SKA - Metallurg Magnitogorsk

SKA - Metallurg Magnitogorsk - 2:3 SO

2 November 2021

In a tight battle, SKA managed to tally the one point against 2021/2022 KHL regular season leaders Metallurg Magnitogorsk at the Ice Palace, coming up short in an underwhelming penalty shootout to lose 2:3.

Despite the setback, though, SKA do now have a two-point advantage over nearest challengers Jokerit Helsinki in first place of the Western Conference.

The two teams immediately started at a quick pace. When practically clean through, Andrei Kuzmenko was denied by opposing goaltender Juho Olkinuora, before Lars Johansson pulled off an excellent save after Metallurg forward Pavel Akolzin had been presented with a similar chance.

Akolzin did manage to nudge the puck under Johansson’s blocker in the closing minute of the first period after pulling sharply to the crease from the right wing. However, after a coach’s challenge from SKA, the goal was disallowed as a consequence of offside.

SKA went on to take the lead in the second minute of the second stanza.

On a two-man advantage, Andrei Kuzmenko calmly opened the scoring from the doorstep, tapping the puck over the line with Olkinuora already out of the picture.

That lead lasted for all of seven minutes. Catching our players sleeping on the counter-attack, Metallurg tallied their equaliser with 29 minutes on the clock, as Akolzin - this time legitimately - completed a quick move from the right faceoff circle.

Johansson pulled off a brilliant save to field Josh Currie’s effort from an identical position not long later. Nevertheless, SKA improved towards the end of the period, and Emil Galimov and Oscar Fantenberg both smacked the right post in one shift. In the dying seconds, Kuzmenko could have registered his second of the game, but he knocked the puck agonisingly wide of the target with only Olkinuora to beat.

Kuzmenko did score his second of the game a mere 23 seconds after the third period had begun.

Unmarked on the doorstep, the in-form forward lashed a powerful attempt beyond Olkinuora to give SKA the lead again.

Our team dominated the vast majority of the third frame. Applying overwhelming pressure on the Ural-based opponents, SKA were testing Olkinuora from all angles, but the sturdy Finnish goalkeeper stood tall to the challenge and kept Magnitogorsk within one.

Metallurg subsequently notched their second equaliser against the run of play in the 53^rd minute.

Protecting the puck effectively, Nikita Korostelyov cleverly pulled to a shooting position, before going top-shelf on Johansson while falling off balance in the process.

Overtime was indeed required. In truth, SKA were in charge for virtually the entirety of the extra period as well, with Kuzmenko, Ivan Morozov and Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi all wasting glorious chances.

In the ensuing shootout, Josh Currie and Nikita Korostelyov both struck gold, while Olkinuora saved all four of SKA’s attempts.

SKA will now prepare to host Spartak Moscow in Saint Petersburg on Thursday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Metallurg Magnitogorsk - 2:3 SO (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 0:0, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Kuzmenko (Gusev, Volkov), 21.19

1:1 Akolzin (Pashnin, Nekolenko), 28.07

2:1 Kuzmenko (Shvets-Rogovoi, Kemppainen), 40.23

2:2 Korostelyov, 52.29

2:3 Korostelyov, 65.00 SO

Goalkeepers: Johansson - Olkinuora

Shots on target: 38 - 25