Game two. SKA - Dynamo Moscow - 1:0

In a dramatic, tense battle at the Ice Palace, SKA earned a vital 1:0 triumph against Dynamo Moscow in the second match of the 2020/2021 KHL Gagarin Cup second round, consequently levelling the series at 1-1.

SKA started with energy and intent. Immediately taking the initiative, our players were dangerous throughout the opening 20 minutes, probing inside the attacking zone for shooting lanes.

Nevertheless, Dynamo Moscow were proving to be somewhat threatening on the counter-attack, and Magnus Hellberg had to be alert to pull off a series of difficult saves. Ivan Muranov, Yegor Zaitsev and Oscar Lindberg were all causing problems for our defence, with the latter notably missing the target when clean through shorthanded.

The physical manner of proceedings continued in the second period, with the two teams landing crunching hits across the ice.

SKA continued to compete on the front foot. Often protecting the puck in the opposing zone, our team regularly called Ivan Bocharov into action, taking aim from any angle possible and trying to force rebounds.

On a rare odd-man rush, Linden Vey was presented with a huge chance, but his pass towards Vladimir Tkachyov and Evgeny Ketov was intercepted by the Dynamo defence.

Dynamo gradually began to play with more pace in the third period.

The visitors were gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead midway through the frame. Pouncing on a sloppy mistake, former SKA forward Vadim Shipachyov found himself 1-on-1, but he was denied by Hellberg’s pads.

Hellberg then had to be at his best to keep Dynamo at bay after our team contrived to take two consecutive penalties.

The Muscovites were subsequently made to pay for their profligacy after Dmitrij Jaskin had been sent to the penalty box as a consequence of tripping against Lukas Bengtsson.

With a little over two minutes remaining on the clock in regulation time, SKA made the decisive breakthrough on the powerplay, as Kirill Marchenko bundled the puck over the line after a crazy goalmouth scramble had erupted.

In the final minute, Dynamo Moscow head coach Vladimir Krikunov pulled Bocharov for the extra skater, but with Hellberg in simply unbeatable form, SKA held on for dear life.

The third game of the series will take place on Monday at the VTB Arena. Puck-drop in Moscow is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

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

Goals:

1:0 Marchenko (Vey, Ozhiganov), 57.42

Goalkeepers: Hellberg - Bocharov

Shots on target: 31 - 24

Faceoffs: 30 - 25

Hits: 23 - 34

Penalty minutes: 6 - 4

Referees: Ravodin, Romasko

20.03.2021. Ice Palace, Saint Petersburg.