OT heroics from Nikishin as SKA outlast CSKA in thriller!

17 October 2024

In a pulsating showdown of the highest order, SKA outlasted arch-rivals CSKA Moscow at the Ice Palace, earning a memorable 5:4 OT triumph in the 2024/2025 KHL regular season.

CSKA were on the brink of completing a dramatic two-goal comeback, but Alexander Nikishin struck the killer blow in the third minute of overtime to secure SKA a vital victory.

The sides immediately set a furious tempo.

Yegor Zavragin pulled off a superb early stop, getting across to his left post in time to shut the door on the in-form Vitaly Abramov. That save proved crucial too, as Tony DeAngelo subsequently drew first blood for SKA in the eighth minute when lashing home after a faceoff draw had been won inside the attacking zone.

We soon made it two. Just like for the first goal, our third line put together an excellent play after a faceoff win, with Sergei Plotnikov ruthlessly going top-shelf on Dmitry Gamzin from distance.

However, CSKA weren’t ever going to lie down without a fight. 20-year-old forward Alexei Churkin got the Muscovites on the board against the run of play in the 18^th minute, bundling the puck over the line having cut sharply to the net.

A strong start to the second stanza was rewarded with the equalising goal for CSKA.

Prokhor Poltapov produced a moment of individual brilliance, speeding into attack and giving 18-year-old home goaltender Yegor Zavragin no chance with an unstoppable rocket.

CSKA were bossing the play. But, out of the blue, SKA retook the lead a mere matter of two minutes after Poltapov’s marker.

Arseniy Gritsyuk unleashed what appeared to be a harmless low shot, but Gamzin was caught sleeping and the puck snuck under his blocker.

Gamzin was pulled in favour of Ivan Prosvetov following that goal. That decision almost had the desired effect for CSKA, but agonisingly for them Christian Jaros hit the crossbar from deep.

SKA tallied a hugely important fourth with 19 seconds remaining in the period. Having emerged slightly off his line, Prosvetov stopped Gritsyuk's initial shot with plenty of bodies in front of him, however he was powerless against Vasily Glotov’s ensuing rebound.

Normally, such a goal directly before the break would have demoralised the opponents, but CSKA aren’t any old regular team.

The Moscow-based organisation launched an incredible onslaught against SKA in the third period. Plotnikov smacked the pipe with the goal at his mercy in practically the maiden shift, but a fired-up CSKA side took charge of the remainder of the frame and pinned SKA deep inside their zone.

Yegor Fateev cut their deficit in half, neatly tipping high over Zavragin’s blocker. Piling incessant pressure on us, CSKA created numerous guilt-edged chances, and SKA weren’t exactly helping themselves by failing to protect possession or clear their lines.

CSKA’s logical equaliser was registered with a little over five minutes remaining on the clock. Unsurprisingly, it was their tenacious second line which saved the match for CSKA, with Maxim Sorkin pouncing on the rebound at close range. Indeed, his line with Poltapov and Abramov caused SKA an all manner of problems throughout.

Overtime was required. And, to our delight, it fell our way.

Seconds after Ruslan Iskhakov had whacked inches wide of the right post for CSKA, Nikishin skated away unmarked on the left flank and beat Prosvetov for sheer power and accuracy.

SKA will now prepare to play Vityaz Moscow Region away in Balashikha on Monday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:00 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – CSKA – 5:4 OT (2:1, 2:1, 0:2, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 DeAngelo (Kuznetsov), 07.08

2:0 Plotnikov (Kuznetsov, Demidov), 14.35

2:1 Churkin (Samorukov), 17.28

2:2 Poltapov (Iskhakov), 23.25

3:2 Gritsyuk (Vydrenkov), 25.14

4:2 Glotov (Gritsyuk, DeAngelo), 39.41

4:3 Fateev (Nesterov, Okhotyuk), 42.32

4:4 Sorkin (Jaros, Poltapov), 54.40