Demidov stars despite Loko loss

30 October 2024

Ivan Demidov produced a stunning individual performance against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl at the Ice Palace in the 2024/2025 KHL regular season, but SKA still conceded a slender 2:3 setback.

Nevertheless, the gifted 18-year-old forward stole the headlines with his superb showing, scoring a contender for goal of the season and dishing out a clever assist.

His memorable marker was scored a mere matter of 10 seconds after Alexander Polunin had opened the scoring for Lokomotiv, dancing his way beyond the defence and beating away goaltender Daniil Isayev with a scintillating move.

Demidov then assisted Evgeny Kuznetsov to equalise from distance after Alexander Radulov had again given Yaroslavl the advantage.

Unfortunately, though, SKA had no answer to Maxim Shalunov’s winner which was tallied from close range in the 17th minute. Vasily Glotov should have forced overtime in the dying seconds, but he contrived to smack the left post with the goal at his mercy.

SKA will now prepare to face Salavat Yulaev in Ufa on Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 14:00 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Lokomotiv - 2:3 (2:3, 0:0, 0:0)

Goals:

0:1 Polunin (Kraskovsky, Gernat), 04.48

1:1 Demidov (Plotnikov, Sapego), 04.58

1:2 Radulov (Ulyev, Froese), 14.31

2:2 Kuznetsov (Demidov, Gritsyuk), 15.22

2:3 Shalunov (Beryozkin, Kayumov), 16.09

Goalkeepers: Zavragin - Isayev

Shots: 64 - 48

Shots on target: 30 - 24