SKA St. Petersburg managed to halt its declining momentum by defeating the reigning rivals, CSKA Moscow, with a score of 3-2 during an intense overtime match of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) regular season on March 4, 2025.
The match unfolded at the CSKA Arena, where both teams engaged fiercely, drawing considerable attention from fans. This victory allowed SKA to break free from its previous four-game losing streak, which is particularly significant as they look to improve their standing with the playoffs fast approaching.
Early on, CSKA forward Maxim Sorkin opened the scoring for the home team just seven minutes after the puck dropped, assisted by Prokhor Poltapov and Nikita Sedov. The home side's lead didn’t last long as SKA responded effectively, with Marat Khairullin and Matvey Korotkiy scoring two key goals during power plays, swinging the momentum back to the visitors.
The intensity of the match did not let up, and Prokhor Poltapov equalized the score for CSKA late in the first period, setting the stage for the back-and-forth struggle through the remaining regulation time. Despite opportunities from both sides, neither could capitalize during the second and third periods, resulting in the match progressing to overtime.
With tensions rising within the arena during the extra period, SKA’s captain, Alexander Nikishin, secured the victory by scoring the decisive goal, sending the visiting players and fans alike celebrating. This moment not only provided closure on their unfortunate series of defeats but also served as motivation for the team moving forward.
Reflecting on the match, CSKA forward Sorkin commented, "It was a well-fought game, played at the level of playoff intensity. The game dictated its own pace, and we started hedging on defense, which caused fewer goals to be scored." He emphasized the issues the team faced transitioning during power plays, admitting, “We couldn’t convert any opportunities and they managed to score on theirs, which was the significant difference.”
When questioned about the pressures from the recent loss and how it affects the team's morale, Sorkin stated, "I think we are all professionals. We’ve faced these kinds of mistakes before. We’ll analyze what went wrong, learn from it, and keep moving forward.”
Meanwhile, CSKA’s head coach, Ilya Vorobyov expressed his dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating, "I cannot be happy with losing, even if we earned one point. The difference was evident as we allowed two goals during our penalty kills, and they managed to capitalize on their opportunities.” He was particularly vocal on the need for improvements, stressing the importance of maximizing power play situations: “If we tighten up our play during advantageous situations, we could see significantly improved performances.”
Praised for their resilience during the match, CSKA holds third place in the Western Conference standings with 79 points from 61 matches. SKA, having climbed up to seventh with 73 points from 62 games, now prepares for their upcoming matches with renewed confidence, and the victory against CSKA could be the spark they need as the playoffs approach.
The matchup highlighted not only the competitive spirit between both teams but also showcased the talent of key players. The game witnessed the contributions of three Belarusians, Ivan Drozdov (CSKA), and Sergei Sapego and Vladimir Alistrov (SKA), who both registered assists during the match.
This exciting overtime victory marks not just another chapter for the KHL regular season, but potentially foreshadows the intensity and stakes as teams angle for playoff positions, providing fans with exhilarating hockey still to come.