Game three. Dynamo Moscow - SKA

Game three. Dynamo Moscow - SKA - 2:3 OT

22 March 2021

In a thrilling battle, SKA claimed their second victory of the 2020/2021 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs second round, beating Dynamo 3:2 in Moscow to move 2-1 ahead in the series.

Dynamo came out with all guns blazing with the loud support of their fans. In stark comparison to the first two games of the series, the Muscovites immediately took the initiative, applying pressure on SKA and earning a quick powerplay as Vladimir Tkachyov was penalised for tripping.

Dmitrij Jaskin contrived to miss the gaping net on that ensuing man-advantage when alone on the slot.

Nevertheless, Andrei Sergeev then took a tripping foul of his own, and SKA opened the scoring when playing 4-on-4 as Vasily Podkolzin powered to the slot from the right wing and knocked the puck over the line after his initial attempt was saved.

Magnus Hellberg was busy throughout the remainder of the first period as Dynamo piled on the pressure. Yegor Zaitsev, Oscar Lindberg and Ivan Muranov all came particularly close for the home team, as they often pinned SKA deep in their own zone.

The second period continued in much the same manner.

SKA were, however, being presented with opportunities on the counter-attack, and Anton Burdasov doubled our money in the 25^th minute as he expertly went five-hole on Dynamo goaltender Alexander Yeryomenko when completely clean through. Tkachyov had picked him out with a typically intelligent pass.

The game seemed to calm down after that second SKA goal. However, Dynamo gradually began to increase the intensity of their play again, a stretch of pressure which resulted in a goal in the 13^th minute of the frame as Jaskin lifted a rising wrister over Hellberg’s blocker when competing on the powerplay.

Holding the momentum, Dynamo went on to press SKA intently during the remainder of the second stanza, regularly calling Hellberg into action as the visitors struggled to keep them at bay.

Dynamo did eventually tally their equaliser in the 44^th minute.

Displaying competent skill with the puck at his stick, defenseman Sergeev dished out a superb pass across the slot, with Ivan Igumnov connecting with it to beat the stranded Hellberg.

The vast majority of the third period saw Dynamo dominate the match with their intense, incessant pressing. In truth, SKA were largely relying on Hellberg to keep them in the game, as the in-form Swedish goaltender denied Jaskin, Michal Cajkovsky, Andrei Alexeev and Sergeev with alert stops. At the other end, Andrei Kuzmenko wasted a rare opportunity for SKA, shooting over the bar when in space on the right faceoff circle.

Overtime was indeed required in Moscow, and an under-fire SKA didn't need long to put the match to bed.

Unmarked on the doorstep, Vladislav Kamenev pounced on a big rebound top-shelf on Yeryomenko, in turn ensuing that SKA went ahead in the series for the first time.

The fourth match will take place on Wednesday in the Russian capital. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

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

Goals:

0:1 Podkolzin (Morozov), 04.15

0:2 Burdasov (Fantenberg, Tkachyov), 26.15

1:2 Jaskin (Cajkovsky, Sergeev), 32.05

2:2 Igumnov (Sergeev), 43.48

2:3 Kamenev (Shvets-Rogovoi, Timkin), 62.27

Goalkeepers: Yeryomenko - Hellberg

Shots on target: 35 - 20

Faceoffs: 32 - 27