Grigorenko at the double as SKA triumph in Balashikha!

6 February 2025

Mikhail Grigorenko was the star of the show in Balashikha, notching two poacher’s goals to fire SKA to an important 4:2 victory at Vityaz!

Taking into account the manner of Tuesday’s setback at home to Ak Bars, it was vital for our players to immediately get back on track, and they did just that as they eased to a routine away win against struggling Vityaz.

In a somewhat tight, tense first period, SKA made the breakthrough in the sixth minute.

Ivan Demidov sent his own rebound towards goal with the backhand, with the puck taking a sharp deflection off Nikolai Polyakov before crossing the line.

Vityaz initially played with plenty of energy, testing Pavel Moisevich on 12 occasions during the frame and carving open a handful of half-chances. Moisevich particularly had to be alert when the hosts were on the powerplay, pulling off three top saves at point-blank range.

The second stanza started in perfect fashion.

Pavel Dedunov tallied his first of the campaign following a faceoff draw, catching Vityaz netminder Maxim Dorozhko cold with a snappy wrister.

The intensity of the game gradually increased as the period continued. Vityaz created two guilt-edged opportunities while competing on the powerplay, with Moisevich pushing Yaroslav Busygin’s wrist shot to safety and shutting the pads in time to deny the clean-through Derek Barach.

Nevertheless, SKA were also testing the goalkeeper with regularity at the other end, and our third goal eventually arrived in the 33^rd minute.

At the second attempt, Grigorenko hooked the puck beyond Dorozhko when taking control of the rebound.

Vityaz promptly signalled for their time-out. Unfortunately for us, that decision paid off straight away for the Balashikha-based outfit, as Matvei Zaseda wristed home when unmarked on the left circle.

The decisive moment was witnessed in the second minute of the third period.

And once again Grigorenko was the hero on the slot, lashing Vladimir Alistrov's intelligent pass in with Dorozhko slightly out of position.

That goal really did burst Vityaz’s bubble. Disappointed by that blow, the home side took a while to regain composure, failing to keep the puck in our zone for long periods and not looking overly solid at the back.

Although Vityaz did force Moisevich into 11 saves throughout a somewhat uneventful concluding stanza, SKA never looked in trouble whatsoever, professionally seeing out the game with plenty to spare – even though familiar face Vladislav Tsitsyura beat our goaltender on the counter with a minute remaining.

SKA will now prepare to face Dynamo in Moscow next Tuesday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:30 local time.

Match protocol:

Vityaz – SKA – 2:4 (0:1, 1:2, 1:1)

Goals:

0:1 N. Polyakov (I. Demidov, M. Vorobyov), 05.48

0:2 Dedunov (Andronov), 21.53

0:3 Grigorenko (Karpukhin, Alistrov), 32.50

1:3 Zaseda (Chivilyov, Valentsov), 33.36

1:4 Grigorenko (Alistrov, Zemchyonok), 41.37

2:4 Tsitsyura (I. Vorobyov), 58.58

Goalkeepers: Dorozhko – Moisevich

Shots: 64 – 66