Dynamo Moscow – SKA – 0:2

SKA signed off for the upcoming Euro Hockey Tour break with an assured showing in Moscow, defeating HC Dynamo 2:0 at the large Megasport Arena. Head coach Ilya Vorobyov handed Swedish goaltender Magnus Hellberg a start between the pipes, with young defenseman Vladislav Syomin also in the line-up. Vasily Tokranov, Anton Belov, Nikita Gusev, Pavel Datsyuk and Sergei Plotnikov were in the first.

Our team made a positive start against Dynamo, immediately taking the initiative in the opening shifts. Dinar Khafizullin should have broken the deadlock within three minutes, but when presented with a golden opportunity after a superb pass from Andrei Kuzmenko, he contrived to miss the target. Nevertheless, we didn’t have to wait too long for the first goal. On the powerplay, defenseman Vasily Tokranov lined up for a powerful slap shot, launching an unstoppable one timer beyond the stricken Ivan Bocharov. SKA continued to boss proceedings, but towards the end of the frame, Magnus Hellberg was called into action and the Swede pulled off an excellent glove save to deny the onrushing Evgeny Mozer.

At the start of the second frame, it looked as though SKA had doubled their money in Moscow, however Nikolai Prokhorkin’s goal at point blank range was waved off for a kicking motion. Our players continued to lay siege to the Dynamo net, but the hosts gradually began pressing with intensity as time rolled on. Dynamo forward Patrik Zackrisson should really have drawn the Muscovites level from the doorstep on the man advantage, but with the goal practically at his mercy, the Swede lashed wide. Magnus Hellberg was much the busier goalkeeper in the closing moments of the frame, notably flashing leather to stop Vadim Shipachyov’s instant slap shot.

To our relief, SKA once again took full control in the third period. Patrik Hersley, Nikita Gusev and Andrei Kuzmenko all had chances on the crease, but to the disbelief of the visiting fans, they somehow couldn’t beat Ivan Bocharov. In the dying moments, Dynamo could have punished SKA for the missed opportunities when given two powerplays, however heroic defending kept the hosts out. SKA made the game safe in the last minute as Pavel Datsyuk calmly slid the puck into the empty net after Dynamo pulled Ivan Bocharov for the extra skater.

Match protocol:

Dynamo Moscow – SKA – 0:2 (0:1, 0:0, 0:1)

Goals:

0:1 Tokranov (Plotnikov, Kuzmenko), 07.07

0:2 Datsyuk, 59.34

Goalkeepers: Bocharov – Hellberg

Shots on target: 22 – 43

Faceoffs: 15 – 36

Hits: 28 – 13

Penalty minutes: 8 – 8

Referees: Bondar, Gashilov

10.12.2018. Megasport Arena, Moscow.