Game one. SKA - Vityaz

Game one. SKA - Vityaz - 3:1

21 February 2017

SKA took on HC Vityaz Podolsk in game one of the 2016/2017 KHL playoffs first round series. Head coach Oleg Znarok instated Mikko Koskinen in net, while no defensemen were included in the fourth line. Harri Sateri was between Vityaz’s pipes.

Inside an expectant Ice Palace, both teams made a nervy start. Being the underdogs, it was no surprise to see Vityaz focus on defence. The visitors were relying on counterattacks to threaten, however apart from a dangerous Mario Kempe raid which came to nothing, they had very few opportunities. On the other hand, SKA slowly grew into the game, drawing two penalties out of Vityaz. The latter enabled our team to score the opening goal: with 22 seconds on the clock, Anton Belov sniped a powerful wrist shot under Harri Sateri’s pads.

Despite that setback, Vityaz became more confident in the second period. Feeling their way into the KHL playoffs, the visitors took the initiative, calling Mikko Koskinen into regular action. Mikko made the save of the match too, stoning Mario Kempe with a stunning pad save at point blank range. Unfortunately, not long after that, Vityaz did eventually get their equaliser. Allowed to cut to the crease, Alexei Makeev lashed top shelf. In need of a wake-up call, SKA responded well. Six minutes before the second break, our players managed to regain their lead. On the powerplay, Nikita Gusev lost his marker, firing a loose puck low into the net.

Early in the third frame, SKA practically ended the game as a contest. Directly off a faceoff draw, Evgeny Dadonov twisted to a shooting position, rifling his attempt over the startled goaltender. Holding a two-goal advantage, SKA were in the box seat, barely giving Vityaz a sniff. The visitors did pull Harri Sateri during the closing stages, but thanks to a few alert Mikko Koskinen saves, SKA saw the match out to take game one 3:1!

Match protocol:

SKA – Vityaz – 3:1 (1:0, 1:1, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Belov (Dadonov, Shipachyov), 19.41

1:1 Makeev (Nikulin), 29.01

2:1 Gusev, 33.29

3:1 Dadonov, 40.27

Goalkeepers: Koskinen – Sateri

Shots on target: 40 – 23

Penalty minutes: 8 – 22

Faceoffs: 32 – 28

Hits: 9 – 11