SKA - Spartak - 1:2 OT

4 November 2021

At home, SKA only managed to earn one point against Spartak Moscow in the 2021/2022 KHL regular season, conceding a 1:2 defeat in overtime.

It was a rather slow start from the two teams at the Ice Palace. Waiting patiently in defence for counter-attack opportunities, Spartak did indeed manage to create the best two chances of the opening stages of the game, as Maxim Tsyplakov was denied by Lars Johansson’s left pad and Alexander Khokhlachyov wristed narrowly wide of the target.

Towards the end of the first period, SKA did make an improvement while increasing the pace, and the opening goal arrived in the 18^th minute. On the counter, Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi found the onrushing Mikhail Vorobyov with a fantastic pass, who made no mistake with only Oscar Dansk to beat.

Seconds later, Spartak could have conjured up an instant response, but Johansson prevented the puck from crossing the line on a goalmouth scramble.

The second period saw SKA continue to try and create shooting lanes while Spartak focused on defending solidly.

Vladislav Tsitsyura passed up two guilt-edged opportunities. Shorthanded, he could only shoot against Dansk when clean through, before he subsequently smacked the crossbar when pouncing on the loose puck.

Danila Moiseev also came close to our second marker, tapping wide of the gaping right corner with Dansk seemingly helpless.

Spartak barely tested Johansson in the second stanza. When shorthanded, Andrei Loktionov did have one promising chance for the Muscovites, backhanding into our goalkeeper’s chest after pouncing on a defensive error. In the period, Spartak did commit two fouls, but they protected Dansk in their goal effectively.

The visiting team predictably upped their game in the third period. Unfortunately, their pressure did result in an equalising goal with eight minutes remaining in regulation time, as Andrei Loktionov knocked the loose puck over the line after Johansson had brilliantly stopped the initial shot at point-blank range.

In the concluding shifts of the period, SKA did begin to press Spartak again, with Dansk having to be alert to keep Nikita Gusev and the lively Mikko Lehtonen at bay. Spartak held on, though, and they went on to score the winner in overtime with Alexander Khokhlachyov tapping in after a sloppy defensive error from Moiseev.

SKA will now prepare to face CSKA in Moscow on Sunday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA - Spartak - 1:2 OT (1:0, 0:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Vorobyov (Shvets-Rogovoi), 17.49

1:1 Loktionov (Khokhlachyov, Vishnevsky), 51.40

1:2 Khokhlachyov (Loktionov), 62.07

Goalkeepers: Johansson - Dansk

Shots on target: 31 - 22

Faceoffs: 21 - 25

Hits: 10 - 21

Blocked shots: 13 - 16