SKA - Lokomotiv

SKA - Lokomotiv - 4:2

11 September 2020

In a thriller, SKA just about managed to keep HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl at bay inside the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace, surviving a spirited fightback to emerge victorious by a score of 4:2 in the maiden home match of the 2020/2021 KHL regular season.

Initially, Lokomotiv made the faster start with a couple of dangerous attempts, but it didn’t take long for SKA to put themselves on the front foot by taking the lead on the powerplay.

Collecting the puck between the circles, Andrei Kuzmenko gave young Daniil Isaev no chance, whipping a superb shot into the roof of the net.

Following that go-ahead goal, SKA made a vast improvement on the ice, pressing the opponents and quickly doubling the advantage as Anton Burdasov lashed his effort beyond Isaev from the left flank. Lokomotiv boss Andrei Skabelka promptly made the call to pull the hapless Isaev in favour of 22-year-old Ilya Konovalov.

To their credit, Lokomotiv did manage to calm proceedings after the goaltending change, testing Magnus Hellberg in the SKA net as they attempted to find a way back into the match and keep the puck out of their zone.

SKA, however, weren’t prepared to allow Lokomotiv to gain confidence and increased the lead to three goals in the fifth minute of the second stanza. Alone at the blue line, Lukas Bengtsson opted to try his luck, and the Swedish defenseman registered his first of the campaign as Lokomotiv representative Atte Ohtamaa inadvertently deflected the puck past Konovalov.

In the box seat, SKA continued to create several chances in the away team’s zone, however Lokomotiv did get on the board midway through the period. Completely escaping the attention of the SKA defence, Denis Alexeev suddenly found himself clean through, before he neatly slid the puck under Hellberg. Lokomotiv subsequently ended the second frame on the front foot as they began to call Hellberg into action on a regular basis.

Predictably, Lokomotiv continued to press throughout the entirety of the third period, forcing the issue as the minutes rapidly ticked by.

For the majority of the time, our players professionally dealt with the threat offered by Lokomotiv, but the visiting club scored a second goal with less than three minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish.

Unleashing a slapper from the point, Nikita Cherepanov etched his name on the scoreboard, with a wicked deflection appearing to deceive Hellberg.

Alexander Daryin then missed a glorious opportunity to equalise for Lokomotiv in the next play as he somehow contrived to hack wide from point blank range.

Thankfully, SKA did manage to hold on for dear life, and Emil Galimov sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the closing seconds. SKA will now prepare to face Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk at home on Sunday at 17:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Lokomotiv - 4:2 (2:0, 1:1, 1:1)

Goals:

1:0 Kuzmenko (Ozhiganov, Aaltonen), 04.11

2:0 Burdasov (Vey), 08.34

3:0 Bengtsson (Shevts-Rogovoi, Belov), 24.06

3:1 Alexeev (Rafikov, Daryin), 31.44

3:2 Cherepanov (Petersson, Tkachyov), 57.10

4:2 Galimov (Shvets-Rogovoi), 59.52

Goalkeepers: Hellberg - Isaev/Konovalov

Shots on target: 26 - 24

Faceoffs: 34 - 23