CSKA sets new record. February 9 round-up

CSKA recorded its 44th victory of the season to set a KHL record and move ever closer to confirming the regular season championship with a 3-1 win at defending Gagarin Cup-holder Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Not for the first time this season Alexander Radulov and Stephane da Costa were the architects of CSKA’s success: the pair combined for two goals in the second period to cancel out Danis Zaripov’s opener. On both occasions Radulov was the provider and da Costa the scorer; the first was a clean strike off a pass from behind the net, the second a deflected effort as the Frenchman advanced along the goal line. The combination was too much for Vasily Koshechkin and his defense. CSKA had the edge for most of the game but could not rubber stamp its victory until the last minute when Vladimir Zharkov scored into an empty net. The win puts the Army Men 11 points clear of SKA at the top of the KHL table. Ak Bars too strong for SKA Ak Bars bounced back from a 4-1 home defeat t ...