SKA – Vityaz

SKA – Vityaz – 4:3

7 October 2022

In a blockbuster showdown, SKA outlasted Vityaz Moscow Region at the Ice Palace, emerging victorious by a score of 4:3 thanks to a last-gasp goal from Vasily Glotov.

Predictably, SKA immediately took the initiative and started pressing the away side straight away.

However, after missing a few promising opportunities, our team contrived to concede a cheap goal out of the blue.

On the counter-attack, Kirill Rasskazov caught everyone by surprise, unleashing a sharp backhander which flew over the stunned Dmitry Nikolaev in our net.

Two powerplays were wasted by SKA in the remainder of the first period. While SKA were boasting the vast majority of possession, Vityaz found it reasonably comfortable to defend, with our team not competing with enough aggression.

Thankfully, SKA finally made a powerplay count in the 28^th minute of the second stanza.

When powering towards the net on the right flank, Marat Khairullin left Vityaz goaltender Dmitry Shikin clutching thin air with a sharp wrister.

Nevertheless, undeterred by that setback, Vityaz retook the lead exactly 60 seconds later.

Following a sloppy defensive mistake by SKA, Ivan Ezhov hit the jackpot from the doorstep. Citing goaltender interference, our coaching staff did use a coach’s challenge, but it was deemed a legitimate goal following a lengthy video review.

In truth, Vityaz went on to dominate practically the entirety of the period. Full of confidence, the away team applied heavy pressure on SKA, coming close to a third goal on the powerplay as Rasskazov struck the right post with Nikolaev seemingly already beaten.

SKA were struggling. But, after wasting a 5-on-3 powerplay, our equaliser arrived with less than a minute left in the frame.

Alone on the left wing, Mikhail Vorobyov managed to get the better of Shikin from a tight angle.

Despite that equalising goal, though, Vityaz continued competing on the front foot at the start of the ensuing third period and gained their third advantage of the evening in the 47^th minute.

Seconds after a faceoff draw, Roman Abrosimov decided to chuck the puck towards goal, and his effort flew above Nikolaev who was completely unsighted.

Affected by that goal, SKA couldn’t find their way whatsoever. Vityaz were firmly in the box seat, but, with less than eight minutes remaining in the period, a third equalising goal arrived.

Preventing the puck from going for an icing call, Danila Moiseev collected possession, passed towards the approaching Vorobyov, and the latter made no mistake from an ideal position. Vityaz head coach Vyacheslav Butsaev challenged the goal for interference against Shikin, but it was indeed given after the referees analysed the footage.

Such a scintillating game deserved a thrilling finale. And that’s exactly what we got.

With only 46 seconds left in regulation time, Glotov received a wonderful pass from Damir Zhafyarov and whipped the puck beyond the helpless Shikin at point-blank range. That goal arrived moments after Vladislav Kara had somehow blasted over the gaping net for Vityaz.

In the remaining seconds, Vityaz did have time to swap Shikin for the extra skater, but SKA bravely held on to earn a memorable triumph.

SKA will now prepare to host Dinamo Minsk in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

SKA – Vityaz – 4:3 (0:1, 2:1, 2:1)

Goals:

0:1 Rasskazov (Starkov, Shikin), 09.28

1:1 Khairullin (Zykov, Vorobyov), 27.47 PPG

1:2 Ezhov (Popov, Yarovoy), 28.47

2:2 Vorobyov (Falkovsky, Volkov), 39.04

2:3 Abrosimov (Rasskazov), 46.56

3:3 Vorobyov (Moiseev), 52.32

4:3 Glotov (Zhafyarov, Falkovsky), 59.14