Dinamo Riga - SKA

Dinamo Riga - SKA - 4:2

18 February 2016

SKA travelled to Latvia to take on HC Dinamo Riga for the final match of the 2015/2016 KHL regular season so far. Following the loss to Jokerit two days ago head coach Sergei Zubov made a number of changes to the line-up, and Nikita Gusev, Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeny Dadonov made up the first line. Mikko Koskinen was in our net, while Jakub Sedlacek was between Dinamo’s pipes.

It was a packed out Arena Riga for Dinamo’s last game of the campaign, and they came flying out of the blocks. A few minutes in Mikko Koskinen couldn’t hold on to a dump into his crease, and an off balance Gints Meija buried the puck into the left corner. Our players simply couldn’t get anything going, and Mikko had to be alert as the Latvian hosts piled forward searching for a second. SKA were struggling, and a couple of timely powerplays helped the team liven up. Plenty of chances began to fashion inside Dinamo’s zone, and we should really have equalised. Evgeny Dadonov was shut down on the doorstep on a number of occasions, Anton Belov had two clattering one timers stopped, and one on one Nikita Gusev backhanded against the right pad. Events seemed to be swinging our way, however out of the blue Dinamo netted a second. Shorthanded Andris Dzerins had time and space on the right flank, and he hammered his effort past Mikko Koskinen’s glove.

Something had to be done in the second stanza, and immediately SKA got to work. With a man’s advantage Vadim Shipachyov hung on the right faceoff circle, and he wristed powerfully into the far corner. That gave our team a well needed lift, and practically the whole of the period was spent inside Dinamo’s zone. The pressing refused to let up, and Dinamo were drawn into committing a number of fouls. Dinamo’s goaltender Jakub Sedlacek was practically playing SKA on his own, and he made an amazing right pad save to somehow shut down Steve Moses at point blank range. Jarno Koskiranta and Anton Belov both had thumping slappers saved, and the lively Sergei Shirokov could only fire into the goalkeeper’s chest when free on the slot. The Latvian crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated, and their players seemed to listen to them. With the period coming to an end Dinar Khafizullin handed Dinamo a powerplay, and Mikelis Redlihs made it count with a tricky wrister under the glove.

That late goal came as a defining blow for our team, and we had trouble getting set up in the opponent’s end. Dinamo decided to completely shut up shop, and all the emphasis was on whether SKA could make it a grandstand finish. As time began to slowly wind down our players did create serious panic for the hosts, and Jakub Sedlacek was making save after save. The Czech was on a roll, and he pulled off a stunning stop five hole to deny the onrushing Anton Belov. Pavel Buchnevich then smashed the crossbar as the pressing grew, and eventually we made it count. Our number 88 Pavel Buchnevich did a full 360 on the left, and wristed beautifully into the far corner. New hope had been breathed into our ranks, and Sergei Zubov took a big risk by pulling Mikko Koskinen with 02:59 to play. Unfortunately it didn’t pay off, as Kaspars Sauietis took up the loose puck to comfortably roll it into the empty net. 2:4 today, and SKA complete their 2015/2016 KHL regular season with a loss in Latvia.

Match protocol:

Dinamo Riga – SKA – 4:2 (2:0, 1:1, 1:1)

Goals:

1:0 Meija (Indrasis, Skvorcovs), 04.26

2:0 Dzerins (M Redlihs, Galvins), 19.34

2:1 Shipachyov (Chudinov), 22.46

3:1 M Redlihs (Sotnieks), 38.59

3:2 Buchnevich (Shirokov), 56.13

4:2 Saulietis (Jelisejevs), 58.22

Goalkeepers: Sedlacek – Koskinen

Shots on target: 20 – 45

Penalty minutes: 12 – 6