CSKA - SKA - 2:3. Game Seven. WE'RE IN THE FINAL!

7 April 2015

SKA travelled to Moscow to face HC CSKA Moscow for the seventh game of this KHL Gagarin Cup Western Conference final. Vyacheslav Bykov kept the team exactly the same following three victories in a row, while CSKA head coach Dmitry Kvartalnov also opted to keep Kevin Lalande in their net. Remember that with the series score being 3:3, the winner of this match would move into the KHL Gagarin Cup final where HC Ak Bars Kazan lie in wait.

The puck was played about by both teams during the first few moments, as everyone seemed to be waiting for a mistake from someone else. The first chance fell to Yevgeni Dadonov between the circles, as he one timed wide of the left post unmarked. CSKA then earned a powerplay though, and appeared to open up the scoring. Alexander Radulov bundled in on a goalmouth scramble, however following video review the puck was ruled to having been purposely kicked in. That gave our team a lift, and sure enough the first goal came. Ilya Kovalchuk wristed from the right faceoff circle, and with traffic in front Kevin Lalande let it sneak through. Tony Martensson almost made it two on a juicy rebound up close, although CSKA did then begin to take the initiative. Our players were being pressed deep inside their own zone, and Mikko Koskinen made an excellent double save to deny Stephane Da Costa when on the penalty kill.

SKA begun the second a lot more confidently than the first, and Patrick Thoresen wristed only into Kevin Lalande’s chest when closing down on the right. Our players were improving with every passing minute, and made it two right minutes in. The puck popped out to the left of the crease, and Yevgeni Dadonov lashed it in top shelf. That goal allowed the team to knock the puck about with class, and Roman Cervenka almost grabbed the third when off balance at point blank range. Just as it seemed to be comfortable though, CSKA struck. Andrey Stas dumped in from the left, and Alexander Radulov beautifully tipped it in. All the momentum was with the hosts now, and seconds before the stanza ended they tied it all up. Stephane Da Costa was allowed to skate in from deep, and he wristed off the left post and in.

Those quickfire goals could have broken our team, but our players have more character than that. The deciding third period begun with the puck flying from one end to another, and both sides had huge chances. Stephane Da Costa fired into Mikko Koskinen’s body when allowed to skate down alone, and then one on one Roman Cervenka was shut down by Kevin Lalande’s pads. That miss didn’t matter too much though, as seconds later SKA regained their lead. Anton Belov fired from the point, and by the left post Patrick Thoresen gorgeously poked it in stretching. CSKA had to give their all now, and they almost found an instant response as Denis Denisov had another goal ruled off for a clear high stick. The nerves were running high in the final few minutes, however CSKA shot themselves in the foot. Stephane Da Costa was called for high sticking against Anton Belov, and that killed that game as SKA came out on top 3:2 to take the series 4:3!!!! The club will now compete in the KHL Gagarin Cup final for the first time ever, what a stunning effort!!

Match protocol:

CSKA – SKA – 2:3 (0:1, 2:1, 0:1)

Goals:

0:1 Kovalchuk (Thoresen), 11.20

0:2 Dadonov, 27.33

1:2 Radulov (Grigorenko, Stas), 36.07

2:2 Da Costa (Korotkov, Grigorenko), 39.13

2:3 Thoresen (A Belov, Chudinov), 50.41

Goalkeepers: Lalande – Koskinen

Shots: 37 – 22

Penalty minutes: 8 – 10

Faceoffs: 30 – 42