SKA - Ugra

SKA - Ugra - 4:3

21 November 2017

SKA returned to Saint Petersburg for a KHL home match against HC Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Head coach Oleg Znarok sprung a surprise for this game, giving young goalkeeper Alexei Melnichuk his first start between the SKA pipes. Forwards Mikhail Maltsev and Andrei Altybarmakyan were also on the roster. Ugra opted for Alexander Sharychenkov as their starting goaltender.

Despite languishing in last position of the Eastern Conference, Ugra came out all guns blazing in Saint Petersburg. Alexei Melnichuk was much the busier goaltender in the opening period, making 12 excellent saves. Nevertheless, against the run of play, SKA made the breakthrough. Vadim Shipachyov found Ilya Kovalchuk, the latter powered to the crease, and his pass was inadvertently deflected into the net by a Ugra defenseman. The visitors managed to create plenty of chances after SKA’s goal, but Alexei Melnichuk kept the KHL’s most northern club at bay.

In the mood for making the Ice Palace happy, SKA improved in the second stanza. Alexander Barabanov doubled the advantage on 23 minutes, knocking a juicy rebound beyond the stranded Ugra goaltender. All of a sudden, SKA began to dominate. The visitors contrived to gift SKA a 5 on 3 powerplay, something which didn’t go unpunished. Vadim Shipachyov received possession, cut to the crease, and expertly went top shelf. Ugra did get a goal back when Niclas Burstrom scored from point blank range, but Vadim Shipachyov promptly netted his second 1 on 1 to make it 4:1 after 40 minutes.

Unfortunately, Ugra took the initiative in the third period. During a 5 on 3 powerplay of their own, Tobias Viklund whacked in a one timer over Alexei Melnichuk’s flailing glove. SKA did retake control of proceedings, but ill-discipline was punishing the team. With only five minutes remaining, another Ugra powerplay saw Pavel Varfolomeev hit the jackpot on the left faceoff circle. The Khanty-Mansiysk outfit pushed for an equaliser, but thanks to Alexei Melnichuk’s late heroics, SKA held on to beat Ugra 4:3!

Match protocol:

SKA – Ugra – 4:3 (1:0, 3:1, 0:2)

Goals:

1:0 Kovalchuk (Shipachyov, Zubarev), 03.45

2:0 Barabanov (Kablukov), 23.15

3:0 Shipachyov (Plotnikov, Kovalchuk), 32.21

3:1 Burstrom (Pestushko, Korolyov), 34.49

4:1 Shipachyov (Prokhorkin), 38.14

4:2 Viklund (Polak, Varfolomeev), 40.55

4:3 Varfolomeev (Polak, Lekomotsev), 54.22

Goalkeepers: Melnichuk – Sharychenkov

Shots on target: 35 – 25