Sochi - SKA

Sochi - SKA - 3:6

8 January 2023

In the concluding match of this particular away series, SKA showed character to defeat Sochi 6:3 in the 2022/2023 KHL regular season.

To the surprise of many, Sochi quickly opened up a two-goal advantage in the first period.

Sergei Popov lifted his snappy effort over Vladislav Podyapolsky from the right circle on the powerplay in the sixth minute. Seven minutes later Tigran Yarulin lashed the puck home immediately after the hosts had won a faceoff draw inside the attacking zone.

18-year-old forward Matvei Michkov wasted a golden opportunity to extend Sochi's lead to three at the start of the second stanza. After beating his markers, the teenager created a clear shooting lane for himself on the left flank, but he could only fire his ensuing attempt inches wide of the far post.

SKA subsequently took charge of proceedings with three quickfire goals within one minute.

Vasily Glotov halved the deficit in unusual circumstances, tipping Marat Khairullin's wrister over the line with his face. Stepan Falkovsky then equalised with a deflected wrist shot, before Mikhail Pashnin whacked a strong slap shot past Sochi goalkeeper Mikhail Berdin.

Boasting the momentum, our players created several major opportunities to increase the lead, with Mikhail Vorobyov, Nikita Gusev and Khairullin all being denied by familiar face Berdin at close range.

Those misses were punished by the lively Michkov midway through the period. Alone on the doorstep, the teenager smashed his one-timer into the right corner after SKA had carelessly gone missing in defence.

Understanding the importance of avoiding a shock defeat, SKA predictably set about laying siege to the Sochi net in the third frame.

Eventually, after Berdin had pulled off plenty of admirable stops, our team grabbed the go-ahead goal on the powerplay in the 51st minute.

When connecting with a trademark intelligent pass from Gusev, Khairullin gave Berdin no chance from the left of the crease.

That goal well and truly knocked the stuffing out of Sochi. With a little under seven minutes remaining, Gusev practically put the game to bed, as his shot from distance deceived Berdin thanks to a wicked ricochet. Nikolai Prokhorkin marked his first appearance of the campaign with an assist for that particular goal.

Sochi did opt to pull Berdin for the extra skater in the closing stages, but that only resulted in Valentin Zykov hitting the empty net for the away side.

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

Match protocol:

Sochi - SKA - 3:6 (2:0, 1:3, 0:3)

Goals:

1:0 Popov (Michkov), 05.30 PPG

2:0 Yarulin (Avershin, Utkin), 12.22

2:1 Glotov (Khairullin, Kamalov), 21.56

2:2 Falkovsky (Nikishin, Jaskin), 22.37

2:3 Pashnin (Khairullin, Glotov), 22.53

3:3 Michkov (Popov), 31.20

3:4 Khairullin (Gusev, Nikishin), 50.52 PPG

3:5 Gusev (Nikishin, Prokhorkin), 53.10