Both clubs started the year with victories. CSKA players defeated Avangard (3:2) in the main game of the day, while Neftekhimik defeated Torpedo (2:1). The Nizhnekamsk team was in seventh place in the East, in the playoff zone.
For the fifth game of the New Year series the place in the goal of our team was taken by Fedotov. Slepyshev and Karnaukhov returned to the lineup after the break.
At the very beginning of the game the home team was shorthanded. But it was able to confidently handle the opponent's attacks in their defensive zone.
In the middle of the period Andronov passed to Guskov, who shot from in tight, but the puck hit the goalie’s pads. In return dangerous interference, the goal post saved CSKA from a shot by Poryadin.
In four minutes before the break, our team went on a power play. But the courageous play of Neftekhimik prevented them from opening the scoring.
In the opening stage of the second frame, the goal post helped the Muscovites again after a shot by the opponent. After that, first Guskov's accuracy went squibbed in a good moment, and then Sudnitsyn deflected a powerful shot by Nesterov from the blue line.
In the middle of the game stretch, CSKA took its second power play in this game. The Muscovites besieged the Nizhnekamsk players’ goal for two minutes, but the visitors managed to turn away. And then the home team was already penalized. But they were able to create a defense skillfully and not let the opponent to capitalize on the power play.
In the last minutes of the period Vyacheslav Leshchenko managed to make 1:0 score in favor of his team. Slepyshev had a dangerous offensive opportunity soon after, but his attacker shot above the goal.
The third frame began with a strong attack by CSKA players. Nesterov again shot from distance, but Neftekhimik goalie kept the puck out of the way, but Wallmark didn't manage to turn the puck aside. CSKA got a power play, which could be capitalized on by CSKA’s best kicker, Mikhail Grigorenko, who hit his second tricky shot in a minute – 1:1. The forward scored his 17th puck in the 40th game of the regular season. He had 31 (17+14) points in total.
The visitors created a dangerous counterattack after the conceded goal, but Fedotov saved the team after a shot by Khayrullin.
The end of the game was played in a quick pace with CSKA playing more actively. In a few episodes, Fedotov's confident play helped the home team out.
As a result, the regulation time ended in a tie (1:1).
In overtime, CSKA team quickly took control of the puck. Grigorenko made a tricky shot. But Sudnitsin was there. Abramov shot on goal, but the goalie turned his shot away with a pad.
In the 64th minute of the game, CSKA team coaching staff used the well-tested tactic of replacing the goalie with a fourth field player for the second time in extra time. In just seven seconds before extra period, Lucas Wallmark scored the winning goal: CSKA took a 2:1 lead.
Grigorenko (1+1) and Nesterov (0+2) scored two points each in this game.
Sergey Fedorov's team will finish the home series on January 7 with a game against Vityaz, Podolsk.
CSKA – Neftekhimik (Nizhnekamsk) - 2:1 OT (0:0, 0:1, 1:0, 1:0)
KHL Regular Championship Season 2021/22. January 5, 2022. CSKA ARENA, Moscow, Russia.
Goals
0:1 (38:29) Vyacheslav Leshchenko (Dan Sexton, Alexander Sevostyanov)
1:1 (42:28) Mikhail Grigorenko (Nikita Nesterov)
2:1 (64:53) Lucas Wallmark (Nikita Nesterov, Mikhail Grigorenko)
Scoresheet:
Shots: 66-56
Shots on goal: 35-32
Goals: 2-1
Draws: 28-18
Blocked shots: 11-18
Hip checks: 12-8
Penalties: 4-6
