Radulov the hero
Alexander Radulov scored a hat-trick as Salavat Yulaev won an overtime thriller in St. Petersburg. After SKA grabbed a dramatic equalizer, tying the game at 4-4 on 59:32 through Tony Martensson, it was Radulov who grabbed the clincher on 63:36. His heroics gave the defending champion victory over a SKA team many believe could take the crown this season - and denied the Petersburg club a return to the top of the KHL table. Radulov also got Salavat off the mark, when the team was 2-0 down in the second period, and popped up with an assist as Oleg Saprykin put the visitors in front for the first time, finishing a sweeping counter-attack as Jakub Stepanek was caught out of position. For SKA, Ivan Nepryayev scored twice but couldn’t give his team victory.
Winning streak ended
Atlant’s long winning run finally came to an end, despite a strong fightback at home to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. The Moscow Region side recovered a 0-2 deficit, but after falling 4-2 behind there was no second coming in Mytishchi. Denis Sergeyev and Martin Cibak got the goals which finally sank Atlant after the first period ended in a 2-2 tie.
Mozyakin at the double
Sergei Mozyakin struck twice as Metallurg Magnitogorsk edged into more comfortable play-off territory with a second win this week. But Magnitka struggled to overcome lowly Lev Poprad, falling behind to Juraj Mikus’s goal on 32:29 before Mozyakin turned the game around for a 2-1 win.
Inching forwards
A recent sticky patch saw Ak Bars Kazan drop to eighth in the Eastern Conference, and raised questions about the powerhouse’s play-off prospects. But a comeback win in Riga served as a reminder that the Tatar team is still a formidable contender for honors. Juris Upitis gave Dinamo the lead in the last minute of the first period, but after Oleg Petrov equalized with his first goal for the club on 23:04 there was only going to be one winner. Maxim Spiridonov made it 2-1 on 25:34, and Danis Zaripov gave his team breathing space in the third period.
Around the league
Dinamo Minsk stays second in the Western Conference with a 3-1 win at Avangard Omsk. In an even game, better finishing made all the difference with Geoff Platt, Teemu Laine and Daniel Corso all on target for the Belarusians.
Star forwards Alexei Yashin and Sergei Shirokov both scored for CSKA, but couldn’t prevent their team losing 3-2 at Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. With a goal and an assist apiece, Sergei Demagin and Pavel Vorobyov were the key men for Yugra.
