Spartak - SKA

Spartak - SKA - 1:3

14 October 2015

SKA travelled to Moscow to play HC Spartak, in what was to be the first official meeting between these two teams since Spartak’s bankruptcy. Following the two home defeats against Lokomotiv and HC Sochi Andrei Nazarov opted to make a few changes, as Joakim Lindstrom returned to replace Alexander Barabanov in the first line. Nevertheless Mikko Koskinen was still in our net, while for Spartak ex SKA goaltender Evgeny Ivannikov was between the pipes.

It was a red hot atmosphere inside the packed Luzhniki Arena, and buoyed by their vociferous support it was Spartak who made the better start. Despite taking two penalties the hosts restricted our team to limited opportunities, and on the breakaway they were causing an all manner of problems. They earned an ideal chance to score when Evgeny Bodrov was tripped one on one, but he backhanded his penalty shot wide of the left post. The hosts kept on coming though, and on a powerplay of their own Grigory Shafigulin poked inches off target glove side. Mikko Koskinen was making some neat saves as Spartak continued to pressurize in SKA’s zone, and for our team only Joakim Lindstrom came close with a rasping slapper from distance.

In the second period SKA began much more imaginatively, and with a powerplay immediately took control of proceedings. Alexander Barabanov took up the puck, twisted to the right post, and snuck it through Evgeny Ivannikov to break the deadlock. That gave our time a huge boost, and big chances for a second arrived immediately. Evgeny Artyukhin couldn’t stuff his attempt in when skating on to the crease, and at the doorstep Evgeny Ketov failed to make real contact when all alone. It was never going to be easy though, and sure enough Spartak stepped up the pace. Our players were finding it a real struggle to get out of their own zone, and Mikko Koskinen did well to hold a deflected slap shot. The pressure was building with every passing minute, and eventually the hosts got their reward. Speeding away on a counterattack Charles Genoway was teed up on the left, and he made no mistake. 1:1 after 40.

Our team began the third stanza on the man’s advantage, and wasted no time in making it count. Dmitry Kalinin one timed at the blue line, and the home goaltender couldn’t react in time. Spartak almost gave an instant reply as a chaotic goalmouth scramble developed on our crease, but our team were well in control and scored a crucial third. Roman Rukavishnikov tried his luck from the point, and Jarno Koskiranta beautifully tipped in. Spartak became rather frustrated after that, however despite having two further powerplay opportunities SKA opted to try and slow the pace down. The hosts did have one chance of their own with Dmitry Yudin in the box, but Mikko Koskinen brilliantly kept hold of a wrister at the second attempt. Despite our players holding the lead the final minutes flew by, and SKA take away a hugely important 3:1 win away from the Russian capital against Spartak! The next match will take place against HC Ak Bars Kazan in Saint Petersburg on Friday.

Match protocol:

Spartak – SKA – 1:3 (0:0. 1:1, 0:2)

Goals:

0:1 Barabanov (Lindstrom, Yakovlev), 24.35

1:1 Genoway (Glazachev, Radil), 36.57

1:2 Kalinin (Lindstrom), 40.25

1:3 Koskiranta (Rukavishnikov), 47.25

Goalkeepers: Ivannikov – Koskinen

Shots on target: 19 – 25

Penalty minutes: 16 – 22

Faceoffs: 23 - 34

Hits: 6 – 7