The key facts
- SKA lost 1:3 to Avtomobilist at home — a sixth consecutive defeat and an unsuccessful debut for Andrey Razin, who replaced Igor Larionov on October 18.
- Goals: Kadeikin (22nd minute), Syomin (SKA), Tarasov (59th) and Gorbunov into an empty net.
- SKA — 8th place in the West (17 points, 16 games), Avtomobilist — 7th in the East (16 points, 17 games).
Razin's unsuccessful debut in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg SKA suffered a sixth consecutive defeat, losing on home ice to Yekaterinburg's Avtomobilist 1:3. The match was the first for the Army Men under new head coach Andrey Razin, who replaced Igor Larionov on October 18. Earlier, the 52-year-old specialist left Magnitogorsk's Metallurg, with whom he won the Gagarin Cup in 2024: in early October he was suspended from work, and on October 18 the club officially terminated his contract.
Course of the match
The visitors opened the scoring on the 22nd minute through Alexander Kadeikin. Midway through the second period, SKA defenseman Vladislav Syomin restored the balance, but the hosts failed to save the game. The outcome was decided in the final two minutes of regulation: on the 59th minute Maxim Tarasov put the Yekaterinburg side ahead again, and soon after Roman Gorbunov sent the puck into an empty net after SKA had replaced their goaltender with a sixth skater.
Standings and the 'Cup of the First'
After the defeat, SKA remained eighth in the Western Conference with 17 points after 16 games. Avtomobilist, who snapped a three-game losing streak, collected 16 points in 17 games and sit seventh in the Eastern Conference. The match also counted toward the 'Cup of the First' — a special KHL tournament marking the 80th anniversary of Russian hockey, featuring the country's six oldest clubs; the winner will be determined on December 22, Hockey Day.
Personnel and other matches
According to Life.ru, SKA will be without top scorer Nikolai Goldobin for 10 to 14 days: the forward sustained an injury and will miss the upcoming matches, head coach Andrey Razin said. In another match of the game day, Neftekhimik of Nizhnekamsk won 1:0 away at Yaroslavl's Lokomotiv, while Ak Bars beat Minsk's Dynamo 4:1.
Upcoming games
SKA's next match will be at home against Sibir on October 22, while Avtomobilist will host CSKA on October 23.
