CSKA Moscow left Sochi with a 4-0 shutout, and the score line reflected how the game gradually tilted toward the visitors. Sochi’s Petr Andriyanov, playing against his former club, was tested constantly and kept his team within striking distance for a long stretch, but CSKA’s pressure and pace ultimately decided the night.
The first two periods featured plenty of resistance from Sochi’s goalie and long stretches of CSKA possession, before the visitors broke through in the third. Prokhor Poltapov opened the scoring, Denis Zernov added another, and CSKA closed out the result with a commanding finish.
How the Game Played Out
From the opening minutes, CSKA came out on the attack and forced Andriyanov into immediate action. The visitors leaned on repeated cycles, heavy pressure below the goal line, and a steady stream of shots from different angles. Andriyanov answered several of the early looks, including chances created after work by Sorkin, Poltapov, and Hailrullin, while Sochi struggled to gain clean control of the puck.
The first period became a test of survival for the home side. CSKA kept recovering loose pucks and turning broken plays into more offense, and even when Andriyanov appeared beaten, the puck did not find the net. Sochi’s inability to establish much in the offensive zone left the game tilted heavily toward the visitors. By the time the first period settled down, the pattern was clear: CSKA was dictating pace, and Sochi was relying on its goaltender to absorb wave after wave.
The second period brought a better response from Sochi, though CSKA still had the edge in overall pressure. The transcript points to a more balanced middle frame, with Sochi finding stretches where it could finally move through neutral ice and challenge for possession. Even then, CSKA continued to generate the more dangerous chances. Andriyanov remained busy, including a sequence in which he came far out of his crease to cut down a chance from Guryanov.
Sochi’s best moments in the middle period came from persistence rather than sustained control. The home side worked to clear the zone and create transition opportunities, but CSKA’s back pressure and structure limited anything prolonged. The game stayed scoreless through two periods, largely because Andriyanov held firm and CSKA either missed the target or found bodies in the way.
The breakthrough came in the third period, when CSKA finally converted its territorial advantage into goals. Poltapov opened the scoring, and the broadcast drew attention to the way he handled the play before finishing. The goal seemed to sap some of the energy from Sochi, which had already been forced to defend for long stretches. Once CSKA had the lead, its confidence and speed became even more visible.
Soon after, CSKA added its second. The key sequence involved a four-on-two rush, with Zernov finishing after a give-and-go that also credited Yegor Zamula with an assist on the play. That made it clear that CSKA was no longer just controlling the game; it was breaking Sochi’s structure apart with pace and numbers. The visitors kept pushing, and the final margin grew further as the third period wore on.
CSKA’s fourth goal underscored the gap that had opened. The attack moved quickly again, and Zernov finished to put the result out of reach. By that stage, Sochi had lost the speed battle that had kept them competitive earlier, and the game’s final minutes offered little doubt about the outcome. The transcript notes that Sochi had some offensive looks and a late rush, but the damage was already done.
Andriyanov’s final line was the main reason the score did not become even more lopsided. He stopped 41 of 45 shots, a workload that told the story of the game as much as the goals did. CSKA’s shot volume and sustained pressure made this a difficult night for the Sochi netminder, especially against a team that never stopped coming in waves.
What the Result Means
For CSKA Moscow, this was the kind of road win that reflects control, patience, and depth. The visitors did not need an early goal to settle the game; they kept applying pressure until the opening finally came, then used the third period to separate decisively. A 4-0 shutout also speaks to how complete their team structure was once the game opened up.
For Sochi, the result was more about endurance than scoring chances. Andriyanov’s performance gave the home side a chance to stay close, but the team could not generate enough offense to turn that effort into anything on the scoreboard. The game also carried extra weight because Andriyanov was facing the club that had loaned him to Sochi, adding a layer of intrigue to an already demanding matchup.
The third period became the clearest measuring stick between the sides. Sochi had looked more competitive in the middle frame, but CSKA found another gear when it mattered most. That ability to finish strong was the difference between a tight game and a decisive one.
Watch the Highlights
Watch the full highlight package from the KHL broadcast to see CSKA’s third-period surge, Andriyanov’s big saves, and the sequence that turned the game.
Source: youtube