CSKA – SKA

CSKA – SKA – 2:3

6 October 2023

In a pulsating duel, SKA outlasted CSKA away in the 2023/2024 KHL regular season, earning a memorable 3:2 triumph in Moscow.

It was initially the worst possible start for SKA and debutant Nikita Serebryakov.

With a mere 40 seconds on the clock, Vladislav Kamenev pounced on a defensive mix-up to hit the jackpot from the left faceoff circle. It was indeed the first shot which Serebryakov faced since joining our club earlier on this week.

Nevertheless, SKA did quickly settle into proceedings. To our delight, we didn’t have to wait long for our equaliser either, as Arseniy Gritsyuk whipped a superb attempt past CSKA goaltender Ivan Fedotov when standing alone on the right wing.

Games between these two teams are usually tight, defensive affairs, but this match was the complete opposite. Instead of waiting for mistakes, the sides charged forward at any given opportunity, consequently creating plenty of clear chances and competing at a thrilling tempo.

SKA were once again punished for a slow start to a period, as Pavel Karnaukhov managed to beat the unsighted Serebryakov from distance thanks to a wicked deflection off Artyom Zemchyonok's stick in the 22^nd minute.

However, Sergei Tolchinsky got our team back on level terms four minutes later, neatly backhanding under Fedotov’s pads when powering clean through. That was his maiden goal since scoring on the opening day of the season against Dynamo Moscow away.

The teams went on to waste a series of big opportunities throughout the remainder of the second stanza. Serebryakov caught the eye with one particularly difficult save, as he brilliantly shut the door on Vitaly Abramov at point-blank range.

The third period got started with Serebryakov pulling off a tough stop to prevent the unmarked Mikhail Grigorenko from scoring on the doorstep. Moments later, Zakhar Bardakov contrived to take a cheap tripping foul, but instead of conceding SKA managed to score shorthanded.

1-on-1, Mikhail Vorobyov followed in Tolchinsky’s footsteps and carefully slid the puck between the pads.

That turned out to be the decisive moment of the blockbuster showdown. Throughout the remainder of the period, CSKA predictably applied heavy pressure on SKA, but our players won practically every battle and didn’t give the Muscovites a sniff on the crease

In the final minute of regulation, the home team did pull Fedotov in favour of the extra skater, but SKA deservedly held out thanks to superb game management.

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

Match protocol:

CSKA – SKA – 2:3 (1:1, 1:1, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Kamenev (Plotnikov, Okulov), 00.40

1:1 Gritsyuk (Tolchinsky, Kadeikin), 04.01 PPG

2:1 Karnaukhov (Dyblenko, Svetlakov), 21.23

2:2 Tolchinsky (Kadeikin, Pashnin), 25.08

2:3 Vorobyov (Sergeev), 43.32 SHG

Goalkeepers: Fedotov – Serebryakov

Shots: 70 – 53

Shots on target: 36 – 24