SKA grind out dramatic triumph at Lokomotiv!

2 December 2025

Drama to the last in Yaroslavl, as SKA snatched a vital 4:3 victory in overtime against reigning Gagarin Cup champions Lokomotiv after initially saving the day in the closing stages!

Trailing by one with a mere two minutes remaining in the third period, SKA looked destined for another disappointing setback at the Arena 2000, but Andrei Pedan forced OT with a bomb from distance before Marat Khairullin grabbed our winner on the powerplay in the extra frame.

A close first period was shaded by Lokomotiv, with Nikita Cherepanov wristing beyond Artemiy Pleshkov – who would eventually end the game with 45 saves to his name – from the left circle.

SKA equalised at the start of the second stanza with the in-form Brendan Leipsic completing a flowing passing play. Alexander Radulov did then hand Yaroslavl their second advantage with a strong one-timer on the powerplay, but SKA quickly responded with a similar PP marker from Sergei Plotnikov.

Lokomotiv took their third lead of the evening in the ninth minute of the third stanza in rather fortunate circumstances, as Maxim Shalunov’s pass was inadvertently turned into his own net by Yegor Zelenov.

Nevertheless, Pedan rescued the match for SKA with an unstoppable slap shot, and Khairullin then secured a hard-fought victory with a strong wrister from the right flank after Lokomotiv had been punished for having too many men on the ice.

SKA will now prepare to face Admiral in Vladivostok on Thursday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 12:30 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

Lokomotiv – SKA – 3:4 OT (1:0, 1:2, 1:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Cherepanov (Ulyev, Ivanov), 06.15

1:1 Leipsic (Murphy, Blandisi), 21.49

2:1 Radulov (Surin, Rafikov), 32.35 PPG

2:2 Plotnikov (Khairullin, Savikov), 35.32 PPG

3:2 Shalunov (Kayumov, Beryozkin), 48.06

3:3 Pedan (Grimaldi, Blandisi), 58.01

3:4 Khairullin (Plotnikov, Zykov), 63.02 PPG

Goalkeepers: Isayev – Pleshkov