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Record breakers. SKA vs. CSKA. December 22
A huge crowd – 67,770 – assembled in St. Petersburg to witness the latest instalment of the SKA vs CSKA rivalry. That is, by far, a record for the KHL (the previous best, from last season’s open-air encounter between Jokerit and SKA, was 50,000 smaller) and also the biggest attendance for a club hockey game anywhere in Russia. Fittingly, the big day came on the anniversary of the first ever game day in the Soviet Hockey Championship, played on Dec. 22, 1946. The showcase game, played at Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena, highlighted how far the game has developed since those early days: today, Russia’s hockey stars are capable of taking over and filling the country’s biggest and most sophisticated soccer arenas – an almost unprecedented demonstration of the massive potential of our game.
Vorobyov never defeated Nikitin. Now he has 70,000 fans to the rescue
On Saturday, SKA and CSKA will face for the fourth time this season. This time, however, the clash of the Titans will happen at the Gazprom Arena, with a potentially record attendance. KHL.ru compare the rosters of the two clubs and remembers the latest two encounters.
The best outdoor games in Russian hockey and KHL history
On December 22, at the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg, SKA and CSKA will play the 2018 Hockey Classic. As more than 60,000 tickets were sold, it’s already clear that the KHL will see a new attendance record. KHL.ru tells you about the best outdoor games in Russian history.
Review of 2017/2018. CSKA: Nikitin's debut, and victory over SKA
KHL.ru continues its team-by-team review of the tenth season of the KHL Championship with a look at the drama through the eyes of Moscow's Army Men, who, for the second time in three years, reached the final of the Gagarin Cup but went home empty-handed.
A Picture of Success! Finest photos from Ak Bars night of triumph
This was what all that hard work was for. Those frantic and glorious moments after the final siren sounded the end of the 10th season of the KHL Championship, when the Ak Bars players knew they had done it. Mission Accomplished: a record-breaking third Gagarin Cup. The 1-0 win on home ice meant a 4-1 series victory over CSKA, and the celebrations could begin.
Refereeing Department on Cup-winning goal
Following Ak Bars forward Rob Klinkhammer’s goal in the 42nd minute of Sunday's match in Kazan – the goal which sealed victory for his team in the Gagarin Cup final series against CSKA - the visitors' bench appealed for a video review to ascertain whether the CSKA goalie had been blocked before the goal had been scored. As the video footage shows, there was no illegal impedence of the goaltender by the Kazan player, and as a result, the referee correctly allowed the goal to stand.
“Nothing is decided yet”. Players about Game 4
Ak Bars moved to within one victory of lifting the Gagarin Cup thanks to a 3-1 success at CSKA on Friday. But after the game, players from both teams were adamant that this final series is far from over, even if it could all be wrapped up in Kazan on Sunday.
Notes from the Underground: Gagarin on the Metro
As the action in final series switches to Moscow, the Gagarin Cup must also be in attendance. Following its travels in chauffer-driven cars in trucks, and on long-distance trains, for Game 3 the trophy chose for its method of transport one of the architectural wonders of the world – the Moscow Metro.
Refereeing Department on Kazan's goal and no-goal
In the 37th minute of Monday's match in Kazan, Game 2 of the Gagarin Cup final series between Ak Bars and CSKA, a goal from Kazan's Rob Klinkhammer restored the home team's lead, but the referee referred the episode to the video goal judge to ascertain whether Ak Bars had too many players on the ice. The video showed that no such violation of the rule had occurred, and so the referee awarded a goal.
“Fight first, ask questions later.” CSKA prepares for the final
On Saturday in Kazan begins the final series of the Gagarin Cup, which will be contested by Ak Bars and CSKA. For the Muscovite Army Men, this is a second appearances in the KHL playoffs final. A mere two years ago, Dmitry Kvartalnov's team took the series to seven games before succumbing to Metallurg Magnitogorsk. For the club from Kazan, this will be a fourth final appearance and a chance to become the first team to win the League's major trophy for a third time. Two days before the start of the final, CSKA Moscow held an open training session, and KHL.ru was there to ask the thoughts of the coaches and players.
CSKA’s Nikitin ready to make his name
The apprentice is about to face the sorcerer. CSKA’s head coach, Igor Nikitin, got his first call-up to Russia’s training staff under Zinetula Bilyaletdinov back in 2011-12. On Saturday, he faces off against his old mentor in the 2018 Gagarin Cup Final. Already this season, he’s aided and eliminated another great coach – Oleg Znarok, colleague for Team Russia, rival in the KHL. Can he outstrip one more mentor?
Refereeing Department clarifies SKA's no-goal
In the 36th minure of Friday's match in Saint Petersburg, Game 5 of the Western Conference final series between the hosts, SKA, and CSKA Moscow, the video goal judge was called upon to determine whether the puck had crossed the Muscovites' goal-line following a shot from SKA's Jarno Koskiranta. As the video footage shows, CSKA goaltender Lars Johansson had made a successful save, and therefore no goal was given.
Refereeing Department clarifies CSKA's leveler
In the 18th minure of Monday's match in Moscow, Game 3 of the Western Conference final series between CSKA and SKA Saint Petersburg, shortly after the visitors had taken the lead, home forward Kirill Petrov leveled the score, but there were appeals from the Petersburg bench for a video review, claiming that goaltender Mikko Koskinen had been impeded before the puck had crossed the line. As the video evidence shows, there was no foul play from CSKA against the goaltender, and so the goal was awarded.
SKA's second goal: why the ref was right
In the 31st minute of Saturday's match in Saint Petersburg, Game 2 of the Western Conference final series between SKA and CSKA Moscow, the referee called for the video goal judge to review Jarno Koskiranta's goal for the hosts, to ascertain whether SKA had too many players on the ice at the moment the goal was scored. As the video footage clearly shows, SKA was not guilty of fielding too many players, and the referee correctly awarded the goal.
Marathon Men. CSKA-Jokerit,142 minutes, Ramo's 83 saves
On Thursday evening (and continuing well into Friday morning), in Game 5 of their Western Conference semi-final series, CSKA and Jokerit smashed the League record for the longest single match. Khl.ru gives an overview of the major faces, factors, facts andfigures behind this amazing contest.
Refereeing Department on CSKA-Jokerit's no-goals
In the 29th minute of Thursday's match in Moscow, Game 5 of the Western Conference semi-final series between CSKA and Jokerit Helsinki, the visiting team scored an apparent goal which triggered a request from the home team bench for a video review. The appeal was made on the grounds of a possible offside.
