SKA - Lokomotiv

SKA - Lokomotiv - 1:2

29 December 2016

SKA returned to Saint Petersburg for a KHL home fixture with HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Head coach Oleg Znarok made one major change to the line-up, as Igor Shestyorkin replaced Mikko Koskinen between the pipes. Alexei Murgyin was Lokomotiv’s starting goaltender. Our team were coming into this match off a defeat to Ak Bars, while Lokomotiv had beaten CSKA in Moscow.

Inside an expectant Ice Palace, it was Lokomotiv who made the better start, breaking the deadlock within four minutes – Petri Kontiola’s hopeful attempt blazed over Igor Shestyorkin’s right shoulder. Shocked by that goal, SKA had trouble getting set up inside Lokomotiv’s zone. The visitors were proving stubborn opponents, refusing to give our players shooting lanes. Nikita Gusev came the closest, twice failing to beat Alexei Murygin at point blank range. For their part, Lokomotiv were relying on counterattacks to cause danger, forcing Igor Shestyorkin into a few tricky close range saves.

In need of that equaliser, SKA began dominating in the second stanza. Our players were laying siege to Lokomotiv’s net, drawing a couple of fouls out of the opponents. However, just like earlier on, we were struggling to create real goalscoring chances. Most comfortable playing a defensive game, Lokomotiv soaked up the pressure, waiting for breakaway opportunities. Sadly, one of their chances ended with a second goal – on an odd man rush, Brandon Kozun connected with Maxime Talbot’s pinpoint pass.

Nevertheless, SKA weren’t prepared to give up. A mere twenty seconds into the third period, the team finally got on the board – Ilya Kovalchuk’s low wrister sneaked past the surprised Alexei Murygin. Now, SKA had all of the momentum. We should have really equalized in the next play, but instead of hitting the net, Evgeny Dadonov could only smack the crossbar. Sadly, despite plenty of huge opportunities, that second goal wasn’t going to come. 1:2 today, SKA drop two consecutive defeats for the first time this season.

Match protocol:

SKA – Lokomotiv – 1:2 (0:1, 0:1, 1:0)

Goals:

0:1 Kontiola (Kronwall), 03.50

0:2 Kozun (Talbot), 38.35

1:2 Kovalchuk (Barabanov, Voynov), 40.20

Goalkeepers: Shestyorkin – Murygin

Shots on target: 47 – 28

Penalty minutes: 11 – 19

Faceoffs: 29 – 27

Hits: 10 – 11

Referees: Buturlin, Gashilov