Club Friendly· Season 2026
Chaika fought back from 2-0 down to beat SKA-1946 4-3 in overtime at the TNA Cup in Kazan, with Nikolai Izmailov scoring the winner at 63:13.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The opening period ended goalless despite Chaika applying sustained pressure and testing SKA-1946 goaltender Matvei Karbainov, who faced 40 shots on target across the game. The deadlock broke at 27:34 of the second period when Nikita Shamkiy danced through the Chaika defence and beat Egor Gritsenko. Andrei Korablyov doubled SKA-1946's lead at 35:55 with a laser-like wrist shot from the right faceoff circle, with Shamkiy and Yegor Privalov assisting on both goals.
Chaika halved the deficit with 55 seconds left in the period, when Artyom Matyuk pounced on a rebound during a power play to make it 2-1 — a goal that shifted momentum decisively heading into the second intermission.
Ivan Mullerov equalised at 42:42 of the third period, finishing from close range off a feed from Roman Maksimov. Nikita Sinikin then put Chaika ahead at 45:23 with a spectacular lacrosse-style goal, scooping the puck onto his blade and lifting it over Karbainov's shoulder for a 3-2 lead. But SKA-1946 responded through Sergei Zatsepin, who converted a power play at 50:18 with a one-timer from the slot to force overtime.
The Turning Point
Matyuk's power-play goal at 39:05, with 55 seconds left in the second period, was the hinge on which the match swung. Before that strike, SKA-1946 had controlled proceedings with a composed two-goal cushion. Chaika's coaching staff, led by Alexei Podalinsky, used the intermission to adjust the forecheck, and the team emerged for the third period a transformed side — scoring twice in the opening 5:23.
Key Performers
- Nikolai Izmailov (Chaika) — Scored the overtime winner at 63:13, finishing alone in front of Karbainov with a wrist shot. Player of the Match.
- Artyom Matyuk (Chaika) — 1 goal + 1 assist, including the crucial power-play goal that halved the deficit before the second intermission.
- Roman Maksimov (Chaika) — Two primary assists on Mullerov's equaliser and Izmailov's OT winner.
- Nikita Shamkiy (SKA-1946) — Opened the scoring and assisted Korablyov's goal, finishing with 1+1 on the night.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Chaika dominated the shot count 62-42 overall and 40-22 on target, reflecting their territorial advantage particularly in the first and third periods. But SKA-1946 were more efficient in the faceoff circle (34-23) and blocked 16 shots to Chaika's 11, illustrating their defensive structure. Both teams converted one power play each — Chaika 1/3, SKA-1946 1/5 — but Chaika's penalty kill outperformed by extinguishing four of five SKA opportunities. The 40-22 shots-on-target differential suggests the final 4-3 scoreline flattered SKA-1946's defensive performance.
What It Means
This was Chaika's first win at the TNA Cup after losing their opener 4-3 in a shootout to Reaktor on 14 August. SKA-1946, who beat Sputnik 3-1 on the opening day, suffered their first defeat of the tournament. Chaika faced Avto next on 16 August, while SKA-1946 took on Reaktor on the same day. The TNA Cup serves as the MHL pre-season tournament hosted at Tatneft Arena in Kazan, featuring Chaika, SKA-1946, Avto, Irbis, Sputnik and Reaktor.
Verdict
Chaika's comeback from 2-0 down against an SKA-1946 side that had won six consecutive head-to-head meetings was the kind of character-building result that coaches prize in pre-season. Izmailov's composed finish in overtime capped a deserved win, though Chaika will want to address a first period that produced 15+ shots but no goals.
Chaika and SKA-1946 have met 25 times — Chaika won 10, SKA-1946 won 15, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2015. SKA-1946 leads the head-to-head with 15 victories from 25 meetings. A combined 132 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.28 per match (61 for the home side, 71 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 20 matches (80%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 21 games (84%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. SKA-1946 are currently unbeaten in the last 6 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 8–3 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 16 Aug 2026