Jokerit - SKA

Jokerit - SKA - 3:2

1 October 2015

SKA begun their three match long away series with a fixture in Helsinki against Finnish outfit HC Jokerit. Head coach Andrei Nazarov made a number of changes following the disappointing performance against Dinamo Riga, and placed Ilya Ezhov in net with Igor Shestyorkin his backup. Dmitry Yudin and Alexander Barabanov both moved up to the first line, and Maxim Chudinov moved down to the fourth. Henrik Karlsson was Jokerit’s starting goaltender.

The Hartwall Arena had been waiting for this game for a while, and both teams got physically stuck into one another. SKA opted for cautious tactics during the opening period, and were happy to sit in their own zone while Jokerit tried to find an opening. Indeed no real chances were created at all by either team, and both goaltenders weren’t having an awful lot to do. A few wristers from distance were the closest that Jokerit came to scoring, while SKA’s Evgeny Ketov wristed high glove side when on a shorthanded counterattack. A goal didn’t particularly look like coming, but two minutes from the buzzer the visitors struck. Alexander Dergachyov took up the puck behind the net, swung to the right post, and squeezed it past Henrik Karlsson.

Jokerit came out more aggressive in the second period, and caused Ilya Ezhov some bother in net. On one occasion the puck looked to rebound off the woodwork, and then Ilya took hold of a dangerous loose play. Our team still looked more likely to score though, and Alexander Barabanov and Jarno Koskiranta only just failed to pot a huge rebound. Nevertheless Jokerit are masters of fooling you into a false sense of security, and they found their craved equaliser. Ilya Ezhov pushed a wrist shot out to the doorstep, and Niko Kapanen swept home. The home fans had come to life now, however they were silenced again almost instantly. Alexander Barabanov hacked away for the puck on the slot, and managed to poke it over the line. The hosts lost their discipline after that, and a big five on three powerplay came and went for SKA. All the momentum was with our players, but out of the blue Jokerit found a second reply. Brandon Kozun dumped in from the right hand boards, and Ilya Ezhov let it slip between his legs.

All the momentum was with Jokerit as the third begun, and after a powerplay had expired they took a vital lead. Jani Rita crept in from deep, collected his own rebound up close, and bundled it in. SKA weren’t being given any time to keep possession, and Jokerit crashed our net putting on serious pressure. As time went on however they began to sit back more and more, and our team did have a few great opportunities to make it a tied game. The best came during the last minute, as Jokerit’s Ville Lajunen was sent to the box for delaying the game. With Ilya Ezhov pulled that made it a six on four, but despite brilliant chances for Ilya Kovalchuk and Vadim Shipachyov Jokerit’s goaltender stood tall. 2:3 today, and SKA will now move on to play HC Traktor Chelyabinsk away on Saturday.

Match protocol:

Jokerit – SKA - 3:2 (0:1, 2:1, 1:0)

Goals:

0:1 Dergachyov (Barabanov), 18.37

1:1 Kapanen (Olimb, Jormakka), 29.27

1:2 Barabanov (Koskiranta, Kovalchuk), 30.23

2:2 Kozun (Hagman), 38.34

3:2 Rita (Joensuu), 42.16

Goalkeepers: Karlsson – Ezhov

Shots on target: 24 – 28

Penalty minutes: 10 – 4

Faceoffs: 27 – 26