Game seven. SKA – CSKA – 0:3
In the seventh match of the third round of the 2021/2022 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs, SKA came up short against CSKA Moscow at the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace, conceding an avoidable 0:3 defeat to lose the series 3-4.
SKA came out in a determined attitude.
With the backing of the home crowd, our players immediately took the game to CSKA, creating opportunities on the crease on a regular basis. Danila Moiseev, Mikhail Vorobyov and Emil Galimov all came close from the doorstep, with CSKA goaltender Ivan Fedotov standing his ground effectively.
To their credit, CSKA gradually settled into proceedings towards the end of the first period. At point-blank range, Pavel Karnaukhov should have opened the scoring after a goalmouth scramble, but Lars Johansson emerged from his net intelligently to smother the attempt.
The second stanza started in the worst possible fashion for SKA.
On the slot, former SKA forward Sergei Plotnikov collected the puck after it had taken an awkward ricochet, and he calmly beat Johansson from the doorstep.
CSKA controlled the vast majority of the frame with their confident, assured play. When competing on the powerplay, SKA did have a few excellent opportunities to get back on level terms, as Anton Burdasov and Andrei Kuzmenko were denied by the alert Fedotov.
Unfortunately, the Muscovites went on to double their money with a little over two minutes remaining in the period.
Initially, the referees hadn’t noticed that Plotnikov’s strong effort had crossed the line, but the goal was subsequently given following a short video review.
Protecting their precious two-goal lead, CSKA barely gave SKA any scoring opportunities whatsoever in the ensuing third period.
In the closing minutes, our coaching staff pulled Johansson for the extra skater for a final roll of the ice, but that only resulted in Konstantin Okulov hitting the empty net to secure CSKA’s passage to the Gagarin Cup final, where they will meet Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Match protocol:
SKA – CSKA – 0:3 (0:0, 0:2, 0:1)
Goals:
0:1 Plotnikov (Pankratov), 23.38
0:2 Plotnikov (Slepyshev), 37.51
0:3 Okulov, 58.26 EN
Goalkeepers: Johansson – Fedotov
Shots: 57 - 51
Shots on target: 26 - 21
Faceoffs: 21 - 30
Blocked shots: 17 - 17
Hits: 15 - 12
Penalty minutes: 12 - 16
Referees: Gashilov, Olenin
Linesmen: Kuchava, Shalagin
14.04.2022. Ice Palace, Saint Petersburg.