Kuznetsov seals dramatic OT win against Neftekhimik!

15 October 2024

In a tough showdown, SKA just about edged past a spirited Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk side at the Ice Palace in the 2024/2025 KHL regular season, earning a hard-fought 3:2 triumph in overtime.

Evgeny Kuznetsov was indeed the OT hero for our team, calmly converting his trademark penalty shot which was awarded after Arseniy Gritsyuk had been fouled against when clean through.

SKA initially made the perfect start, with 18-year-old wonderkid Ivan Demidov scorign with a stunning individual effort. However, Neftekhimik quickly equalised in the ninth minute, with Bulat Shafigullin bundling the puck past Yegor Zavragin after a poor defensive error.

Nizhnekamsk then took the lead in the 22nd minute through Grigory Seleznyov on the counter. Nevertheless, SKA replied with a similar goal with a little over two minutes remaining in the second stanza, as Valentin Zykov lashed Gritsyuk's pinpoint pass beyond Artyom Zagidulin.

Following a tense third period without many realistic opportunities, Kuznetsov secured the two points for SKA in the extra frame in confident fashion.

SKA will now prepare to host CSKA Moscow in Saint Petersburg on Thursday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

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

Goals:

1:0 Demidov (DeAngelo, Kuznetsov), 04.33

1:1 Shafigullin, 08.27

1:2 Seleznyov (Leshchenko), 21.25

2:2 Zykov (Gritsyuk), 37.24

3:2 Kuznetsov, 62.38 PS

Goalkeepers: Zavragin - Zagidulin

Shots: 63 - 58

Shots on target: 40 - 30