SKA - Spartak

SKA - Spartak - 5:0

2 December 2015

SKA’s first match since the four game long away series took place today against HC Spartak Moscow. Not many changes were made to the line-up by head coach Sergei Zubov, with only Arkhip Nekolenko dropping out of the fourth line. Igor Shestyorkin was kept in net, with Atte Engren his opposite number for Spartak.

The pace was high right from the off inside the Ice Palace, and there was a real derby feel about this one. No love’s lost between these two teams, and no compromises were being taken. Spartak naturally opted to play on the counter, and early on they created some promising opportunities. Lukas Radil backhanded over the crossbar when all alone on the slot, and Igor Shestyorkin made some solid saves with the visitors pressing. Nevertheless SKA were growing into the game, and Alexander Barabanov almost turned in a big rebound off Jarno Koskiranta. The heat inside Spartak’s zone was increasing, and after sixteen minutes the deadlock was broken. Alexander Kadeikin brilliantly turned around to the doorstep, backhanded across to the far post, and Ilya Kovalchuk was on hand to turn home.

That goal gave our team lift off, and it was one way traffic in the second stanza. Spartak were all over the place at the back, and SKA managed to take full advantage. The lead was doubled almost instantly, as Anton Belov’s wrister from the point was deflected in by Finnish forward Jarno Koskiranta. All the momentum was with our players, and with the pressure incessant Spartak were struggling to cope. The third marker came on the powerplay, and what a beauty it was. Nikita Gusev hung with the puck at an awkward angle on the left, went for a cheeky no look shot, and he caught the goaltender cold. The Ice Palace was buzzing with energy, and soon enough it was four. Vadim Shipachyov sped away on a counterattack, and found the high right corner at the high slot. That marked the end of Atte Engren’s night, and he was replaced by ex SKA goalkeeper Evgeny Ivannikov. That change had a positive effect on the beleaguered visitors, and they had a couple of chances to score themselves. The best fell to Gleb Klimenko, but one on one on the left wing he was denied by a beautiful Igor Shestyorkin flash of leather.

The third period was a formality, but SKA weren’t in the mood for letting up. Vyacheslav Voynov dumped in on net from the blue line, and Evgeny Dadonov got a crucial touch to make it 5:0. The Ice Palace was in complete raptures, and the players trapped Spartak deep inside their own zone. Alexei Ponikarovsky had an ideal chance to make it six, but one on one he thrashed wide of the left post. As time began to run down Spartak took the initiative as they searched for a consolation, and had it not been for Igor Shestyorkin, they could have made it a nervy finish. Igor was in top form in our net, and he made two excellent saves from Vyacheslav Leshchenko at point blank range. It was to be Igor’s night, as he kept his net clean helping SKA to a huge 5:0 win over Spartak! The next match will take place against HC Traktor Chelyabinsk at home on Friday.

Match protocol:

SKA – Spartak – 5:0 (1:0, 3:0, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Kovalchuk (Kadeikin, Burdasov), 15.57

2:0 Koskiranta (Ketov, Belov), 21.02

3:0 Gusev (Shipachyov), 27.59

4:0 Shipachyov, 32.23

5:0 Dadonov (Gusev, Voynov), 42.18

Goalkeepers: Shestyorkin – Engren/Ivannikov

Shots on target: 29 – 31

Penalty minutes: 18 -8

Faceoffs: 36 – 25