The “locomotive” and a handicap of two goals were not enough. CSKA won a strong-willed victory

Railroad missed two goals in 48 seconds of the second period and another in the third. The brigades of most of the guests worked in vain. Perhaps the native walls of Arena 2000 will help Lokomotiv turn the series upside down.

Alas, today the interests of hockey and football have crossed paths. The second match of the series against Lokomotiv started at the CSKA Arena at 17:00. And at 19:30 the champion and leader of Zenit entered the field at the VEB Arena. Many army (and not only) fans wanted to have two in one – to visit both hockey and football, but they were forced to sacrifice one of these pleasures.

It is not immediately clear why it was impossible to move the central match of the RPL 20th round from a frosty evening to a day when the March sun is hot? However, this did not affect attendance at the CSKA Arena. Like Friday, the stands were full.

The first period was the continuation of game number one. The railroad didn’t give the champions a break, not even an inch of free ice. They occupied the army area and after 3.5 minutes they opened the gates of Adam Reideborn. The goals were achieved by a long-range strike from striker Denis Alekseev from the blue line, the puck from the shoulder of young defender, hosts Nikolai Makarov, fluttered into the net past the despondent Swedish goalkeeper.

The hosts did not build anything memorable in Daniil Isaev’s gate. Except for Captain Nikita Nesterov’s forceful pass on the right wing. But the goalkeeper easily coped with his shot from the “shovel”.

The army squad has not kept up with the nimble railway workers, opposing the speed with powerful moves. Olympic vice-champion Pavel Karnaukhov tested the strength of Yegor Korshkov’s head. Yaroslavets was saved by a helmet.

Photo source: HC CSKA

After gaining the majority, the hosts nearly got their second goal. His captain forgave his former team, and now wears the letter “C” in Lokomotiv, Sergey Andronov. Finding himself with the puck under Reideborn’s nose, the Olympian took a break, but forgot to stop.

– We didn’t get into the match completely, we missed it, – the leader of CSKA surprised in the first break with a revelation in an interview voiced on the KHL channel.

In the second half, the hosts often went into the penalty area, but the Mensheviks held on. And the railwaymen scored a goal in a 2-in-1 counter-attack, born after a mistake on the blue line by Darren Dietz. The defender did not close the area, allowing Maxim Shalunov and his namesake Berezkin to escape on goal. The latter, who made two steps forward this season, irresistibly threw from the brushes – 0:2.

Such a delay for CSKA is not a death sentence. Demonstrated in the seventh match against Severstal (4:3). CSKA responded with a brace. The first goal without stretching is a masterpiece. Yes, Berezkin didn’t take the puck out of the backcourt, this is a blot. But what a turnaround pass Maxim Sorkin, who missed the first game, succumbed to the patch! And Grigorenko from the rally, standing with his back to the goal, sent the puck to free Maxim Mamin, who did not miss.

While the guests were recovering, Dietz chastised them for a strange hitch. The episode raised questions. On the patch defender Rushan Rafikov brought down Plotnikov. The army man fell and lay down. The referees were in no hurry to blow the whistle – it is their prerogative to pause the game in such situations or not. And Dietz shot on goal and finished off the puck which rebounded into the net on Isaev.

Lokomotiv head coach Igor Nikitin turned to referee Alexander Soin for clarification. It can be seen that the helmsman of the railway did not attend the seventh match of the CSKA – Severstal series, in which the hosts scored a goal in a similar situation.

Plotnikov, injured, went to the locker room until the end of the match, 800th for himself in the KHL. And this is a great loss for the army.

Photo source: HC CSKA

The third period began with Grigorenko’s goal, which was scored with a muzzle, which was unusual for CSKA’s best sniper in the Russian championships. Mikhail took a dominant position and, after a series of rebounds, pushed the puck into the goal “under the ice”.

The remainder of the match was spent in relentless attacks by the railwaymen. They were unlucky. Young Stepan Nikulin beat experienced Andrey Svetlakov to the penalty spot and set the goal frame ringing, also gaining a numerical advantage.

The hosts defended themselves patiently, without thinking about incursions into a foreign area. However, Karnaukhov was close to scoring, but defender Maxim Osipov blocked his spot kick.

The visitors were not helped by a small penalty on the bench for a violation of strength in numbers. Shalunov tirelessly fired from all guns, but in vain. Even substituting the goalkeeper 2.5 minutes before the siren didn’t help.

– We trampled on the old rake, – summed up Nikitin the second match. – I thought that we all made our mistakes in the first game, but, apparently, I was wrong.

And Fedorov was lucky again. He is still a great coach!

Photo source: HC CSKA

The stats speak for themselves:

• shots on goal 17-42;

• blocked shots 21-15;

• engagements 25-36;

• power moves 23-13;

• penalty 10-4.

STATISTICS

CSKA (2) – Locomotive (3) – 3:2 (0:1, 2:1, 1:0). Goals: Alekseev, Berezkin – Mamin, Dietz, Grigorenko

Score of the series: 2-0 (2:0, 3:2, 21, 23, 25*, 27*, 29* March)

* If necessary.