Dynamo Moscow - SKA - 2:1 OT

At the VTB Arena, SKA came up slightly short against HC Dynamo Moscow in the extra frame, losing 1:2 to their hosts.

Dynamo came out with all guns blazing in front of their passionate supporters. Thanks to two cheap fouls made by our forwards Evgeny Ketov and Emil Galimov respectively in the attacking zone, the hosts were gifted two powerplays in which to apply heavy pressure on SKA, and our team had to rely on Alexander Samonov to make timely saves in net. On one occasion, the puck threatened to roll over the line following a wicked ricochet, with Samonov just sticking out his left pad in time.

SKA largely relied on counter-attacks throughout the first period. Nevertheless, our players did still manage to create a handful of big opportunities on the Dynamo crease, with Evgeny Timkin and Linden Vey just missing the target from ideal positions.

The manner of the fame didn’t change in the second stanza.

Continuing to commit unnecessary fouls, SKA allowed Dynamo to dictate proceedings, and eventually the home team did break the deadlock in the 38^th minute on one of their many powerplays. Unmarked between the circles, Dmitry Kagarlitsky had time to pick his spot, whipping an unstoppable wrister over Samonov’s blocker.

However, with a mere 13 seconds remaining in the period, SKA tallied an equaliser. Alone at the blue line, Anton Belov completed a lengthy attack with a thumping slap shot, with the puck flying through Dynamo goaltender Alexander Yeryomenko. Vladimir Tkachyov had come close earlier in the second frame for SKA as his rising wrister smashed against the pipe.

The tension only increased in the ensuing third frame. In contrast to the first two periods, SKA began to see more of the puck, keeping the play inside the Dynamo zone. Despite the pressing, though, few major chances were witnessed as Yeryomenko calmly made the required saves to take the game into overtime.

Unfortunately, that was where Dynamo emerged victorious, as Vadim Shipachyov knocked the puck into the right corner with no one near him. Only one point for SKA today, who will now travel to Sochi. The match against the southerners is scheduled for 19:30 local time on Monday.

Match protocol:

Dynamo Moscow -SKA - 2:1 OT (0:0, 1:1, 0:0 - 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Kagarlitsky (Shipachyov), 37.31

1:1 Belov (Tkachyov), 39.47

2:1 Shipachyov (Hietanen), 62.49

Goalkeepers: Yeryomenko - Samonov

Shots on target: 24 - 25

Faceoffs: 13 - 33

Hits: 10 - 11

Penalty minutes: 4 - 10

Referees: Belov, Romasko

26.12.2020. VTB Arena, Moscow.