Sochi - SKA - 5:4

In a highly eventful encounter, SKA were made to pay for ill-discipline against Sochi on the road, conceding a late shorthanded goal to suffer a 4:5 loss in the 2023/2024 KHL regular season.

Two fortuitous markers from Alexander Nikishin and Alex Galchenyuk - the second arriving on the powerplay - on the left flank allowed SKA to initially open up a confident two-goal advantage in the first period.

However, the game turned on its head in the second, as three consecutive markers from Kirill Rasskazov (PP), Dmitry Zavgorodniy and Artur Tyanulin within six minutes suddenly put Sochi in the driving seat.

Mikhail Pashnin promptly equalised when connecting with Nikolai Polyakov's superb pass. In the third, Zakhar Bardakov then reinstated our lead shorthanded, but Sochi subsequently netted a SHG of their own through the clean-through Michal Kristof.

The decisive moment arrived with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.

After Stepan Starkov had received a double minor for high-sticking, Sergei Popov deflected in to steal the win for the home side.

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

Match protocol:

Sochi - SKA - 5:4 (0:2, 3:1, 2:1)

Goals:

0:1 Nikishin, 10.17

0:2 Galchenyuk (Nikishin, Gritsyuk), 17.32 PPG

1:2 Rasskazov (Kristof, Graham), 28.14 PPG

2:2 Zavgorodniy (Sagadeev), 31.43

3:2 Tyanulin, 32.56

3:3 Pashnin (Polyakov), 37.09

3:4 Bardakov (Starkov), 42.43 SHG

4:4 Kristof (Khusnutdinov), 43.41 SHG

5:4 Popov (Graham, Kristof), 59.24 PPG

Goalkeepers: Berdin - Serebryakov

Shots: 61 - 64

Shots on target: 33 - 35

Faceoffs: 23 - 37

Hits: 12 - 17

Penalty minutes: 8 - 12

Referees: Morozov, Naumov

Linesmen: Zakharenkov, Sadovnikov

27.10.2023.