SKA - Dynamo Moscow

SKA - Dynamo Moscow - 1:3

18 February 2021

In Saint Petersburg, SKA came up short in a tense battle against HC Dynamo Moscow, conceding a narrow 1:3 defeat in the 2020/2021 KHL regular season.

SKA earned a quick 5-on-3 powerplay with Dynamo defenseman Mikhail Grigoryev (high sticking) and forward Yegor Bryzgalov (high sticking) taking two penalties in the same play. However, after striking the pipe during that particular powerplay, SKA promptly conceded after Dynamo returned to full strength.

Alone between the circles, Juuso Hietanen went top-shelf on Alexander Samonov, beating our goalkeeper with a rising attempt.

Not long later, after defenseman Danila Galenyuk contrived to take a four-minute penalty for high-sticking, lightning struck twice as Hietanen thumped a one-timer beyond Samonov on the left flank. Andrei Sergeev subsequently almost scored a third for Dynamo as he lashed an unstoppable slap shot against the right post.

Dynamo calmly controlled proceedings during the first half of the second period. Leading by two goals, the away team managed to keep SKA well away from their net, effectively protecting possession and often calling Samonov into action with dangerous attempts.

However, with 32 minutes on the clock, SKA gained a lifeline.

Lurking on the crease, the in-form Malte Stromwall tallied his fourth goal in the last four games, collecting the puck and stroking the puck high past the stranded Yeryomenko.

SKA made a huge improvement following that goal. All of a sudden, our players began dictating the tempo with intent, physical play, applying heavy pressure on the defence. Anton Burdasov and Andrei Kuzmenko both came close to a second for SKA when presented with clear opportunities on the slot.

Unfortunately, despite requiring goals to get back into the match, SKA couldn’t gain any kind of attacking traction in the third frame with Dynamo keeping the hosts at bay with organised, solid defensive play across the ice.

Burdasov passed up a rare chance on a powerplay midway through the period as he sent a rasping wrister into the boards.

In the concluding minute of play, head coach Valeri Bragin decided to pull Samonov for the extra skater, but that only resulted in Oscar Lindberg icing it with an empty-netter.

SKA will now prepare to compete against Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl on Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Dynamo Moscow - 1:3 (0:2, 1:0, 0:1)

Goals:

0:1 Hietanen (Kagarlitsky, Jaskin), 08.58

0:2 Hietanen (Shipachyov, Jaskin), 14.28

1:2 Stromwall (Khafizullin), 31.34

1:3 Lindberg (Tarasov), 59.27

Goalkeepers: Samonov - Yeryomenko

Shots on target: 21 - 25

Faceoffs: 27 - 26

Hits: 19 - 24