Game one. CSKA - SKA

Game one. CSKA - SKA - 3:0

2 April 2021

In the first match of the third round of the 2020/2021 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs, SKA came up short against CSKA in Moscow, conceding a 0:3 loss.

The teams immediately started competing in an aggressive manner. In the opening handful of shifts, SKA had a couple of promising opportunities, but CSKA then took the initiative and passed up excellent chances with Maxim Mamin in particular missing the target when practically clean through.

SKA were gifted the first powerplay of the match in the 16^th minute of play. However, after failing to make use of that chance, our team conceded an avoidable goal as CSKA defenseman Mat Robinson burst out of the penalty box.

Lukas Bengtsson’s stick snapped in half at the worst possible moment, Andrei Svetlakov picked out the onrushing Robinson, and the latter sent a pass across to Ivan Telegin on the crease who beat Magnus Hellberg from point-blank range.

It promptly got worse for SKA less than 60 seconds later.

Following a cheap turnover in the defensive zone from Emil Galimov, our team presented Anton Slepyshev with a clear shooting lane from between the circles, and the CSKA forward unleashed a powerful wrister under Hellberg’s blocker.

The SKA management group subsequently swapped Hellberg in favour of Alexander Samonov in the break.

CSKA opted for a more defensive approach in the second period. Leading by two goals, the Muscovites could afford to take their foot off the gas, and they prevented SKA from creating many clear openings in their zone.

After a short spell of pressure, Oscar Fantenberg had a great chance between the faceoff circles, but he could only shoot against the right pad of the unsighted Lars Johansson. Vasily Podkolzin also wasted a superb opportunity for SKA, missing the right corner from an ideal position.

Samonov didn’t have too many saves to make for SKA in the stanza, with CSKA not showing any urgency in our zone. SKA head coach Valeri Bragin did use his time-out in the 32th minute, however, after the puck had been iced following a lengthy shift.

CSKA practically put the game to bed in the fourth minute of the third period.

Having escaped his marker on the left wing, Maxim Shalunov successfully completed a flowing play in our zone, whipping his instant effort beyond the stricken Samonov.

Despite the score, though, Samonov was indeed SKA’s stand-out figure in the third stanza, pulling off a number of miraculous saves with CSKA often catching our defence out of position. In the closing stages, SKA did pull Samonov in favour of the extra skater, but CSKA held on to see the match out.

The second game of the series will take place at the CSKA Arena on Sunday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 17:00 local time.

Match protocol:

CSKA - SKA - 3:0 (2:0, 0:0, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Telegin (Svetlakov, Robinson), 18.03

2:0 Slepyshev (Loktionov), 18.57

3:0 Shalunov (Robinson, Okulov), 44.56

Goalkeepers: Johansson - Hellberg/Samonov

Shots on target: 24 - 23

Faceoffs: 24 - 27

Hits: 8 - 17

Penalty minutes: 6 - 6