On March 4, 2025, the SKA hockey team from Saint Petersburg emerged victorious against Moscow's CSKA, achieving a thrilling 3-2 overtime win during the KHL regular season clash. This victory was particularly significant as it ended SKA's troubling four-game losing streak and reignited hopes for the team as they vie for playoff positioning.
The match took place at CSKA's home arena, where both teams brought their competitive spirits. The action kicked off early, with Maxim Sorkin opening the scoring for CSKA just 6:41 minutes in, assisted by Prokhor Poltapov and Nikita Sedov. Sorkin's goal charged the already electric atmosphere, as CSKA, riding high from their recent successes, aimed to keep their winning momentum.
SKA responded vigorously. Marat Khairullin capitalized on a power play opportunity to equalize at 1-1 shortly after, at 8:51. The game became increasingly intense as the period progressed. By the 13:52 mark, SKA had pulled ahead with another power play goal from Matvey Korotkiy. The situation became tense as CSKA fans held their breath, but just ten seconds later, Prokhor Poltapov leveled the score once more, making it 2-2 at the end of the first period.
The second period saw both teams create scoring opportunities but neither could capitalize, leaving the scoreboard unchanged at 2-2. The period was marked by aggressive plays, including several power play chances for CSKA, thanks to penalties against SKA's Ivan Demidov and Dmitry Yudin. Despite their numerical advantages, the home team could not find the back of the net, partly due to opposing goalie Pavel Khomchenko’s strong performance.
With the game tied, the third period was similarly action-packed yet uneventful on the scoring front. The intensity ramped up with fights and frequent penalties. The final moments of regulation ended without any additional goals, pushing the match to overtime—an arena where both teams have proven capable of thrilling performances.
Just two minutes after the overtime session began, Alexander Nikishin, after missing a power-play opportunity at the end of regulation, scored the winning goal for SKA at 62:15. He found the puck at the crease and successfully pushed it past the CSKA goalkeeper Khomchenko, sealing the game for SKA. The celebration erupted among the visiting team, knowing they had achieved this narrow yet pivotal victory on enemy ice.
Post-game, Nikishin expressed optimism about the win, stating, "Yes, we had many defeats, we needed to break this streak, and such a competitive game hopefully helps us moving forward. We won, which means we took the right step." His remarks reflect the collective sigh of relief from the SKA squad, who desperately needed this win to regain momentum as the KHL season progresses.
With this victory, SKA now claims 73 points, placing them seventh in the KHL’s Western Conference standings. CSKA, though defeated, remains competitive with 79 points, still occupying third place. CSKA’s next game will be on March 8 against Barys, whereas SKA will face Metallurg on the same day.
The KHL match not only showcases the depth of talent within the league but also highlights how every game can shift the balance of power and playoff prospects dramatically. Other notable matches on March 4 included Amur defeating Salavat Yulaev 3-1 and Admiral beating Neftekhimik 1-0. Upcoming fixtures will see intense action as teams push for playoff spots and battle for dominance as the regular season nears its end.