SKA - Lokomotiv - 0:3

Following a three match away series, SKA returned home to Saint Petersburg to take on high flying HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Andrei Nazarov made a couple of changes to the line-up, with Mikko Koskinen replacing Ilya Ezhov in net and Vladimir Tkachyov being scratched. Lokomotiv opted for record setting Alexey Murygin between their pipes.

Having only conceded 23 goals so far this season Lokomotiv base their game around their defence, and it was no surprise to see them let SKA hold the initiative. Right from the off our players were allowed to control the puck at their will, but the away defence snuffed out any chance of creating an opening. Indeed it was Lokomotiv who were the more dangerous on the counter, and they found the opening goal within five minutes. A huge rebound crashed off the boards blocker side, and Andrei Loktionov squeezed it beyond Mikko Koskinen. That came as a shock to the system for SKA, and it took a good few minutes for our players to recover. Lokomotiv did take a couple of penalties though, and with a man extra SKA had some decent opportunities. Jarno Koskiranta and Evgeny Ketov came close when alone on the doorstep, and Alexander Dergachyov fired into the goaltender’s shoulder when powering down the left. Nevertheless Lokomotiv held firm confidently, and three seconds before the period ended netted their second. A loose puck fell on to the stick of Petri Kontiola, and the Finn whipped his shot over his compatriot’s blocker.

That second marker put SKA in a hole, and something had to be done to change the course of the match. Sadly our players simply couldn’t even threaten to get the better of Lokomotiv’s defence, and despite taking three penalties in a row the visiting goalkeeper barely had a save to make. As time rolled on our team was looking increasingly despondent, and on a five on three Lokomotiv grabbed their third goal. The puck was worked well to the right faceoff circle, and Egor Averin clipped his wrister into the far corner. Whistles were echoing all around the Ice Palace as Lokomotiv continued to control proceedings, and they could have had more. Emil Galimov couldn’t beat Mikko Koskinen five hole, and the crossbar was struck from distance. SKA did have one big opportunity, but Pyotr Khokhryakov failed to tip in Alexei Ponikarovsky’s excellent dish to the far right post.

The third period had very little riding on it, and Lokomotiv did a perfect job of suffocating SKA not allowing our team any chances at all. Our players did fire in ten shots during the frame, but Alexey Murygin wasn’t having any trouble with several slap shots from distance. A further three powerplays came and went as Maxim Chudinov’s smacked efforts weren’t coming to any avail, and it was Lokomotiv who were the more dangerous when breaking away. Despite pulling Mikko Koskinen for the extra skater there were no goals coming, and SKA lose to Lokomotiv 0:3 at home. The next game will be on Monday against HC Sochi inside the Ice Palace.

Match protocol:

SKA – Lokomotiv – 0:3 (0:2, 0:1, 0:0)

Goals:

0:1 Loktionov (Grigoryev, Mosalyov), 05.12

0:2 Kontiola (Apalkov), 19.57

0:3 Averin (Kronwall, Kontiola), 33.31

Goalkeepers: Koskinen – Murygin

Shots on target: 31 – 22

Penalty minutes: 4 – 14

Faceoffs: 34 – 20

Hits: 19 – 7

Referees: Gofman, Sergeev

10.10.2015. The Ice Palace, Saint Petersburg. Attendance 12226.