SKA Sets Worst Record After Loss to CSKA

At CSKA Arena, SKA St. Petersburg lost with a score of 2:3 in a shootout, extending CSKA Moscow«s unbeaten streak.

SKA started the match actively and opened the scoring in the 8th minute after a powerful shot by Andrei Pedan. However, CSKA equalized through Denis Gurianov before the break.

In the second period, Nikita Nesterov put the hosts ahead, capitalizing on a moment after a faceoff. In the third period, Rocco Grimaldi tied the score, sending the game into overtime.

In extra time, SKA had a numerical advantage but failed to capitalize on it. In the shootout, the decisive shot was scored by Vitaly Abramov, while Marat Khairullin hit the post.

Seven consecutive defeats have become the worst result for SKA in the entire history of performances in the KHL. The previous negative record — six consecutive failures — was set in 2021 under coach Valery Bragin.

Despite eighth place in the Western Conference and a tight tournament situation, the prolonged series of defeats indicates serious problems in the team. Coach Igor Larionov, who previously tried to maintain optimism, is now clearly losing control of the situation.

The match with CSKA could have been a turning point for SKA, especially after improved play compared to previous defeats. However, key moments in overtime and shootouts remained with the Muscovites.

Now the St. Petersburg team has a game in Minsk ahead, and the series of failures calls into question the stability of the club in the era of Roman Rotenberg.