SKA - Lokomotiv

SKA - Lokomotiv - 3:2 OT

4 February 2021

In a pulsating battle, SKA emerged victorious against HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in overtime, claiming a memorable 3:2 triumph at the Ice Palace in the 2020/2021 KHL regular season.

Both teams came flying out of the block with real intent. After killing a short 5-on-3 SKA powerplay, Lokomotiv went on to take the initiative, with Teemu Pulkkinen being denied by Magnus Hellberg when clean through and our goalkeeper doing really well to react to huge slap shots from Andre Petersson. However, with six minutes remaining in the first period, Lokomotiv did open the scoring as Yegor Korshkov beat Hellberg when alone on the right faceoff circle.

The game opened up even more after that goal. Searching for a response and further increasing the tempo, SKA passed up glorious opportunities to equalise as Lukas Bengtsson and Pavel Kukshtel were stopped by the alert Edward Pasquale, before Hellberg shut the door on Pulkkinen again at point-blank range with the frame approaching its conclusion.

Lokomotiv continued competing with the initiative throughout the entirety of the second stanza.

Playing with visible confidence, the visitors pinned our players in their own zone, drawing two successive penalties from Anton Burdasov and Evgeny Timkin with their aggressive approach. Thankfully, Hellberg was in excellent form in goal for SKA, with the Swede pulling off a number of tough saves when under severe pressure. Petersson was particularly noticeable for Lokomotiv as he regularly took aim from dangerous positions.

SKA were struggling to generate any attacking traction. Nevertheless, with a little over four minutes remaining in the period, Malte Stromwall drew the hosts level as he lashed an unstoppable wrister into the left corner from the right flank after receiving a pinpoint pass from Vasily Podkolzin.

The third period began with Lokomotiv once again pressing SKA in attack. SKA, however, were patient and pounced to take the lead for the first time in the game midway through the frame.

Receiving a beautiful pass from Kirill Marchenko, Joonas Kemppainen pulled to the backhand when alone on the crease, subsequently beating Pasquale with an unstoppable shot.

Not long later, though, defenseman Danila Galenyuk gifted Lokomotiv a golden opportunity to equalise when committing a cheap holding foul, a chance which was duly used to the full as Artur Kayumov went top-shelf on Hellberg from a tight angle on the left wing. Following that equalising goal, Lokomotiv started to compete on the front foot again, outshooting SKA 15-12 in the period.

Overtime was indeed required. On the break-away, Korshkov missed the gaping left corner with practically only Hellberg to beat, before Emil Galimov couldn’t force the puck in when clean through at the other end.

The decisive moment arrived with two minutes remaining in the extra period.

Following an intelligent play by Vasily Podkolzin to draw a holding foul out of Kayumov, SKA did clinch a hugely important victory on the powerplay, as Andrei Kuzmenko wonderfully tipped Burdasov’s laser past Pasquale to bring the passionate fans to their feet.

SKA will now prepare to host Jokerit Helsinki on Sunday in Saint Petersburg. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:30 local time

Match protocol:

SKA - Lokomotiv - 3:2 OT (0:1, 1:0, 1:1, 1:0)

Goals:

0:1 Korshkov (Ohtamaa, Kraskovsky), 14.07

1:1 Stromwall (Podkolzin), 35.28

2:1 Kemppainen (Marchenko), 50.05

2:2 Kayumov (Osipov, Pulkkinen), 52.08

3:2 Kuzmenko (Bengtsson, Burdasov), 63.28

Goalkeepers: Hellberg - Pasquale

Shots on target: 33 - 38

Faceoffs: 42 - 25