Nikolai Puchkov Tournament. SKA - Avtomobilist

Nikolai Puchkov Tournament. SKA - Avtomobilist - 5:2

22 August 2023

In the maiden match of the 2023 Nikolai Puchkov Tournament, SKA breezed past Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg at the Ice Palace, earning a routine 5:2 win.

The game was practically over as a contest after the first period. Having come flying out of the blocks, our players wasted no time in putting Avtomobilist to the sword, as Emil Galimov swiped home from the left flank, Alexander Nikishin let rip with a one-timer, Sergei Tolchinsky wowed the crowd with a stunning solo effort and Matvei Michkov cleaned up the loose change on the slot.

Nevertheless, Avtomobilist did subsequently show character in the second stanza.

After putting our team under pressure for a prolonged amount of time, Maxim Denezhkin and Nikita Blednov both got the better of SKA goaltender Johan Mattsson from close range.

Thankfully, though, SKA weren't to be denied, and Marat Khusnutdinov secured our victory in the second minute of the third frame as he cleverly tipped the puck beyond opposing netminder Evgeny Alikin.

Tomorrow, at 19:30 local time, SKA will host Sochi in Saint Petersburg.

Match protocol:

SKA - Avtomobilist - 5:2 (4:0, 0:2, 1:0)

Goals:

1:0 Galimov (Zemchyonok), 03.29

2:0 Nikishin (Tolchinsky, Vorobyov), 08.27 PPG

3:0 Tolchinsky (Pedan), 11.50

4:0 Michkov (Khusnutdinov), 18.32

4:1 Denezhkin (Obidin), 23.57

4:2 Blednov (Khripunov, Tryamkin), 33.22

5:2 Khusnutdinov (Alistrov, Nikishin), 41.28

Goalkeepers: Mattsson - Alikin