Svitov brings Ak Bars first victory in final series against SKA

Captain of Ak Bars Kazan Alexander Svitov brought the team its first victory in the final series of the Gagarin Cup against SKA St. Petersburg.

After two matches in Kazan in the series to four victories the score was 2:0 in favor of Vyacheslav Bykov's team. The third match of the series took place in St. Petersburg. After losing 0:1 at the beginning, Ak Bars could change the course of the meeting and snatched the victory 2: 1. The series’ score became 2:1 in favor of SKA.

Compared to the previous match, the Kazan club made two changes - Vladimir Denisov instead Sheldon Brukbenka in defense and forward Dmitry Obukhov instead Dmitry Arkhipov. Thus, the Kazan trio Burmistrov-Petrov-Obukhov was on the ice. The owners of the ice got defender Maxim Chudinov, who replaced Nikolai Belov injured in the previous match.

About 100 fans followed Ak Bars club to St. Petersburg to support the favorite team. Ak Bars began the meeting actively. However, some removal made a bad luck to the guests. First, the captain went to the bench. After a while, deleting was given to Konstantin Koltsov. The Kazan club withstood in the minority, but when Koltsov was ready to leave the penalty bench, missed the goal.

Ak Bars continue the second period by the first number. They had the numerical superiority, Kazan attacked and SKA tried to catch the opponent on the counterattacks. The third period was successful for the Kazan club. On 47 minute, defender of Ak Bars Evgeny Medvedev equalized the score. After the puck Kazan coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said: "We still have to straighten the attack." And they did it. Four minutes before the final siren, Kazan captain Alexander Svitov moved Ak Bars forward by long throw, received excellent communication from Koltsov. Toward the close of the meeting the coaching staff of SKA changed the goalkeeper. However, it did not helped the owners to rectify the situation.

2:1 in favor of Ak Bars. The day after tomorrow the teams will meet in St. Petersburg for fourth match of the series, followed by at least fifth meeting in Kazan.

SKA St. Petersburg - Ak Bars Kazan - 1:2 (1:0, 0:0, 0:2).

Goals: Mortensson - 4 (Chudinov), 14:07 - 1:0. Medvedev - 1 (Muller, Azevedo), 46:44 - 1:1. Svitov - 4 (Koltsov, Zakharchuk), 55:55 - 1: 2.

Goalkeepers: Koskinen (59:19) - Nilsson.