Youth takes the initiative

Nikolai Pronin marked his 500th appearance for CSKA - but it was youth rather than experience which dominated the game. Sadly for Pronin, though, it was Dinamo Riga’s rising star Ainars Podzins, aged 19, who got the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory, beating Rastislav Stana on 44:56. That goal came shortly after another youngster, 21-year-old Dmitry Kugryshev, had equalized for the hosts. Jamie Lundmark struck a blow for the older generation with the opener for Dinamo on 7:55.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk eased to a 5-3 win at Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk in Wednesday’s other KHL game. Fying Finn Juhamatti Aaltonen was the key player, finishing with 1+1 and grabbing the game-winning goal - shorthanded - on 30:56.