CSKA – SKA

CSKA – SKA – 1:2

2 February 2024

In a pulsating battle, SKA deservedly earned a remarkable sixth triumph in six games against arch-rivals CSKA in the 2023/2024 KHL regular season, emerging victorious 2:1 away in Moscow.

Given that SKA had won all five preceding showdowns against CSKA this season, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to see the Muscovites start with determination.

The home team had the better of the early stages without creating any clear opportunities. Lurking on the doorstep, Vladislav Kamenev did have one promising chance for CSKA, tipping the puck against Nikita Serebryakov’s right shoulder.

SKA took the lead in the fourth minute with the first big chance of the evening.

On the counter-attack, Mikhail Vorobyov caught home goaltender cold Ivan Fedotov with a firm wrister from the left faceoff circle. Buoyed by that goal, SKA did create a handful of great chances throughout the first period, with Alex Galchenyuk notably only capable of backhanding into the goalkeeper’s glove when 1-on-1.

CSKA grabbed their equaliser in the sixth minute of the second stanza after a proactive start.

Moments after Zakhar Bardakov had passed up a 2-on-1 opportunity for us, Maxim Mamin brought the home fans to their feet, tipping Mikhail Grigorenko’s wrist shot beyond Serebryakov.

Nevertheless, SKA weren’t knocked off their stride by that setback. Firmly on the front foot for the vast majority of the frame, our players managed to carve open several guilt-edged chances, but our finishing in front of goal was somewhat wasteful. Sergei Tolchinsky’s backhander which struck the right post on the powerplay was a perfect example of our profligacy.

Not long before Tolchinsky’s opportunity, Konstantin Okulov had been guilty of a similar miss for CSKA, blasting wide of the mark after a clever pass had taken Serebryakov out of the picture.

SKA continued bossing the play in the ensuing third period.

Thankfully, to our delight, our dominance was eventually rewarded with our crucial second goal with around seven minutes remaining on the clock.

Powering away on the break-away, Marat Khairullin found the onrushing Artyom Zemchyonok, who brilliantly redirected the pass high over Fedotov into the right corner.

That proved to be the killer blow.

Having pulled Fedotov for the extra skater in the closing two minutes, CSKA laid siege to our net and took aim from any angle possible, but Serebryakov stood tall to the challenge and our skaters expertly kept the opposing team at bay with intelligent tactical play.

SKA will now prepare to face Salavat Yulaev away in Ufa on Sunday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 14:30 Moscow time.

Match protocol:

CSKA – SKA – 1:2 (0:1, 1:0, 0:1)

Goals:

0:1 Vorobyov (Tolchinsky), 03.14

1:1 Mamin (Grigorenko, Sorkin), 25.23

1:2 Zemchyonok (Khairullin), 52.06

Goalkeepers: Fedotov – Serebryakov

Shots: 64 – 73

Shots on target: 30 – 41

Faceoffs: 24 – 40

Blocked shots: 11 – 21