The SKA Report: The Last Weekly

Starting in the new year, the SKA Report will no longer be a weekly report, as there will be a cadre of hockey related events that need attention (i.e. outdoor games and the Olympics).  It will become a monthly report for the remainder of the regular season, at which point, it will turn to the KHL playoffs.

That out of the way, SKA was looking to get back on the winning track after losing three in a row heading into the most recent break.  Wednesday, SKA was in Cherepovets to take on Severstal, and both teams exchanged goals in the first period, with Teemu Laakso scoring for Severstal and Alexander Kucheryavenko for SKA.  Igor Makarov scored in the second period for SKA, and that would be all they needed, as Alexander Salak made the lead stand up and SKA emerged victorious 2-1 to end a three game losing streak.  Saturday was a trip to Ufa to take on Salavat Yulaev, and things didn't quite go as planned.  A scoreless first period gave way to Salavat scoring twice in the second period on goals from Igor Mirnov and Alexei Kaigorodov.  Dmitry Kalinin would cut the lead to one late in the third period, but the rally fell short, as SKA fell 2-1.

SKA begins the new year on the road, as they take on Admiral Vladivostok on Friday and Amur on Sunday.