Plotnikov, Pleshkov steer SKA to dramatic victory in Nizhny Novgorod!

21 September 2024

With Sergei Plotnikov scoring his first two goals since returning to our team, SKA edged past Torpedo away in Nizhny Novgorod, claiming a thrilling 4:3 triumph.

His two successive markers allowed SKA to open up a take a lead which they would never surrender, although Torpedo will be kicking themselves having initially held a two-goal advantage.

Vladislav Firstov converted two Torpedo counter-attacks in the first period despite SKA having dominated and created numerous glorious opportunities.

To our relief, the goals eventually started to flow in the second, with Sergei Tolchinsky carefully guiding the puck under home goaltender Ivan Kulbakov from the doorstep and Plotnikov backhanding home after escaping his marker.

The same player then completed a flowing break-away in the 43rd minute to put SKA in the driving seat, before the in-form Grigory Kuzmin grabbed our fourth with an unstoppable one-timer during a 5-on-3 powerplay.

SKA looked home and dry. However, after Nikita Zaitsev had been penalised for holding, Maxim Letunov halved the deficit for Torpedo at close range.

Buoyed by that glimmer of hope, Torpedo laid siege to our net for the remainder of regulation time and carved open a handful of guilt-edged chances, but Artemiy Pleshkov secured the points for SKA with brave goalkeeping.

SKA will now prepare to host Avangard Omsk in Saint Petersburg on Monday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

Torpedo - SKA - 3:4 (2:0, 0:2, 1:2)

Goals:

1:0 Firstov, 04.48

2:0 Firstov (Artamonov, Letunov), 11.28

2:1 Tolchinsky (Bardakov, Khairullin), 34.07

2:2 Plotnikov (Falkovsky), 35.48

2:3 Plotnikov (Alistrov), 42.50

2:4 Kuzmin (Falkovsky), 52.07 PPG

3:4 Letunov (Artamonov, Voynov), 55.32 PPG

Goalkeepers: Kulbakov - Pleshkov