Torpedo - SKA - 4:3

In the second match of the 2018/2019 KHL season, SKA travelled to Nizhny Novgorod to play HC Torpedo, making three changes to the roster with David Rundblad, Alexei Byvaltsev and Alexander Dergachyov replacing Vladislav Gavrikov, Nail Yakupov and Nikolai Prokhorkin. Magnus Hellberg and Stanislav Galimov.

Amazingly, SKA struck inside the opening 34 seconds, as Nikita Gusev found space at the doorstep and hit the jackpot. In control of proceedings, our players then doubled their money at the end of the frame, with Dinar Khafizullin pouncing on a juicy rebound after Patrik Hersley's slap shot was stopped.

However, in the second stanza, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod began to step it up. Following a poor defensive error, Robert Sabolic dragged the hosts back into proceedings, backhanding beyond Magnus Hellberg. SKA had an answer with Viktor Tikhonov scoring when clean through shorthanded, but Vladimir Galuzin bundled the loose puck over the line from point blank range to bring Torpedo within one.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a horrible third period for SKA. Despite leading with 03:12 remaining on the clock, the team contrived to concede cheap goals from Anton Shenfeld on the penalty kill and Denis Parshin, resulting in a 3:4 loss.

Match protocol:

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

Goals:

0:1 Gusev (Barabanov), 00.34

0:2 Khafizullin (Hersley, Gusev), 19.49

1:2 Sabolic (Kelof), 25.12

1:3 Tikhonov, 34.35

2:3 Galuzin (Sergienko), 37.06

3:3 Shenfeld (Barantsev, Varnakov), 56.48

4:3 Parshin (Holm), 57.24

Goalkeepers: Galimov - Hellberg

Shots on target: 31 - 35

Faceoffs: 26 - 35

Hits: 12 - 12

Penalty minutes: 10 - 10

Referees: Belov, Soin

03.09.2018.