Viktor Tikhonov, grandson of the legendary Soviet-era coach, scored twice as SKA St. Petersburg best Lev Poprad 5-2. The Russian side extended its lead at the top of the league table. Tikhonov’s debut season has been a success, with 14 points in 14 games, and his latest eye-catching performance was complemented by further goals from veteran Ivan Nepryayev, Petr Prucha and Alexei Kruchinin. Lev’s replies were from Jaroslav Kristek and Juraj Mikus.
Kopeikin’s killer blow
Alexei Kopeikin got the winner as Amur Khabarovsk avenged Sunday’s defeat at Avangard Omsk. Kopeikin notched his 11th point of the season on 54:56 to complete a 2-1 win after Mikko Maenpaa had cancelled out Alexei Kalyuzhny’s opener for the hosts.
Penalty problems for Spartak
Two powerplay goals in the final period helped Severstal Cherepovets to a 5-3 win at Spartak Moscow. Josef Straka and Evgeny Ketov got the crucial goals after the hosts were reduced to three men. Straka’s strike was his second of the game; earlier got his team off the mark after Spartak opened an early 2-0 lead.
Around the league
Struggling Barys Astana went down 6-2 at home to Dinamo Minsk, with Zbynek Irgl scoring a hat-trick for the Belarusians.
Atlant Moscow Region edged out Vityaz Chekhov 3-2. Nikolai Zherdev got the winner on 35:38. Zherdev also got an assist on Jonas Andersson’s opener on 1:25.
