SKA - Metallurg Novokuznetsk

SKA - Metallurg Novokuznetsk - 9:1

13 January 2017

SKA played the second home match of this KHL home series against HC Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Head coach Oleg Znarok made one notable change, inserting Alexander Khokhlachyov into the line-up for the first time this year. Igor Shestyorkin and Vladislav Podyapolsky were the starting netminders.

Already ruled out of Gagarin Cup playoff contention, Metallurg arrived in Saint Petersburg in not the best mood. The perennial league strugglers showed little resistance in the first period, allowing SKA to score three quick goals – Anton Belov wristed hard over the glove on the right faceoff circle, Viktor Tikhonov tapped home at point blank range and Alexander Khokhlachyov calmly scored his goal from the doorstep. Being overrun, the Novokuznetsk outfit made a predictable goaltending swap, pulling Vladislav Podyapolsky for Rafael Khakimov. However, much to their dismay, it didn’t make a lot of difference. On a late powerplay, Evgeny Dadonov made it four, finishing off a classic SKA move. Four goals from just seven shots.

Hungry for more, SKA began the second stanza on the front foot. Another powerplay paved the way for a fifth – Vadim Shipachyov cleverly faked a pass, gave Rafael Khakimov the eyes and lashed top shelf. Scoring goals for fun, our players even managed to net shorthanded – it was that man Vadim Shipachyov again, beautifully backhanding in off balance. The Ice Palace was in raptures, roaring the team on. Nevertheless, Metallurg Novokuznetsk weren’t willing to wave the white flag, forcing Igor Shestyorkin into a few tricky saves as time rolled on.

Six goals to the good, SKA understandably took the tempo down a notch in the third period. Metallurg Novokuznetsk’s Alexander Titov contrived to take a 5+20 penalty for checking to the head, but to the Ice Palace’s surprise, the Siberian outfit calmly cleared their lines. SKA weren’t going to leave the period empty handed though, scoring a seventh midway through – Dinar Khafizullin completed a flowing play.

Unfortunately, Metallurg ruined Igor Shestyorkin’s shutout hopes - a mad goalmouth scramble erupted, with Alexei Razumov taking full advantage. That goal only resulted in waking SKA up again, as we scored two more goals to finish on a high – Pavel Datsyuk whipped a wicked wrister home, before Nikita Gusev went five hole when clean through. 9:1, SKA destroy Metallurg Novokuznetsk in Saint Petersburg!

Match protocol:

SKA – Metallurg Novokuznetsk – 9:1 (4:0, 2:0, 3:1)

Goals:

1:0 Belov (Yakovlev, Kovalchuk), 00.32

2:0 Tikhonov (Rykov), 09.08

3:0 Khokhlachyov (Ketov), 09.32

4:0 Dadonov (Gusev, Shipachyov), 19.38

5:0 Shipachyov, 21.09

6:0 Shipachyov (Dadonov), 24.36

7:0 Khafizullin (Shipachyov, Dadonov), 51.43

7:1 Razumov (Ionin, Mikheev), 53.21

8:1 Datsyuk (Shestyorkin, Kovalchuk), 53.41