SKA edge blockbuster against Dynamo!

1 February 2025

SKA successfully recovered from a two-goal deficit against Dynamo, earning a pulsating 4:3 triumph in overtime on the road in Moscow!

After a forgettable opening stanza, SKA subsequently made a vast improvement at the VTB Arena, initially moving ahead with three unanswered goals. Dynamo admittedly forced OT thanks to a last-gasp effort from familiar face Nikita Gusev, but Alexander Nikishin came up with the goods in the extra frame to secure another memorable away win in the capital!

The first period was a chastening experience for SKA.

Dynamo thought that they had opened the scoring in the second minute when Dmitry Rashevsky lashed home from the doorstep. However, following our coach’s challenge, the goal was ruled out for goaltender interference committed by Maxime Comtois.

To our disappointment, Dynamo didn’t let that setback affect them, and they took the lead in similar circumstances six minutes later through Maxim Dzhioshvili.

SKA season-long problem of conceding goals on the counter was exploited by the fired-up opponents in the 13^th minute. When powering towards our net on the break-away, Gusev ruthlessly wristed the puck between Artemiy Pleshkov’s pads to double Dynamo’s money.

The Muscovites were bossing the play across the ice. Nevertheless, Valentin Zykov halved the deficit against the run of play for SKA in the closing stages of the stanza, deftly deflecting Nikita Zaitsev’s slap shot past Vladislav Podyapolsky.

The goal turned the game on its head.

Following a lengthy spell of pressure, our deserved equaliser arrived midway through the second frame on the powerplay, as Nikishin sent a arrowed wrister beyond the unsighted Podyapolsky.

That goal was scored not long after Rashevsky had wasted a rare Dynamo chance when 1-on-1.

Buoyed by the equalising marker, our team continued dictating the play with confidence, pulling the Dynamo defence apart and creating several clear shooting lanes.

We rightfully took the lead with around three minutes remaining in the period. Unmarked on the left flank, Andrei Pedan gave a flowing passing play the perfect finish, whipping a firm shot into the far corner.

For the large part, SKA expertly controlled the flow of the game in the ensuing third period, protecting Pleshkov effectively and keeping Dynamo at arm’s length. When Dynamo did have sights of goal, Anton Sizov struck the left post with a hopeful wrist shot from distance, before Pleshkov brilliantly shut the door against the clean-through Dzhioshvili.

The situation was very much under control. But, with a mere 25 seconds left on the clock, disaster struck.

Gusev tried his luck from the blue line, and his rising slap shot travelled through Pleshkov's glove thanks to the imposing Cedric Paquette effectively blocking his view.

That was a bitter pill to swallow. Our players quickly regained composure, though, finally tallying the victory with Nikishin beating Podyapolsky with a bullet in the 64^th minute!

SKA will now prepare to host Ak Bars Kazan in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

Dynamo Moscow – SKA – 3:4 OT (2:1, 0:2, 1:0, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Dzhioshvili (Sikura, Pylenkov), 07.29

2:0 Gusev, 12.45

2:1 Zykov (Zaitsev, Pedan), 16.13

2:2 Nikishin (Grigorenko, I. Demidov), 31.53 PPG

2:3 Pedan (Nikishin, Grigorenko), 36.58

3:3 Gusev (Pylenkov, Paquette), 59.35

3:4 Nikishin (I. Demidov, Akolzin), 63.16

Goalkeepers: Podyapolsky – Pleshkov