Bardakov brace doesn’t prevent Ak Bars defeat

4 February 2025

Zakhar Bardakov stood out with two excellent goals, but defensive woes resulted in a disappointing 3:8 home setback to Ak Bars at the SKA Arena.

Six conceded markers during a disastrous first period proved fatal, as the Kazan-based visitors controlled proceedings throughout and snapped SKA’s four-game winning streak.

You couldn’t have imagined a worse start for SKA.

Semyon Terekhov bundled the bouncing puck in with a mere 25 seconds on the clock. Following that immediate setback, SKA did start to create opportunities in the attacking zone, but an alarming amount of mistakes at the back ruined any chance of counting on a positive outcome.

Artyom Galimov powered clean through and slid the puck under Artemiy Pleshkov, before Alexei Pustozyorov tipped into the left corner. Pleshkov was indeed predictably swapped in favour of Pavel Moisevich following Ak Bars’ third.

The change initially had the desired effect, as Valentin Zykov converted on the break-away to finally give SKA life. However, that proved to be a false dawn, with the opponents scoring three more times before the period was out as Galimov – twice – and Nikita Lyamkin beat Moisevich from close range with our defence nowhere to be seen.

Semyon Koshelev bagged a seventh for Ak Bars shorthanded at the start of the second period as the horror show continued.

Nevertheless, to their credit, our players subsequently regrouped somewhat and began to make a game of it. Bardakov tallied his first in impressive fashion in the 28^th minute, swerving past Kazan defenseman Alexei Marchenko with a superb move and carefully shooting under Timur Bilyalov.

Bardakov then swept the rebound home in the 42^nd minute to give SKA a glimmer of hope following a strong start to the third frame. Unfortunately, though, despite an improved effort and plenty of pressure, Ak Bars held firm – even after Moisevich had been swapped for the extra skater with five minutes remaining in regulation.

Artur Brovkin rounded off the match with a late empty-netter for the Tatar organisation.

SKA will now prepare to face Vityaz Moscow Region in Balashikha on Thursday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Ak Bars – 3:8 (1:6, 1:1, 1:1)

Goals:

0:1 Terekhov (Jaskin, Lyamkin), 00.25

0:2 Galimov, 06.34

0:3 Pustozyorov (Yarullin, Koshelev), 09.27

1:3 Zykov (Bardakov, Nikishin), 12.30

1:4 Galimov (Korshkov, Barabanov), 14.12

1:5 Lyamkin (Korshkov, Galimov), 16.52

1:6 Galimov (Barabanov), 19.05