Liga Stavok Sochi Hockey Open. Russia - SKA

Liga Stavok Sochi Hockey Open. Russia - SKA - 6:5 SO

8 August 2023

In the concluding match of the 2023 Liga Stavok Sochi Hockey Open, SKA were beaten in a thriller against the Russian national team, conceding a 5:6 defeat after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Initially, our players had looked to be in firm control of proceedings.

At first, SKA forward Semyon Demidov equalised for Russia, but our team did lead 4:1 after 23 minutes with Ilya Fedotov, Brendan Leipsic, Emil Galimov and Ivan Demidov having struck gold. SKA representative Dmitry Nikolaev was replaced in the Russian net by club teammate Artemiy Pleshkov after the maiden three conceded goals.

SKA forward Semyon Sinyatkin reduced the gap to two for Russia, but Ilya Fedotov subsequently reinstated our commanding three-goal advantage with only the third stanza left to play.

However, SKA contrived to throw a seemingly won game out of their hands.

In aa tense third frame, the national team came roaring back, getting back on level terms with Dmitry Katelevsky - twice - and Maxim Velikov getting the better of SKA goalkeeper Johan Mattsson. SKA's Arseniy Koromyslov, Semyon Demidov, Matvei Kabush and Sinyatkin dished out the assists.

The outcome was eventually decided by a penalty shootout, in which Mattsson was pulled in favour of Sergei Ivanov. Unfortunately, though, the change didn't have the desired effect, with Ruslan Abrosimov winning it for Russia with two successful attempts. Sergei Tolchinsky was the only SKA player to score past the impressive Pleshkov.

SKA will now continue to prepare for the upcoming KHL campaign at the Gazprom resort in Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi.

Match protocol:

Russia - SKA - 6:5 SO (1:3, 1:2, 3:0, 0:0 - 0:1)

Goals:

0:1 I. Fedotov, 10.16

1:1 S. Demidov (Katelevsky), 10:57

1:2 Leipsic (Tolchinsky, Tankov), 12:18

1:3 Galimov (I. Fedotov, M. Fedotov), 14:15

1:4 I. Demidov (Sergeev, Michkov), 22:36 PPG

2:4 Sinyatkin (Gulyaev), 27:36

2:5 I. Fedotov (Galimov, Zinchenko), 34:17

3:5 Katelevsky (Sinyatkin, Koromyslov), 40:53 PPG