Five of the best as SKA power past Traktor!

In a thoroughly entertaining encounter, counter-attacks paved the way to an important win for SKA, as our team defeated Traktor Chelyabinsk 5:2 in the home opener of the 2025/2026 KHL regular season.

The hosts had to soak up lots of Traktor pressure, but incisive moves on the break-away put the visitors to bed.

Our maiden marker in the 14th minute set the tone for the evening.

The impressive Nikita Dishkovsky - who went on to dish out three assists - expertly found Matvei Korotky with a clever pass on the counter, who had no problem in tapping the puck home.

Marat Khairullin doubled our advantage at the start of the second stanza, forcing his effort over the line with the away goalkeeper already down and out.

That's where the match really burst into life. Pierrick Dube cut our lead in half following a poor turnover, however stand-out performer Matvei Polyakov immediately reinstated our two-goal advantage when completing a superb play between himself, Dishkovsky and Korotky.

Traktor weren't about to give in, though, and the away team registered their second towards the end of the frame with familiar face Alexander Kadeikin deflecting the puck past Artemiy Pleshkov on the powerplay.

Predictably, Traktor attacked with urgency in the ensuing third period and forced Pleshkov into a series of tough saves. Nevertheless, our goalkeeper was up to the challenge, and Brennan Menell netted our all-important fourth as he hammered his one-timer past away goaltender Chris Driedger on another wonderful counter-attack.

Traktor pulled Driedger for the extra skater in the closing stages, but that only resulted in Sergei Plotnikov hitting the empty net.

SKA will now prepare to host Lada Tolyatti at the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace on Sunday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time. 

Match protocol:

SKA - Traktor - 5:2 (1:0, 2:2, 2:0)

Goals:

1:0 Korotky (Dishkovsky), 13.52

2:0 Khairullin (Phillips, Zykov), 23.26

2:1 Dube, 27.12

3:1 Polyakov (Korotky, Dishkovsky), 27.42

3:2 Kadeikin (Dube, Der-Arguchintsev), 37.35 PPG

4:2 Menell (Polyakov, Dishkovsky), 46.33

5:2 Plotnikov (Grimaldi, Pleshkov), 57.36 EN

Goalkeepers: Pleshkov - Driedger

Shots: 55 - 73

Shots on target: 29 - 43

Faceoffs: 29 - 33

Blocked shots: 14 - 14

Hits: 18 - 31

Penalty minutes: 4 - 6

Time on attack: 06:42 - 09:45

Referees: Belyaev, Sidorenko

Linesmen: Baranov, Tsarev

11.09.2025.