri Bragin decided to use his coach's challenge for goaltender interference, but the play was deemed legal following a video review.

In the closing minutes, Bragin pulled goalkeeper Samonov for the extra skater, but the hosts did manage to hold on.

The fifth game of the series will be staged on Wednesday at the Ice Palace. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

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

Goals:

0:1 Kuzmenko (Bengtsson), 17.25

1:1 Demkov (Menell, Prince), 23.45

2:1 Mosalyov (Menell), 46.32

Goalkeepers: Furch - Samonov

Shots on target: 32 - 24

Faceoffs: 29 - 29

Hits: 26 - 13