SKA - Ak Bars - 3:2. Game Four

17 April 2015

On the 17^th of April, SKA took on HC Ak Bars Kazan for the fourth match of this KHL Gagarin Cup final. Following the disappointing result in the previous game, head coach Vyacheslav Bykov made a few changes as Pyotr Khokhryakov took his place in the fourth line. Defenceman Nikolai Belov was cleared to take part, and Mikko Koskinen was in our net opposing Anders Nilsson of Ak Bars.

It was a simply amazing start inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace, as just 38 seconds in our players broke through. Ak Bars went missing at the back, Ilya Kovalchuk sent a brilliantly faked pass to Patrick Thoresen, and the latter did the rest. That gave our team a well needed boost, and Ak Bars’ net was laid siege to. Ilya Kablukov could only wrist into Anders Nilsson’s stomach from the tip of the crease, and then one on one Yevgeni Dadonov thumped the crossbar with the goaltender beaten. SKA were completely dominant, however on the counterattack Ak Bars did have their chances. Igor Mirnov was denied when pulling blocker side all alone, and then on the penalty kill Mikko Koskinen had to deal with a few dangerous efforts coming from the blue line.

Things began to calm down a bit in the second, as the lightning quick tempo slowed up slightly. Ak Bars time and time again were setting the puck back to the point for it to be slapped, and Mikko Koskinen was having to show alert reactions with heavy traffic in front of him. Despite his efforts though, Ak Bars did get on the board. With a man’s advantage Oscar Moller freed himself up between the circles, and he fired under the goalkeeper’s blocker. If some were expecting our team to panic after that, they were proved fortunately wrong. Also on the powerplay fellow Swede Jimmie Ericsson took aim from distance, and it caught Anders Nilsson completely cold. And just to make things even sweeter, Mikko Koskinen picked up an astounding assist on that goal.

SKA began the third frame with an Ak Bars figure in the penalty box, and the Tatar outfit were made to pay straight away. Only 44 seconds after the restart Yevgeni Dadonov went on a mazy skate from deep on the right, gobbled up his own rebound, and slid the puck into the net from an awkward angle. The visitors were forced into a corner now, and had no choice than to come out of their shell. Petr Vrana messed up a gaping opportunity from close range as they pressed forward, although despite their pressure they failed to get set up in SKA’s zone for a prolonged amount of time. On the other hand our players were knocking around the puck with real confidence, and kept on creating openings. Roman Cervenka whacked off target when closing down, and then Pyotr Khokhryakov fired into Anders Nilsson from the right faceoff circle. As the tension went up a level Vyacheslav Bykov opted to take a timeout with four minutes left, however with Anders Nilsson off for the extra skater Ak Bars made it a tense finale. Justin Azevedo was set up on the doorstep, and he had no problem hitting the target. Only 41 seconds remained, and thankfully they were seen out confidently as SKA take the fourth match 3:2 to move ahead in the series 3:1!

Match protocol:

SKA – Ak Bars – 3:2 (1:0, 1:1, 1:1)

Goals:

1:0 Thoresen (Kovalchuk), 00.38

1:1 Moller (Azevedo, Nikulin), 30.00

2:1 Ericsson (Kovalchuk, Koskinen), 33.36

3:1 Dadonov (Kovalchuk), 40.44

3:2 Azevedo (Zakharchuk, Lukoyanov), 59.19

Goalkeepers: Koskinen – Nilsson

Shots: 23 – 30

Penalty minutes: 6 – 4

Faceoffs: 31 – 22