Game three. Lokomotiv - SKA - 1:2 OT

Game three between SKA and HC Lokomotiv in the 2016/2017 Western Conference final took place in Yaroslavl. Head coach Oleg Znarok opted not to make any serious changes, keeping the team largely the same. Mikko Koskinen and Alexander Sudnitsin were the starting goalkeepers.

Down 0:2 in the series, Lokomotiv immediately took the initiative in front of their home fans. The Yaroslavl outfit bossed the early proceedings, forcing SKA into two early fouls. However, against the run of play, SKA could have taken the lead. Vadim Shipachyov’s one timer beat the netminder, but the right post came to Lokomotiv’s rescue. Not long after that scare, the hosts did score their deserved opener. Pavel Kraskovsky peeled down the right wing, cut to the crease and backhanded past Mikko Koskinen. Unfortunately, Mikko Koskinen then picked up an injury which forced him into the dressing room. Igor Shestyorkin took his place.

Despite having not played a full game since early February, Igor Shestyorkin proved that he was still the goalkeeper which earned eight shutouts during the KHL regular season. He made seventeen saves in the second period alone, denying several Lokomotiv forwards at point blank range. At the other end, SKA were struggling to create opportunities, failing to test Alexander Sudnitsin on a regular basis. The period had more fights than goalscoring chances, with the teams racking up a combined forty penalty minutes during that frame.

Focused on protecting their lead, Lokomotiv shut up shop in the third period. SKA were facing an uphill challenge against one of the KHL’s tightest defences, but midway through, we finally got back on level terms. On the powerplay, Anton Belov took aim, the puck bounced back to the doorstep and Nikita Gusev slammed it beyond Alexander Sudnitsin. Rattled by that goal, the hosts contrived to take another penalty, however Lokomotiv were the closest to scoring shorthanded: Petri Kontiola powered past SKA’s defence, wristed hard and Igor Shestyorkin pulled off a stunning glove save.

It went into overtime, where SKA had to kill off two penalties. Nevertheless, after surviving those moments of panic, our team finished the match once and for all. Alexander Barabanov sealed the deal, scoring a quite beautiful coast to coast goal. 2:1 victory in Yaroslavl and SKA make it 3:0 in the series!

Lokomotiv – SKA – 1:2 OT (1:0, 0:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Kraskovsky, 17.10

1:1 Gusev (Belov, Shipachyov), 51.59

1:2 Barabanov (Koskiranta), 65.58

Goalkeepers: Sudnitsin – Koskinen/Shestyorkin

Shots on target: 43 – 34

Penalty minutes: 53 – 29

Faceoffs: 34 – 35

Hits: 19 – 22

Referees: Gofman, Olenin

27.03.2017. Arena 2000, Yaroslavl.