HC Sochi - SKA

HC Sochi - SKA - 2:3 OT

30 November 2015

SKA’s fourth and final match of this lengthy away series took place today against HC Sochi in the Bolshoi Ice Dome. Head coach Sergei Zubov sprang a surprise with the line-up, as he placed nineteen year old Igor Shestyorkin in net for his first KHL appearance of the season. Alexander Kadeikin and Anton Burdasov were kept in the first line with Ilya Kovalchuk, and ex SKA defenceman Alexei Semyonov dressed up for Sochi. Konstantin Barulin was their netminder.

Our team were the faster out of the blocks, and could have scored immediately. Vadim Shipachyov burst through one on one, however lost control of the puck when shaping to shoot. SKA continued to hold the initiative during the opening half of the period, and saw two powerplays come and go. Dmitry Kalinin had one big gaping chance, but alone on the right post he failed to turn in a juicy rebound. That proved to be costly, as Sochi slowly grew into the game. The pressure was building inside SKA’s zone, and one of their attacks led up to a goal. Mikhail Anisin darted in between our defenceman, and fired over Igor Shestyorkin’s blocker at the high slot. Sochi were full of confidence now, and Igor made a few excellent stops to keep the difference at one.

Just like in the first period SKA started the second on top, and didn’t waste any time in drawing level. Maxim Chudinov found space on the right faceoff circle, let rip, and beat newly installed goaltender Dmitry Shikin. That was just what our team needed, and the next few shifts were spent deep inside Sochi’s zone. Nevertheless the hosts’ counterattacks were causing us an all manner of problems, and they got edged their noses in front again. Denis Kazionov slipped in behind our back line, and shot high into the left corner. Our players didn’t like that, and created plenty of big openings in Sochi’s zone. Ilya Kovalchuk wristed against the woodwork when clean through, and Anton Belov had a powerful slap shot gloved. Igor Shestyorkin was still having work to do at the other end, and he made a couple of sharp pad saves against Mikhail Anisin blasts.

Despite needing to equalise SKA struggled during the third frame, and spent most of the period in their own zone. Sochi were unwilling to let go of control, and barely let out players create anything. Very little goalmouth action was being seen, and it took our team over half the period to register a shot on target. A Denis Kazionov offence for roughing gave SKA a perfect chance to put on the pressure though, and that penalty was punished to the full. Maxim Chudinov slapped from distance, and captain Ilya Kovalchuk expertly tipped in. That goal came with only five minutes left, and Sochi had a big opportunity to take all the points. Ben Maxwell shot when all alone on the doorstep, and Igor Shestyorkin made a huge glove stop.

Overtime it was, and Sochi came close on two occasions. Andre Petterson was stoned by Igor Shestyorkin at close range, and Vadim Shipachyov couldn’t score when clean through for the second time. Our players weren’t to be denied though, and Nikita Gusev gave SKA the extra point with a beautiful wrister high into the left corner. 3:2, and SKA take a hugely important win away from Sochi! The next match will take place on the 2^nd of December at home to HC Spartak Moscow.

Match protocol:

HC Sochi – SKA – 2:3 OT (1:0, 1:1, 0:1 – 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Anisin (Maxwell, Skachkov), 13.49

1:1 Chudinov (Kalinin), 22.52

2:1 Denis Kazionov (Mamashev), 25.58

2:2 Kovalchuk (Chudinov, Dadonov), 54.39

2:3 Gusev, 62.07

Goalkeepers: Barulin/Shikin – Shestyorkin

Shots on target: 32 – 26

Penalty minutes: 6 – 2

Faceoffs: 19 – 27