SKA-1946 vs Avto

Both sides traded chances through a cautious first period, with SKA-1946 favouring positional attacks while Avto looked to counter. The deadlock broke at 19:36 — with just 24 seconds left in the opening frame. Ivan Chervyakov fed Timur Marchenko, who one-timed the puck under the crossbar to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.

Avto grew into the game in the second period. At 27:03, German Dudorga converted from Andrey Lyskov and Artyom Salnikov to level the scores at 1-1, and the visitors dominated large stretches of the middle frame without finding a second goal.

Early in the third period, Avto struck on the counter. At 47:25, Alexander Pimin fired from the blue line off a feed from Dmitry Tokmakov and Lyskov, putting the visitors ahead 2-1.

SKA-1946 responded with sustained pressure. At 51:49 — just 4:24 after falling behind — Dmitry Drozdovich, playing his first-ever MHL game, unleashed a long-range shot that beat Avto goaltender Sergey Gorbunov after a won faceoff. Sergei Gorokhov and Chervyakov assisted on the equaliser.

Drozdovich, on his debut goal: "I decided to shoot, I thought whatever happens — and the goalie's mistake helped. At first I thought Nikita Shamkiy had deflected it in front of the net. When I realised it was my goal, I was very surprised, excited and happy!"

Neither side could find a winner in the remaining 8:11 of regulation or the five-minute overtime, sending the game to a shootout.

Five consecutive shooters — Alexander Pimin (Avto), Semyon Zatsepin (SKA-1946), Andrey Lyskov (Avto), Nikita Silyutin (SKA-1946) and Saveliy Zhirov (Avto) — all failed to beat the opposing goaltender. Suzdorf stepped up sixth for SKA-1946 and buried his attempt, giving the hosts a 1-0 shootout win and the extra point.

Goaltender Matvey Karbainov was decisive for SKA-1946, stopping all three Avto shootout attempts he faced.

• German Suzdorf (SKA-1946): Scored the only shootout goal, the decisive moment of the contest.
• Dmitry Drozdovich (SKA-1946): The debutant scored the critical third-period equaliser with a long-range strike, his first MHL goal.
• Matvey Karbainov (SKA-1946): Held firm through regulation (34 saves from 36 shots) and stopped all three shootout attempts.
• Ivan Chervyakov (SKA-1946): Two assists, playing a central role in both of SKA-1946's regulation goals.

The game was far more open than the 3-2 scoreline suggests. SKA-1946 outshot Avto 57-61 in total attempts (29-34 on target), but Avto controlled the faceoff circle 41-30 and held a 14-13 edge in blocked shots. SKA-1946 were more physical (26-19 in hits) but took four minor penalties to Avto's one. Neither team converted on the power play (0/1 for SKA-1946, 0/4 for Avto), a notable early-season stat for both sides.

The 61 combined shots on target reflect a lively pre-season contest, but the shootout provided the only breakthrough after 65 minutes of even-strength hockey.

The match was part of the second day of the Nikolai Maslov Memorial Tournament, a six-team pre-season competition (1–6 August) at Hockey City in Saint Petersburg featuring SKA-1946, Krasnaya Armiya, Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo St. Petersburg, Irbis and Avto. SKA-1946 opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Krasnaya Armiya on 1 August and now sit on two wins from two games.

Avto, who finished the previous MHL season with a bronze medal, are still finding their rhythm in pre-season after retaining their core group over the summer.

Next up: SKA-1946 face MHL Spartak on 4 August at 19:00 local time in their third tournament fixture. Avto next play Irbis on 4 August.

A competitive pre-season affair that told you more about SKA-1946's resilience than their finishing — they came from behind twice and found a way through the shootout. Avto will take heart from a disciplined road performance that pushed the hosts to the limit, but the shootout misses will need addressing before the regular season.