Demidov inspires SKA to entertaining win in Sochi!

19 September 2024

Ivan Demidov grabbed the headlines in Sochi, powering SKA to an eventful 7:4 win against the hosts in the 2024/2025 KHL regular season.

Our players had to come from behind twice before almost letting a four-goal lead slip in the third period, but a late empty-netter from the imperious Demidov - who tallied four (2+2) points on the night - sealed the deal.

Grigory Kuzmin and Alexander Nikishin took it in turns to draw SKA level after Michal Kristof and Danil Avershin had twice given Sochi the advantage. Stepan Falkovsky then quickly put our team ahead in the 19th minute, ripping a firm one-timer past Sergei Ivanov.

Both Nikishin and Falkovsky had hit the jackpot after receiving pinpoint passes from the 18-year-old Demidov.

SKA threatented to run away with it in the second stanza. Valentin Zykov got the better of Ivanov from close range in the eighth minute of the frame, in turn sending the former SKA goaltender to the bench in favour of Yegor Zavragin.

Nevertheless, Zavragin was soon picking the puck out of his net too, as Bardakov converted from the slot and Demidov lashed home an unstoppable wrister.

To their credit, Sochi made a real game of it in the third period, reducing our lead to two as Timur Khafizov beat Nikita Serebryakov on two occasions.

However, star figure Demidov would deservedly have the final word, brilliantly whipping the puck into the empty net after Sochi had opted to release the extra skater.

SKA will now prepare to face Torpedo in Nizhny Novgorod on Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time.

Match protocol:

Sochi - SKA - 4:7 (2:3, 0:3, 2:1)

Goals:

1:0 Kristof (Ibragimov, Popov), 04.54

1:1 Kuzmin (Kuznetsov), 06.23

2:1 Avershin (Khafizov, Seroukh), 12.56

2:2 Nikishin (Demidov, Kuznetsov), 15.50

2:3 Falkovsky (Demidov), 18.37

2:4 Zykov (Gritsyuk, Falkovsky), 27.19

2:5 Bardakov (Falkovsky), 31.11

2:6 Demidov (Kuzmin, Kuznetsov), 34.58