Club Friendly· Season 2026
Matwei Kabush scored a power-play winner with 0.6 seconds left as SKA-VMF beat Sokol Krasnoyarsk 2-1 in the Drozdecki Tournament opener.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The first period was one-sided in terms of territory but finished goalless. SKA-VMF dominated possession and created several chances on the power play and at even strength, firing multiple shots from dangerous positions. Sokol goalkeeper Gleb Saranchuk made several key saves in the opening five minutes, including one from point-blank range, to keep the game scoreless (source: vmf.ska.ru).
The game flipped in the second period. Sokol sat deeper, absorbed pressure, and struck on a counter-attack: Nikita Volosenkov finished precisely at 26:54 off assists from Maksim Kazakov and Ivan Mastryukov to make it 1-0 (source: vmf.ska.ru).
SKA-VMF emerged with renewed aggression in the third period. At 43:24, Maksim Kazakov battled for the puck behind the Sokol net and fed Georgy Busarov, whose shot was saved on the first attempt. Denis Barantsev pounced on the rebound to level the score at 1-1 (source: vmf.ska.ru).
With the game drifting towards overtime, SKA-VMF earned a late power play. In the dying seconds, Danila Popov threaded a cross-ice pass to Matwei Kabush, who one-timed a slap shot past the screened Sokol goaltender with 0.6 seconds remaining on the game clock for a 2-1 victory (source: vmf.ska.ru).
The Turning Point
The power-play goal at 59:59 was the definition of a last-second winner. Kabush, positioned at the right faceoff circle, received Popov's diagonal pass and fired while Dmitry Shevchenko provided a screen in front of the Sokol net, blocking the goaltender's view. Kabush described the sequence: "I saw the angle, that Sheva was screening the goalie well. Danila Popov set me up perfectly, and all I had to do was hit the corner" (source: vmf.ska.ru).
Key Performers
- Matwei Kabush (SKA-VMF) — Scored the game-winner with 0.6 seconds left on a power-play one-timer. Composure under extreme time pressure decided the match. Player of the Match.
- Denis Barantsev (SKA-VMF) — Scored the crucial equaliser on a rebound early in the third period and drew the secondary assist on Kabush's winner for a two-point night.
- Gleb Saranchuk (Sokol Krasnoyarsk) — Made multiple high-danger saves in the first period and held SKA-VMF at bay for 43 minutes. Blameless on both goals, especially a screened last-second rocket.
- Danila Popov (SKA-VMF) — The primary assist on the winner was a high-skill cross-ice seam pass that unlocked the Sokol penalty kill at the most critical moment.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The 2-1 scoreline suggests a tight game, but SKA-VMF dominated territorially in the first and third periods. Sokol's best period was the second, which yielded the only goal of the middle frame. The equaliser came from a rebound in front (Barantsev) and the winner from a power-play deflection play (Kabush) — reflecting SKA-VMF's ability to generate chaos in the offensive zone. Sokol's defensive structure frustrated SKA-VMF for long stretches, but a single penalty late in regulation proved fatal. The head-to-head record now stands at 1 win each in 2 meetings, with 6 combined goals across the rivalry.
What It Means
The win gives SKA-VMF an ideal start to the Nikolai V. Drozdecki Tournament (10–14 August 2026), a five-team pre-season competition also featuring Khimik Voskresensk, Gornyak-UGMK Verkhnyaya Pyshma, and Zvezda Moscow. Sokol Krasnoyarsk drops to 0-1 in the round-robin format. Both sides are using the tournament as preparation for the 2026/27 VHL regular season (source: vmf.ska.ru).
Verdict
A classic pre-season opener: disjointed but dramatic. SKA-VMF showed more offensive initiative across 60 minutes but lacked finish until the third period. Sokol's discipline and counter-attacking structure worked for 59 minutes, but a late penalty and Kabush's individual quality flipped the result at the final tick.
Scoring Summary
| Period | Time | Score | Scorer | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P2 | 26:54 | 0-1 | Nikita Volosenkov (Sokol) | M. Kazakov, I. Mastryukov |
| P3 | 43:24 | 1-1 | Denis Barantsev (SKA-VMF) | G. Busarov, M. Kazakov |
| P3 | 59:59 | 2-1 | Matwei Kabush (SKA-VMF, PP) | D. Popov, D. Barantsev |
Venue: SK 'Hokeiny Gorod', St. Petersburg (Rossijskij pr., 6)
Tournament: Nikolai V. Drozdecki Memorial Tournament (10–14 August 2026)
Rivalry since 2025
SKA-VMF St. Petersburg vs Krasnoyarsk Head to Head Results· 2
SKA-VMF St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk have met 2 times — SKA-VMF St. Petersburg won 1, Krasnoyarsk won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2025. A combined 6 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (4 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (50%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–3 in 2025.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 16 Aug 2026