SKA – Kunlun Red Star

SKA – Kunlun Red Star – 3:2

21 October 2022

In a tense battle, SKA edged past Kunlun Red Star at the Ice Palace, claiming a nervy 3:2 triumph in the 2022/2023 KHL regular season.

An intense tempo was quickly set in the first period.

SKA opened the scoring midway through the frame. Initially, the referees hadn’t noticed that the puck had crossed the line when Mikhail Vorobyov took aim from the right of the crease, but the goal was given after they received the nod from the KHL control room.

Kunlun were proving to be rather dangerous on the counter-attack. Lurking on the doorstep, Devin Brosseau was sure that he was going to draw the Chinese club level, however he was denied by a superb pad stop from Alexander Samonov.

The highlight of the period was an intense fight between Alexander Nikishin and Brosseau. To our fans’ delight, Nikishin made short work of his opponent, throwing Brosseau to the floor emphatically.

However, Kunlun improved their game further in the second period and equalised in the 24^th minute.

Between the circles, Parker Foo cleverly deflected a hopeful attempt from the blue line past the stranded Samonov.

In truth, Kunlun were competing on the front foot and with increased intensity, keeping our players at a safe distance and creating problems for SKA on the counter.

A response was required, and SKA conjured one up in the 30^th minute of play. Following a lengthy shift inside the attacking zone, Damir Zhafyarov grabbed his third goal since joining our club in the summer, beating Smith with an unstoppable wrister from close range.

SKA looked to be back in business. Kunlun had other ideas, though, equalising with 36 seconds remaining in the period as Jack Rodewald hit the jackpot from the crease after a series of wicked ricochets had fallen the visitors’ way.

With the game on a knife’s edge, the ensuing third period predictably turned out to be a tense one.

The decisive third go-ahead goal arrived in the 47^th minute. On the counter, Marat Khusnutdinov created space for himself at the high slot before leaving Smith clutching thin air with a fantastic effort.

The rest of the stanza saw our team effectively protect possession and keep the puck in the Chinese zone. In the closing two minutes, Kunlun opted to pull Smith for the extra skater, but their late charge was cut short when Luke Lockhart took a somewhat untimely high-sticking penalty in attack.

Thankfully for SKA, the final buzzer sounded just as Kunlun were skating dangerously on the break-away shorthanded.

SKA will now prepare to host Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in Saint Petersburg on Monday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Kunlun Red Star – 3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Vorobyov (Jaskin), 10.26

1:1 Foo (Leslie), 23.40

2:1 Zhafyarov (Khairullin, Glotov), 29.15

2:2 Rodewald (Somerby, Pollock), 39.24

3:2 Khusnutdinov (Vorobyov, Falkovsky), 46.22

Goalkeepers: Samonov – Smith

Shots: 50 – 27