Game four. SKA - CSKA

Game four. SKA - CSKA - 3:1

8 April 2021

In the fourth match of the third round of the 2020/2021 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs, SKA managed to stay alive against CSKA Moscow, earning a 3:1 victory in Saint Petersburg to reduce the series deficit down to 1-3.

Just like on Tuesday, SKA made the perfect start at the Ice Palace, opening the scoring within the opening six minutes.

Lurking on the doorstep, Linden Vey completed a flowing play with Malte Stromwall and Vasily Podkolzin, bundling the puck over the line with CSKA goalkeeper Lars Johansson helpless.

SKA went on to control proceedings throughout the first period. On the front foot, the home team regularly pressed the somewhat static CSKA defence, with Podkolzin’s line with Stromwall and Vey particularly active. Vey could have tallied his second midway through the frame, but an opposing defenseman prevented him from knocking the puck over the line when clever being picked out by Stromwall.

As usual, the dangerous Maxim Shalunov was the most threatening figure on CSKA’s team, as he called Magnus Hellberg into action on a couple of occasions.

SKA deservedly doubled their money in the third minute of the second period.

After escaping his marker, Stromwall tallied his deserved goal, tapping the puck past the stranded Johansson when connecting with Oscar Fantenberg’s intelligent pass from the left flank.

CSKA did conjure up a response. In stark contrast to the first stanza, the visiting team suddenly began competing on the front foot, pressing our team with their quick, aggressive approach across the ice. Struggling to deal with their pace, SKA did take two consecutive penalties towards the end of the period, but a combination of Hellberg and solid defensive play kept CSKA at bay.

SKA appeared to be in a comfortable position. However, following a poor error deep inside the defensive zone, our team allowed Shalunov to deftly lift the puck over Hellberg’s glove in the fourth minute of the third period.

Predictably, CSKA subsequently piled overwhelming pressure on SKA during the remainder of the match, protecting possession close to our net and refusing to let the hosts clear their lines.

Nevertheless, with our defence on top form, Hellberg was protected effectively and SKA successfully saw the game out in front of a buoyant crowd.

The next match will be played in Moscow on Saturday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA - CSKA - 3:1 (1:0, 1:0, 1:1)

Goals:

1:0 Vey (Stromwall, Podkolzin), 05.19

2:0 Stromwall (Fantenberg, Ozhiganov), 22.36

2:1 Shalunov (Mamin), 43.37

3:1 Podkolzin (Khafizullin), 59.22

Goalkeepers: Hellberg - Johansson

Shots on target: 26 - 18

Faceoffs: 31 - 26