Salavat Yulaev - SKA

Salavat Yulaev - SKA - 2:1 OT

26 December 2015

SKA’s final match of 2015 took place today against HC Salavat Yulaev in Ufa. Following the nervy win over Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Thursday head coach Sergei Zubov made a few changes in the line-up, as Mikko Koskinen took over from Igor Shestyorkin in net. Joakim Lindstrom made a return to the fourth line, and Pavel Buchnevich stepped up to the third. Niklas Svedberg was Salavat’s netminder.

Hosts Salavat are always well supported, and with a full Ufa Arena behind them they made a strong start. Mikko Koskinen was the busier goaltender early on, and he made a couple of alert saves on shots from distance. Penalties began to build up on both sides with every inch of ice being fought for, and a few powerplays allowed SKA to grow into the game. Home netminder Niklas Svedberg got his body on a hard Andrei Kuteikin one timer, and Jarno Koskiranta’s backhander up close was shut down. Chances were coming at both ends with regularity, and it was Salavat finished the period the stronger. A Nikita Gusev holding call allowed the hosts to pile on the pressure deep inside our zone, but some sharp Mikko Koskinen reactions kept it scoreless heading into the break.

Things didn’t change much in the second period, with the tension seriously high. Both teams were playing tight in defence, and not many goalscoring chances were witnessed. Counterattacking was the order of the day, and SKA had a few half opportunities in front of Salavat’s goal. Steve Moses hit the goaltender’s pads when alone on the slot, and Jarno Koskiranta had a one timer shut down when on the doorstep. Salavat began to press harder as the period drew closer to its end, and despite the best efforts of Mikko Koskinen they ended up breaking the deadlock. Mikko made not one, but two superb point blank range saves, but he was powerless to prevent Artyom Chernov from eventually stuffing it over the line.

With the score in Salavat’s favour SKA took over the initiative in the third period, and forced the hosts deep into their own zone. They were made into taking a penalty as well, and that was our cue to get back on terms. Steve Moses opened up on the left faceoff circle, and beat Niklas Svedberg with a beautiful wrister high into the near corner. All the momentum was with our team now, and as time began to run down SKA had plenty of chances to win it. Steve Moses hacked wide of an open net blocker side, Alexander Kadeikin lost his footing when one on one, and Vadim Shipachyov failed to get the better of the netminder on the crease. Salavat couldn’t handle the pressure, and they gifted our players a big powerplay with two minutes remaining. Nevertheless SKA couldn’t take advantage of it, with Andrei Kuteikin coming closest with a heavy slapper.

For the second time in three outings it went to overtime, and just like in Nizhny Novgorod it went the hosts’ way. Enver Lisin burst clean through, cut to the backhand and found the net. 1:2 in Ufa today, and SKA take one point away from Ufa. The next match will take place on the 4^th of January away against HC Dynamo Moscow.

Match protocol:

Salavat Yulaev – SKA – 2:1 OT (0:0, 1:0, 0:1 – 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Chernov (Nesterov, Soin), 35.55

1:1 Moses (Shirokov, Kovalchuk), 47.54

2:1 Lisin (Svedberg, Loginov), 63.15

Goalkeepers: Svedberg – Koskinen

Shots on target: 32 – 32

Penalty minutes: 12 – 10

Faceoffs: 32 – 30

Hits: 8 – 10

Referees: Bulanov, Naumov