In the third game of the Western Conference quarterfinals in the Continental Hockey League, St. Petersburg SKA earned a decisive road win over Dinamo Minsk. The clash took place inside Minsk-Arena, the capital’s prominent hockey venue in Belarus, and it concluded with SKA claiming a clear 4:0 victory on the opponent’s ice.
Multiple SKA players found the back of the net, with goals credited to Dmitry Yashkin, Nikita Komarov, Alexander Nikishin, and Vasily Glotov. The performance from the Minsk goal was backed by a strong defensive effort and accurate finishing that left the hosts frustrated for the full sixty minutes of play.
Meanwhile, CSKA’s netminder Dmitry Nikolaev delivered a solid performance, recording a shutout and facing a steady stream of shots from Minsk to preserve the clean sheet. The Minsk defense, together with the SKA attackers, pressured the goaltender throughout the match, but Nikolaev stood firm, securing the zeros on the scoreboard.
On the other end, Dynamo’s goalkeeper Konstantin Shostak turned in a noteworthy display, stopping 25 shots and maintaining a save percentage just above the high end of typical performance for this level of competition. His work helped keep Minsk from mounting a comeback, though SKA’s offense remained relentless.
With the result, SKA moved ahead in the best-of series, taking a 2-1 lead in the series after three games. The adjustment in the head-to-head tally sets the tone for the remainder of the series and underscored the visitors’ ability to convert opportunities away from home in a tightly contested playoff environment.
Looking ahead, the fourth game is scheduled for March 7 in Minsk, with puck drop set for 19:30 Moscow time. The upcoming meeting will be another vital installment in the tightly fought series as both teams aim to seize control and push toward a favorable position in the Western Conference bracket.
Earlier reporting noted that Yaroslavl Lokomotiv had overwhelmed Vityaz near Moscow in a pivotal third game of the KHL Western Conference quarterfinals, illustrating how multiple series in this round are shaping up with high-intensity play and dramatic momentum swings.