SKA – Salavat Yulaev

SKA – Salavat Yulaev – 3:2 OT

3 September 2022

In a true thriller, SKA outlasted Salavat Yulaev Ufa at the Ice Palace in the opening match of the 2022/2023 KHL regular season, claiming a pulsating 3:2 victory in overtime.

The game started with a couple of major opportunities for Salavat. Following a series of poor defensive errors, the opponents were presented with big chances on the slot, with our goalkeeper Dmitry Nikolaev making one difficult save while two further shots crept inches off target.

To the delight of the Ice Palace, the breakthrough was made by SKA on a 5-on-3 powerplay in the seventh minute.

Lurking unmarked to the left of the crease, Dmitry Fyodorov pounced on the rebound to calmly knock the puck over the line with Salavat goaltender Andrei Kareyev already out of the picture.

Nevertheless, Salavat continued applying consistent pressure on our net – especially on the counter-attack. After a hooking foul was committed by Artyom Fyodorov when an opponent was clean through, Salavat forward Alexander Chmelevski skated up to take a penalty shot, but he failed to beat Nikolaev with his low attempt.

The second stanza saw Salavat apply increasing pressure on our team.

Nikolaev was a busy man in our goal, making an array of wonderful saves at close range with the Bashkortstan-based organisation firmly taking the initiative. On the powerplay, Sergei Shmelyov had a clear shooting lane when alone on the right faceoff circle, wristing into our goalkeeper’s chest.

In truth, SKA didn’t have that many clear chances during the period with the exception of two efforts. At the high slot, Mikhail Vorobyov smacked the right post, before Fyodorov shot low against Kareyev’s pads when 1-on-1.

The highlight of the second period was an exciting fight between Zakhar Bardakov and Chmelevski which ended with our forward emphatically sending the latter to the floor.

The third period witnessed very little stoppages with the game continuing to be played at a lightning pace.

In the 55th minute, it looked as though SKA had sealed the deal.

Having escaped his marker on the right wing, Alexander Volkov connected with the rebound to beat Kareyev after Valentin Zykov’s initial wrister had been turned aside.

However, instead of seeing the game out, our players contrived to capitulate in the concluding five minutes of regulation time.

Sergei Shmelyov halved the deficit for the Ufa club from the doorstep. Sensing blood, Salavat then threw everything at SKA in the closing stages, taking aim from any angle possible and earning a powerplay after our team had been penalised for having too many skaters on the ice.

Salavat did indeed grab their equaliser at equal strength after pulling Kareyev for the extra skater.

Chmelevski was the hero for the opposing team, deftly tipping under Nikolaev to force overtime and complete a thoroughly dramatic comeback.

All of the momentum was certainly with Salavat for the ensuing extra frame. But, despite having their backs up against the wall, SKA were the more aggressive team in overtime and tallied the game-winner in the 64th minute.

Picked out by a superb pass from Alexander Nikishin, Damir Zhafyarov powered through 1-on-1 and gave Kareyev no chance with a snappy effort under the glove.

SKA will now prepare to host Barys Nur-Sultan in Saint Petersburg on Monday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Salavat Yulaev – 3:2 OT (1:0, 0:0, 1:2 – 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Fyodorov (Jaskin, Zhafyarov), 06.49 PPG

2:0 Volkov (Zykov), 54.04

2:1 Shmelyov (Kadeikin, Murphy), 55.05

2:2 Chmelevski (Kadeikin, Ho-Sang), 58.52

3:2 Zhafyarov (Nikishin), 63.35

Goalkeepers: Nikolaev – Kareyev

Shots: 79 – 47

Shots on target: 40 – 28