Game two. SKA – Spartak

Game two. SKA – Spartak – 2:1

20 March 2022

In the second match of the second round of the 2021/2022 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs, SKA edged past Spartak Moscow 2:1 at the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace, consequently levelling the series up at 1-1.

SKA came flying out of the blocks with all guns blazing.

In stark contrast to Friday, this time SKA immediately took the initiative, effectively protecting the puck inside the attacking zone and creating promising opportunities.

The deadlock was deservedly broken in the ninth minute of proceedings. Unmarked to the right of the crease, Alexander Volkov pounced on the rebound and knocked the puck in after Spartak goaltender Oscar Dansk had saved Emil Galimov’s initial shot.

Nevertheless, Spartak did begin to settle towards the end of the first period. After two SKA fouls in quick succession, the Muscovites were gifted with a 5-on-3 powerplay, but Lars Johansson stood tall to the challenge in our net. Not long before that Spartak powerplay, the Swede had done well to field Ivan Drozdov’s instant attempt.

The game continued in the same manner in the second stanza. On the slot, Danila Moiseev came within an inch of doubling our advantage, as he failed to connect with the loose puck with Dansk practically out of the picture.

Spartak subsequently got back on level terms with their first major scoring opportunity of the period.

With SKA caught cold during a shift change, Jori Lehtera powered to the crease, sent the puck back towards the onrushing Alexander Khokhlachyov, and the latter tapped in with Johansson powerless.

The rest of the period saw SKA continue to pile the pressure on Spartak. However, the Moscow-based outfit were defending solidly, protecting Dansk in their net and not allowing the home team to have many clear looks at goal. Andrei Kuzmenko came close with a sharp wraparound on the powerplay, but Dansk just managed to prevent the puck from crossing the line with his glove.

The decisive moment of proceedings arrived with 48 minutes on the clock.

Having escaped his marker on the right wing, Igor Ozhiganov was picked out by Danila Moiseev’s intelligent pass and unleashed a rasping shot which crept under Dansk’s pads.

That go-ahead SKA goal sparked an overwhelming Spartak onslaught which lasted for practically the entirety of the remainder of the third stanza.

The visiting team laid siege to our goal with SKA unable to clear their lines. Throwing everything at the hosts, Spartak tested Johansson on 13 occasions during the third period, while a further eight shots were blocked. Dmitry Kugryshev, Khokhlachyov and Lehtera were all presented with glorious opportunities to equalise for a second time, but Johansson came to the rescue with a series of fantastic saves.

In the closing two minutes of the period, Spartak used their time-out, pulled Dansk for the extra skater and had chance after chance to tally their second goal. But, with Johansson in unbeatable form and our players displaying admirable commitment, Spartak somehow failed to force the puck in.

The third game of the series will take place in Moscow on Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Spartak – 2:1 (1:0, 0:1, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Volkov (Galimov), 08.38

1:1 Khokhlachyov (Lehtera), 28.47

2:1 Ozhiganov (Moiseev, Fantenberg), 48.00

Goalkeepers: Johansson – Dansk

Shots: 53 - 56

Shots on target: 25 - 24

Faceoffs: 35 - 30

Blocked shots: 14 - 13