SKA Saint Petersburg:

Game 13: Monday, October 7th

SKA 4-3 (OT) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Game 14: Thursday, October 10th

SKA 2-4 Dinamo Minsk

Game 15: Saturday, October 12th

SKA 5-2 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg

Last week kicked off with a “Probably shouldn’t have won this one” performance for SKA against Loko, wherein G Artemi Pleshkov faced 48 shots but helped himself just fine, stopping 45 and getting credit for a secondary assist on the opening goal. Winger Sergei Plotnikov also gave him some aid by scoring two goals on two shots while D Alexander Nikishin was the clutch time hero of the day, with the Hurricanes prospect beating G Daniil Isayev on a snipe in overtime to win it.

The next game was more ignominious but was also significant in that it marked a new chapter. It included Evgeny Kuznetsov’s return from injury ahead lf the expected timetable, but that wasn’t all. As was rumored, G Yegor Zavragin did indeed “return” to SKA from his loan to Sochi. SKA would dress the Flyers prospect as the backup in the matchup against Minsk and would be substituted in to make his first ever appearance in the uniform of the club that holds his contract after Pleshkov allowed three goals on 38 shots, with the blame for at least one resting squarely on the starting netminder’s shoulders. Zavragin didn’t really stop the bleeding, but he also wasn’t tested much, stopping 3 of 4 shots against (with the goal being entirely the fault of an awful turnover by D Tony DeAngelo and Zavragin contesting the shot pretty well despite) and not receiving a decision in the game. Zavragin would absolutely be a factor in the win over Avtomobilist in his first start, stopping 35 of 37 and being a reliable backbone for the team via his exceptional processing and positioning. His performwnce allowed them to have a third period surge and win despite the team entering the final stanza trailing by 1 and looking flat-footed for most of the matchup. He already earned his place on the team by doing a lot with very little with the “Leopards” and I am certain that he will keep it.

Standings update:

19 points – 3rd place in Western Conference, 2nd in Bobrov Division, 6th in league

Next game:

Tomorrow, 12:30 PM EDT:

vs. HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk

HC Sochi:

Game 13: Tuesday, October 8th

SKA 2-4 Vityaz Moscow Region

Game 14: Thursday, October 10th

SKA 2-3 (OT) Vityaz Moscow Region

Game 15: Saturday, October 12th

SKA 1-2 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Were this team not already the “Nothing to smile about in my life” meme in the form of a hockey club already after Matvei Michkov departed for the NHL/Philadelphia Flyers this season after two prolific loan stints with Sochi from SKA as their clear best offensive talent, they are now. Sergei Ivanov is a good goaltending prospect, but he is not Yegor Zavragin. Ergo, they lack both a goalie who can steal them games nor much offensive potency. They were lit up for most of the proceedings against Vityaz on the 8th, trailing 3-0 until making a strong comeback threat until an ENG iced the matchup, then out-played them possession-wise only to trail by two before scoring two quick goals and eventually sending the proceedings to overtime, where they were ultimately defeated. Vityaz does not possess a much better roster than Sochi but has been a thorn in their side, with them gaining just 1 of a possible 6 points against their division opponents who they will play twice more this season. That is a sacrifice of valuable points. Sochi were additionally out-played, if not dramatically, against Lokomotiv and could never muster up much of an attack against them. Despite the best efforts of Sergei Zubov and staff behind the bench, this team simply does not have the talent at this point for this season to be anything better than difficult. The best narrative for them at this point is that LW Artur Tyanulin is producing points at the best rate of his career, with 4 goals and 9 assists in 11 games. However, he alone will likely not be an offensive machine capable of powering the team to a playoff spot.

Standings update:

Pain.

(11 points, bottom of both West and Bobrov, ahead of only Barys Astana in the league standings at 22nd)

Next game:

Friday, October 18th – 12:30 PM EDT

@ Kunlun Red Star