Ivanov to the rescue as SKA cling on against Metallurg!

16 November 2025

Largely thanks to a superb goalkeeping performance from Sergei Ivanov, SKA held on for dear life against a star-studded Metallurg Magnitogorsk side to claim a memorable 4:3 triumph at the Ice Palace!

After initially leading by three, SKA almost ended up on the wrong side of a dramatic comeback amid avoidable penalties, but the hosts bravely clung on to earn two huge points against the league leaders.

The in-form visitors created an alarming number of clear-cut opportunities during the first period.

But, seconds after Nikita Mikhailis had smacked the crossbar, SKA drew first blood in the third minute with their maiden opportunity.

Pouncing on the rebound after Sergei Sapego’s initial effort had been stopped, Nikita Dishkovsky bundled the puck beyond away goaltender Alexander Smolin.

Mikhailis was guilty of a series of dreadful misses in the opening frame, in particular when he failed to force his wraparound in with Ivanov already out of the picture.

Ruslan Iskhakov wasted a similar opportunity for Magnitogorsk as he somehow couldn’t tap the puck over the line with the goal gaping.

Creating chances with worrying regularity, Metallurg were beginning to bang on the door with increased force, pulling the SKA defence apart with their attractive, technical approach.

It was no surprise to see Metallurg eventually equalise at the start of the second period.

Their goal was scored in disappointing circumstances, though, as a poor defensive turnover allowed Vladimir Tkachyov to expertly wrist past Ivanov.

Metallurg were in pole position to really take a firm grip of proceedings. However, to our relief, SKA managed the situation professionally and stole their second lead against the run of play as the clean-through Igor Larionov carefully wristed between the pads.

That goal set the tone for the rest of the period.

Although they were attacking excellently and constantly calling Ivanov into action, Magnitogorsk were all over the place at the back, time and time again falling foul of SKA’s intelligent counter-attacking play.

Rocco Grimaldi increased our lead to two with a perfect wrister during a lengthy shift inside the Metallurg zone, before Yegor Zelenov gave a sharp break-away the perfect finish on the doorstep to score his first KHL goal.

Metallurg had pulled Smolin in favour of Ilya Nabokov following our third marker.

Taking into account just how threatening Metallurg were continuing to be, there was a feeling that a quick goal in the third period would turn the game on its head.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Alexander Petunin provided the 2024 Gagarin Cup champions with a well-needed positive boost, neatly tipping in while competing on the powerplay.

Unfortunately for us, our sudden lack of discipline allowed Metallurg to gain belief and apply overwhelming pressure on us for the remainder of regulation time.

Away head coach Andrei Razin took a risk when swapping Nabokov for the extra skater after SKA had taken a sloppy penalty with a little under six minutes remaining. Displaying visible urgency, Metallurg wasted no time in taking full advantage of that opportunity, with Derek Barach escaping his marker and knocking an accurate pass into the back of the net with Ivanov powerless.

SKA then contrived to commit another foul with a mere 52 seconds left on the clock. Nonetheless, despite Metallurg carving open a plethora of big chances with Nabokov once again on the bench, the determined Ivanov shut the door in fantastic fashion to see SKA through.

Our next game is scheduled to take place on 24 November against CSKA in Moscow. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Metallurg Magnitogorsk – 4:3 (1:0, 3:1, 0:2)

Goals:

1:0 Dishkovsky (Sapego, Lutfullin), 02.51

1:1 Tkachyov (Maklyukov), 20.16

2:1 Larionov (Blandisi, Murphy), 23.43

3:1 Grimaldi (Savikov, Murphy), 26.40

4:1 Zelenov (Dishkovsky), 34.57

4:2 Petunin (Press, Tolchinsky), 41.18 PPG

4:3 Barach (Tkachyov, Kuznetsov), 55.36 PPG

Goalkeepers: Ivanov – Smolin/Nabokov