Game six. CSKA – SKA – 3:1
In the sixth match of the third round of the 2021/2022 KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs, SKA came up short against CSKA in Moscow, losing 1:3 to mean that the series score is now tied up at 3-3.
SKA were forced to soak up heavy pressure throughout the opening frame.
Mikhail Grigorenko did break the deadlock for CSKA in the 16th minute. Immediately after Vladislav Kamenev had won a faceoff draw in our zone, the puck dropped at the stick of the waiting Grigorenko, who caught SKA goalkeeper Lars Johansson cold with a sharp attempt.
Johansson was much the busier goalkeeper in the first period, making 14 saves while his opposite number Ivan Fedotov was only tested on four occasions. In the early stages, Johansson pulled off a superb stop, emerging from his net intelligently to narrow the angle for dangerous CSKA forward Maxim Sorkin and fielding the ensuing wrister.
CSKA continued competing with the initiative during the first half of the second stanza. Unmarked to the left of the slot, Andrei Svetlakov came really close to doubling the home team’s advantage, but he could only hack the puck wide of the gaping right corner following an awkward ricochet.
only hack the puck wide of the gaping right corner following an awkward ricochet.
To our delight, SKA gradually began to ease their way into proceedings as the period continued.
As the second break approached, our players started to protect the puck in the attacking zone more effectively, applying pressure on the home defence and calling Fedotov into action on a regular basis.
The equaliser arrived in the penultimate period of the frame. On the doorstep, Valentin Zykov smartly collected the loose puck, and he carefully slid it beyond the stranded Fedotov at the second attempt.
Unfortunately, the third period started in the worst possible fashion for SKA.
With only two minutes having been played, CSKA took their second lead of the day, as Vitaly Abramov managed to bundle the puck over the line from a tight angle on the right flank.
SKA subsequently found it tough going throughout the remainder of the stanza. Standing their ground with sturdy defensive play, CSKA barely allowed our team to create any chances, and the only real opportunity was wasted by Nikita Gusev as Fedotov moved across to his right post in time to field a strong one-timer.
Johansson kept SKA in the match with a handful of fantastic saves. Nevertheless, after he was pulled for the extra skater in the concluding minute of regulation time, CSKA did grab their third marker with Grigorenko hitting the empty net.
The decisive game seven will take place in Saint Petersburg on Thursday. Puck-drop is scheduled for 19:00 local time.
Match protocol:
CSKA – SKA – 3:1 (1:0, 0:1, 2:0)
Goals:
1:0 Grigorenko (Kamenev), 15.47
1:1 Zykov (Khusnutdinov), 38.52
2:1 Abramov (Karnaukhov, Sergeev), 42.02
3:1 Grigorenko (Okulov) 59.20
Goalkeepers: Fedotov – Johansson
Shots: 65 - 49
Shots on target: 32 - 26
Faceoffs: 27 – 34
Blocked shots: 16 - 20
Hits: 18 - 19
Penalty minutes: 4 - 2
Referees: Naumov, Olenin
Linesmen: Sivov, Zakharenkov
12.04.2022. CSKA Arena, Moscow.