SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk

SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk – 4:3

5 November 2022

In a thrilling battle, SKA emerged victorious against a strong Metallurg Magnitogorsk side at the Ice Palace, tallying a pulsating 4:3 win in the 2022/2023 KHL regular season.

Incredibly, six of the seven goals were witnessed during the first period alone!

Metallurg opened up a two-goal lead within the maiden four minutes, as Nikita Korostelyov hit the jackpot on the counter-attack and Maxim Karpov slid the puck into the right corner with the backhand after being allowed to cut sharply to the slot.

The away side were completely on top. Dominating proceedings, the Magnitogorsk-based outfit created chance after chance, with Karpov and the lively Nikolai Goldobin particularly coming close. Our goalkeeper Alexander Samonov pulled off a series of tough saves to keep SKA in the game.

The deficit was halved in the 13^th minute. On the left flank, Alexander Nikishin took aim when in space, and away goaltender Vasily Koshechkin was caught cold.

Nikishin then drew SKA level with a rocket immediately following a faceoff draw in the attacking zone.

Buoyed by those two markers, SKA suddenly took the lead with 37 seconds remaining in the frame, as Dmitrij Jaskin buried the rebound after the puck had taken an awkward bounce off the boards behind the net. Nevertheless, 18-year-old forward Danila Yurov made sure that Magnitogorsk entered the first break level at three-apiece, knocking the puck past Samonov from the left flank who wasn’t alert to the danger.

The second period was certainly calmer in terms of goalmouth action.

When on a lengthy five-minute powerplay as a result of Zakhar Bardakov receiving two penalties in one play during a fight with Korostelyov, Magnitogorsk carved open a few great chances, with Samonov stopping a handful of tricky efforts.

Later on in the frame, Samonov pulled off a superb stop to deny Josh Currie on the counter, a chance which had appeared moments after Kodie Curran had missed the target when all alone at the high slot.

SKA didn’t create many realistic opportunities in the period. On the powerplay, Mikhail Vorobyov had a rare opening, shooting into Koshechkin’s chest from the doorstep after being found by a wonderful pass from Nikita Gusev.

Predictably, caution was the priority for the ensuing third period.

Both teams were waiting for mistakes from one another. To our delight, the decisive mistake was indeed committed by Magnitogorsk with a little over seven minutes left on the clock.

Noticing that the opponents were horribly out of position, Bardakov charged towards the net on the right and sent a pinpoint pass across to the onrushing Valentin Zykov, who latter expertly sent his backhander beyond Koshechkin.

Magnitogorsk subsequently laid siege to the SKA net in the remaining minutes. Goldobin and Karpov were presented with glorious opportunities to equalise, but Samonov and SKA bravely held on to successfully see the game out – even after Metallurg had pulled Koshechkin in favour of the extra skater.

SKA will now prepare to compete against Admiral in Vladivostok on Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 12:30 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk – 4:3 (3:3, 0:0, 1:0)

Goals:

0:1 Korostelyov (Leipsic), 01.37

0:2 Karpov, 03.50

1:2 Nikishin (Jaskin), 12.46

2:2 Nikishin (Vorobyov), 18.49

3:2 Jaskin (Vorobyov, Pedan), 19.23

3:3 Yurov (Nekolenko), 19.54

4:3 Zykov (Bardakov), 52.36

Goalkeepers: Samonov – Koshechkin