SKA - Dinamo Riga

SKA - Dinamo Riga - 3:4 SO

7 December 2020

In Saint Petersburg, SKA suffered a shock defeat to HC Dinamo Riga in the 2020/2021 KHL regular season, going down 3:4 after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Following an initial slow start, SKA subsequently got the party started midway through the opening period of play, as Ivan Morozov and Malte Stromwall both hit the jackpot within 90 seconds of each other.

Lurking unmarked at the high slot, Morozov lashed an instant attempt under Dinamo Riga goalkeeper Stanislav Galimov, before Stromwall registered his first marker for SKA with a powerful slap shot from a similar position.

SKA continued applying increased pressure on the deflated Latvian visitors as the first period progressed. Nevertheless, a series of defensive errors did allow Riga to have a handful of chances of their own, and Mikhail Berdin had to be on his guard to save strong attempts with opposing forwards surrounding him on the crease.

Unfortunately, that was a sign of things to come in the second period, as Dinamo Riga suddenly took the initiative and gave themselves a realistic chance in the game. On the powerplay, Mathew Maione halved the deficit for the Riga-based organisation, launching the puck past the stranded Berdin.

To their credit, SKA did respond to that setback as Stromwall reinstated the two-goal lead in the 27^th minute, connecting with Andrei Kuzmenko’s clever pass from behind the net to register his second of the day. However, that goal didn’t change the flow of the game, and Riga grabbed their second goal five minutes later with JC Lipon getting the better of Berdin from the right flank moments after a powerplay had ended.

A goal which proved to be the turning point.

In the 52^nd minute, a big rebound dropped at the stick of Miks Indrasis, who ruthlessly gave Berdin no chance. Finding themselves in a difficult situation, SKA did step up their game in the closing stages of the third period, however very few real chances were created and Riga stood tall to the challenge to take the match into overtime. Furthermore, the away team even had a golden opportunity to win it in the last second, however Berdin came to SKA’s rescue with an incredible point-blank save.

Berdin had to make more tricky stops during overtime as Tkachyov and Linden Vey were sent to the penalty box twice in quick succession.

Sadly, in the penalty shootout, Dinamo Riga tallied three markers with Lauris Darzins - twice - and Denis Parshin beating Alexander Samonov who had replaced Berdin to render Tkachyov’s and Kuzmenko’s efforts worthless. 3:4, SKA will now prepare to host Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on Thursday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Dinamo Riga - 3:4 SO (2:0, 1:2, 0:1, 0:0 - 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Morozov (Tkachyov), 09.01

2:0 Stromwall (Vey, Trenin), 10.24

2:1 Maione (Parshin, Chernov), 25.12

3:1 Stromwall (Kuzmenko), 26.37

3:2 Lipon (Murray, Dzierkals), 31.32

3:3 Indrasis (Sotnieks), 51.02

3:4 Darzins, 65.00 SO

Goalkeepers: Berdin - Galimov

Shots on target: 31 - 20