SKA recover to power past Spartak in Moscow!

25 October 2024

SKA produced another impressive show of strength in the 2024/2025 KHL regular season, recovering from a two-goal deficit to emphatically defeat bitter rivals Spartak 5:2 in Moscow!

The situation was worrying for our players after the first period, but they turned things around in memorable fashion against a defensively poor Spartak side.

Having had a long rest in preparation for this match, Spartak initially appeared the fresher team and missed an early golden opportunity through Mikhail Maltsev who smacked the upright.

Three powerplays came and went for the fired-up hosts – all of which had been gifted to them by SKA forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. 1-on-1, former SKA representative Ivan Morozov should have done better for the Muscovites, but he lashed over the crossbar.

Spartak did eventually make the breakthrough at equal strength in the 13^th minute. In an unfortunate case of déjà vu for us, it was a carbon copy of Alexander Belyayev’s infamous last-second winner against SKA last season, as Pavel Poryadin wristed powerfully into the right corner immediately after Ivan Morozov had won a faceoff in our zone.

Our threat was mainly coming from our lively third line. Ivan Demidov almost scored a candidate for goal of the season after displaying scintillating skill to swerve past the Spartak defence, but his ensuing attempt was turned aside by familiar face Dmitry Nikolayev.

Spartak doubled their advantage against the run of play with around one minute remaining in the frame. It was a disappointing goal too, as Yegor Filin’s hopeful wraparound snuck under Yegor Zavragin as a consequence of a wicked ricochet off SKA defenseman Ivan Vydrenkov.

To our delight, SKA came flying out of the blocks in the second stanza – only after Poryadin had seen his wrist shot cannon back off Zavragin’s right post.

Mikhail Vorobyov and Valentin Zykov both failed to score when 1-on-1 but, in the sixth minute of the period, we finally got on the board.

And it was a beauty, with Kuznetsov getting the better of Nikolayev with a dazzling show of silky skills. The referees didn’t initially notice that the puck had crossed the line, but they quickly received the call from the control room.

SKA were firmly in the ascendancy now. Incredibly, Zakhar Bardakov notched our equaliser a mere matter of 27 seconds later, shooting into the gaping net with Nikolayev caught slightly out of position.

Spartak boss Alexei Zhamnov promptly signalled for his time-out. Nonetheless, that decision didn’t have the desired effect, as SKA continued laying siege to their net.

Our well-deserved go-ahead goal arrived on the powerplay in the 31^st minute. Alone on the left circle, Vasily Glotov tapped in when connecting with a gorgeous pass from American defenseman Tony DeAngelo.

Admittedly, the home side made an improvement following our third. Nikolai Goldobin attempted a ridiculously difficult move with only Zavragin to beat, before our 19-year-old goaltender pulled off a scintillating save with his blocker to somehow deny Daniel Usmanov at close range.

SKA were subsequently rewarded for a positive start to the third stanza with an important fourth marker.

Sergei Plotnikov continued his rich vein of form, carefully sliding the puck in from the doorstep when completing a flowing play with the participation of Alexander Nikishin and Demidov.

To their credit, Spartak responded with energy and intent, taking aim from any angle possible and even carving open a handful of guilt-edged opportunities – one chance saw the opposing team skate 2-on-0, however Zavragin came to our rescue with a solid save.

That proved to be the decisive moment.

Danila Galenyuk practically ended the showdown as a contest with his maiden goal of the season for SKA in the 46^th minute, whipping beyond Nikolayev with the help of a deflection.

SKA were in full control. With the minutes running down, Zavragin kept Spartak at bay and shut the door on Usmanov again after the lively forward had escaped our defence, but SKA saw the match out with minimal fuss to achieve a crucial victory inside a hostile stadium.

Our next match will be held on Monday against Sibir Novosibirsk in Saint Petersburg. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

Spartak – SKA – 2:5 (2:0, 0:3, 0:2)

Goals:

1:0 Poryadin (Morozov), 12.40

2:0 Filin (Usmanov), 18.50

2:1 Kuznetsov (Zaitsev, Plotnikov), 25.43

2:2 Bardakov (Vorobyov, Grigorenko), 26.10

2:3 Glotov (DeAngelo, Gritsyuk), 30.43 PPG

2:4 Plotnikov (Nikishin, Demidov), 42.14

2:5 Galenyuk (Bardakov, Vorobyov), 45.58

Goalkeepers: Nikolayev – Zavragin