Dynamo Moscow - SKA

Dynamo Moscow - SKA - 1:4

15 March 2016

The fifth game of this 2015/2016 KHL Gagarin Cup second round series against HC Dynamo Moscow took place today away. No changes were made to our line-up after the 4:0 win in Saint Petersburg, and Mikko Koskinen was our starting netminder. Alexander Yeryomenko was between Dynamo’s pipes.

Our players were full of confidence following that victory at home, and they made the better start inside the VTB Ice Palace. We seized the early initiative, and came close to netting an opener. Alexander Barabanov wristed wide of the right corner after a brilliant solo burst, and Nikita Gusev fired into the goalkeeper’s chest on the slot. Dynamo were playing it cautious, and they were happy for SKA to have the majority of the possession. Nevertheless they were always going to have their moments, and as tempers began to rise they had one clear opportunity on the powerplay: Denis Kokarev was set up close, and luckily for us he hammered off target.

There was a tense atmosphere heading into the second period, and the action took a sharp rise. The pace was being increased by both teams, and after Dynamo took a penalty we managed to strike first blood. Vadim Shipachyov hung to the right, swept it across, and Dinar Khafizullin stuffed the puck over the line. That silenced the arena, however minutes later Dynamo got back on terms. Anton Belov couldn’t control a loose puck, and the lurking Konstantin Gorovikov wristed over Mikko Koskinen’s blocker. That goal wasn’t in the plan, and it took a few minutes for SKA to regain their composure. Nevertheless we got it together again, and on a delayed penalty the hosts conceded their second goal. Nikita Gusev pulled to the crease, a juicy rebound fell to the left post, and Steve Moses was on hand to slam it into the net. All the momentum was with our team now, and Sergei Shirokov came close to a third with a wrister that sailed inches wide of the left post.

All the pressure was on Dynamo in the third frame, and you could feel the home fans’ nerves. SKA were intent on seeing the game out, and an early powerplay goal helped the cause: Nikita Gusev received on the left faceoff circle, went for a cheeky no look shot, and he beautifully found the five hole. Dynamo were backed into a corner now, and they had to throw the kitchen sink at SKA. The closest that they came was on a five on three: the puck bounced around our crease, and only an heroic Andrei Zubarev prevented it from crossing the line. That proved to be Dynamo’s last glimmer of hope, and Daniil Tarasov sealed their fate with a 5+20 penalty after kneeing Vadim Shipachyov. Our players weren’t willing to take any mercy, and Jarno Koskiranta buried a loose puck to compound Dynamo’s misery. 4:1 today, and SKA move ahead 3:2 in the series! The next match will take place in Saint Petersburg on Thursday.

Match protocol:

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

Goals:

0:1 Khafizullin (Dadonov, Shipachyov), 24.56

1:1 Gorovikov, 27.29

1:2 Moses (Gusev, Shipachyov), 34.17

1:3 Gusev (Shipachyov, Khafizullin), 43.06

1:4 Koskiranta (Moses), 56.11

Goalkeepers: Yeryomenko – Koskinen

Shots on target: 23 – 27

Penalty minutes: 35 – 24

Faceoffs: 32 – 28