Perfect Sokolov

Result of the day
Dynamo Moscow - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 4-2. In their previous match, the men from Yaroslavl conceded five to Vityaz, but the coach and the players seemed not to take the reverse very seriously: it’s nothing, relax, take it easy, no problem. It is now becoming clear that Lokomotiv’s defense do indeed have more than enough problems.

Dynamo, in contrast, continue to spring surprises. It seems the players themselves do not know how they will perform in the next game, or even the next period. Who would have expected them to stand firm against such strong opposition and win with such elegance?

In the day’s other matches, SKA outplayed Severstal, 3-0, Dinamo Minsk crashed at home to HC MVD, 1:5, and Dinamo Riga came out on top against Spartak, 6:4.

Second youth
SKA St. Petersburg goaltender Maxim Sokolov made 25 saves, and achieved his third clean sheet of the season, the goalie’s best return in the last three years. Granted, in this period Sokolov has switched between three different clubs – SKA, Avangard, and Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Sokolov’s record for keeping his goal intact is five matches, in 2005-06 season, when Maxim was also keeping goal in the Petersburg army men’s colours.

Thirteen already
SKA forward Maxim Sushinsky’s purple patch of scoring points in every game has now stretched to 13 matches. His longest scoring spell last season was 5, and the season before – 6.

Confident guests
HC MVD players have now scored five or more goals against their opponents five times already this season, collecting three points each time. First to suffer was Neftekhimik (4-6), then Vityaz (3-5), and in the last three games: Traktor (0-7), Torpedo (3-5) and Dinamo Minsk (1-5) - the first time in their history the ‘policemen’ have achieved such results in three consecutive away matches.

Four is not enough
Moscow Spartak, for the first time this season, emerged pointless despite scoring four goals, and it is also a first for the season that they have conceded more than five. Last year, Spartak let their opponents score more than six on only three occasions, and not once in the regular season did they lose a match having scored four goals.

Figures of the day
41 shots on the Severstal goal by SKA.

8 shots on goal from Dinamo Riga attacker Marcel Hossa.

22 minutes 38 seconds on the ice from HC MVD defenseman Martin Strbak.

68.8 % of 18 face-offs won by Dinamo Riga attacker Mike Iggulden.

Key players
Karel Rachunek (Dynamo). Scored two goals and made the decisive pass for another.

Martin Strbak (HC MVD). Spent the most time on the ice, scored a goal and made an assist.

Jiri Hudler (Dynamo). Struck the winning goal and also made two assists.

Denis Kokarev (HC MVD). Scored a double away from home.

Marcel Hossa (Dinamo Riga). The league’s leading sniper grabbed two more goals and an assist.

Quotes
“If it was not for Rastislav Stana, the defeat could have been much heavier,” - Severstal head coach Dmitry Kvartalnov.”

“It’s pleasing that all our four goals were very beautiful,” - Dynamo head coach Andrei Khomutov.

Alexei Shevchenko, khl.ru