Lokomotiv - SKA

Lokomotiv - SKA - 2:3

28 November 2015

SKA travelled to Yaroslavl to take on HC Lokomotiv for the third match of this away series. Plenty of SKA fans made the trip to support the team, and the club’s mascot was even present. No real changes were made by head coach Sergei Zubov for this one, with only Ilya Ezhov backing Mikko Koskinen up. Recordsman Alexei Murygin was in net for Lokomotiv.

Today’s hosts have been in fantastic form this season, and the Western Conference leaders made a strong start on home ice. In the first few seconds they could have even scored, but Mikko Koskinen made a tough save up close glove side. Our players managed to keep Lokomotiv openings at a minimum though, and began to cause problems for Lokomotiv’s back line too. The first goal arrived after nine minutes, and fortunately it went SKA’s way. Vadim Shipachyov tapped in Evgeny Dadonov’s pass from a tight angle with his skate, and after a long second look it was given. SKA took over the period from that point, and comfortably held Lokomotiv at bay. A second goal was even on its way, and this time there was no need for a video replay. Anton Burdasov powered down the right wing, squared for Ilya Kovalchuk on the doorstep, and our captain made no mistake.

The home fans weren’t impressed with their team’s first period performance, and spurred on by ferocious support Lokomotiv promptly stepped it up a gear. With one of their first major opportunities they managed to get on the board, as Egor Korshkov tapped in at close range after a neat play around SKA’s zone. Our team managed to shore up matter after that goal, but on a counterattack Lokomotiv made it a tied game. Jonas Enlund sped away one on one, and beat fellow Finn Mikko Koskinen five hole. SKA were up against it now, however dealt with the situation calmly. Most of the play was coming inside Lokomotiv’s zone, and on a late powerplay the lead was taken for a third time. Vyacheslav Voynov found Ilya Kovalchuk on the left faceoff circle, and the latter went top shelf over the glove for a 3:2 lead.

Defence was the order of the day in the third period, and for the most part SKA shut up shop. Lokomotiv were finding it hard to get anything going in our zone, and our players were comfortably icing the puck time and time again. Our counterattacks were dangerous as well, and Maxim Chudinov backhanded off target when in a perfect position at the high slot. Mikko Koskinen was solid as the minutes began to run down, and some heroic shot blocking helped him out. Nevertheless Lokomotiv did have one big chance, and thought they had equalised when Andrei Loktionov backhanded against both posts. After replays the referees didn’t give it though, and that was that. SKA take away a huge 3:2 win away from Yaroslavl against HC Lokomotiv, and continue to put the pressure on HC Sochi in eighth place of the Western Conference!

Match protocol:

Lokomotiv – SKA – 2:3 (0:2, 2:1, 0:0)

Goals:

0:1 Shipachyov (Dadonov), 09.06

0:2 Kovalchuk (Burdasov), 17.42

1:2 Korshkov (Kronwall, Polunin), 22.09

2:2 Enlund (Lyubushkin, Mosalyov), 28.53

2:3 Kovalchuk (Voynov, Shipachyov), 38.09

Goalkeepers: Murygin – Koskinen

Shots on target: 30 – 28

Penalty minutes: 6 – 6

Faceoffs: 28 – 24