Liga Stavok Sochi Hockey Open. SKA - Admiral

Liga Stavok Sochi Hockey Open. SKA - Admiral - 2:3 OT

3 August 2023

In the maiden game of the 2023 Liga Stavok Sochi Hockey Open, SKA squandered a commanding two-goal advantage against Admiral Vladivostok, conceded three times shorthanded to consequently lose 2:3 in overtime.

SKA initially started in impressive fashion. Our youthful second line consisting of Nikolai Polyakov, Matvei Michkov and Ivan Demidov particularly stood out, as the trio caused an all manner of problems for the Admiral defence with their creative approach.

The three promptly became the craftsmen for our two first-period goals. Cutting to the centre, Demidov sent a fierce wrister beyond Admiral goalkeeper Nikita Serebryakov, before Michkov hit the jackpot at point-blank range after Polyakov had picked him out with a superb pass.

However, that was as good as it got for SKA.

Thanks to SKA taking five penalties in the second stanza, Admiral managed to gain a foothold in proceedings, duly clawing one back on the powerplay in the 36th minute as Colby Williams thundered home a one-timer. The Vladivostok-based outfit did indeed outshoot SKA 11-5 in that particular period.

Ill-discipline was to prove SKA's downfall in this game. On yet another powerplay, Alexei Solovyov hauled Admiral level in the 48th minute, wiring his firm wrist shot past SKA goaltender Johan Mattsson through a crowd of bodies.

A clumsy cross-checking foul committed by SKA forward Nikita Komarov in the dying seconds of regulation opened the door for Admiral to steal the win. Unfortunately for us, that's exactly what they achieved in the ensuing overtime frame, netting 46 seconds in through Prokhor Korbit on the doorstep.

In accordance with the tournament regulations, the two teams did engage in a subsequent training penalty shootout regardless, in which SKA emerged victorious by a score of 2:1 with Sergei Tolchinsky and Michkov beating Serebryakov. Alexander Shevchenko was the only Admiral representative to get the better of Mattsson.

SKA will return to action on Saturday in Sochi against Avangard Omsk. Puck-drop is scheduled for 16:30 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Admiral - 2:3 OT (2:0, 0:1, 0:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 I. Demidov (Michkov, Galimov), 12.28

2:0 Michkov (Polyakov), 17.17

2:1 Williams (Solovyov, Berlyov), 35.10 PPG

2:2 Solovyov (Golubev, Gutik), 47.43 PPG

2:3 Korbit (Chudinov, Shen), 60.46 PPG

Goalkeepers: Mattsson - Serebryakov

Shots: 46 - 42

Shots on target: 29 - 23