Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg secured a thrilling victory against SKA St. Petersburg in a KHL match on March 21, 2025, held at the newly inaugurated UGMK Arena. This remarkable game not only showcased the resilience of the home team, who overcame a two-goal deficit but also marked the venue's record attendance of 11,870 spectators.
The match kicked off with SKA taking an early lead as Nikita Zaitsev found the back of the net following a deflection, sending shockwaves through the local crowd. Despite Avtomobilist's attempts to equalize, the strong defensive line of SKA, led by goalkeeper Yegor Zavragin, blocked several scoring opportunities.
As the second period unfolded, SKA extended their lead through Marat Khairullin, who scored from a quick counter-attack after an Avtomobilist turnover. The 0-2 score seemed daunting, but determination shone through as Artem Kashtanov managed to pull one back for Avtomobilist. Winning a battle along the boards, Kashtanov slipped the puck past Zavragin with a precise shot from the face-off circle, igniting hopes for the Ural team.
The excitement reached a fever pitch in the third period when Brooks Macek tied the game at 2-2. His goal came after a relentless push from Avtomobilist, and even though a potential game-winning goal was initially disallowed due to an offside review, he found another chance moments later that leveled the playing field.
As the game went into overtime, both teams exchanged near-misses, desperately seeking the winning goal. A standout moment occurred when DJesse Blacker had a clear chance, but Galkin remained vigilant, thwarting SKA's efforts. The extra session concluded without a clear winner, pushing the result to a nail-biting shootout.
In the decisive shootout, Avtomobilist’s goalie, Vladimir Galkin, proved his mettle by saving four out of five shots. With successful conversions from Nick Merkley and Semyon Kizimov, Avtomobilist clinched the win 3-2. Following the match, both coaches reflected on the game's intensity and their teams' performances.
Nikolai Zavarukhin, head coach of Avtomobilist, remarked, "Robustly started, first shifts moved slowly. The opponent quickly pressed us; with the first conceded goal—defense on the return was lacking, forwards played too low, which allowed the goal. The third period was more cohesive and conscious; we showed character and pulled the match out. Very glad for the victory over a strong opponent," as reported by EANews.
Conversing about the atmosphere in UGMK Arena, Zavarukhin noted the importance of adaptation to the new venue, citing the different ice conditions. He explained, "We understand that it takes time to adapt, for the arena to feel like home, and for the players to get accustomed to it." Meanwhile, Roman Rotenberg, the SKA coach, expressed his appreciation for the robust turnout, stating, "I want to congratulate everyone on the record. We are happy to participate in such a hockey game. For the first time in history, so many spectators gathered in Yekaterinburg. A big thank you to every fan who came today. The atmosphere was wonderful. Hockey is progressing; many kids were in the stands. A very friendly atmosphere. I'm sure after this record, you'll update it in the next game. I wish you that. May each game have full stands," reported by EANews.
Avtomobilist's forward, Artem Kashtanov, also shared his thoughts on the new arena, celebrating the vibrant atmosphere created by the fans. "It's great. The atmosphere is very cool. We have amazing fans. The ice in the first matches, of course, left much to be desired. Now, there are no claims, and by the playoffs, it will be even better," he shared in a VseProSport interview.
Wrapping up, Kashtanov highlighted hopes for the playoffs, stating, "I consider that we had a good regular season. It was a long, tough season. The team fought for each other. I think we conducted it well." Avtomobilist now looks forward to their next match against Metallurg Magnitogorsk on March 22, 2025, indicative of their strong positioning as the regular season wraps up.
