Two quick goals from Alexander Guskov gave Lokomotiv a 2-1 home win over SKA, denying the Petersburg side the chance to return to the top of the KHL table. Guskov opened the scoring with a short-handed goal on 09:04, and 90 seconds later the defenseman had doubled the advantage on a powerplay. Kevin Dallman pulled one back before the first interval, but SKA could not extend its seven-game winning streak.
Syomin triumphs in Capitals’ reunion
Alexander Syomin enjoyed a memorable home debut for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, grabbing two assists in a 4-0 over Dynamo Moscow, and NHL team-mates Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. But if the pre-match talk focused on the clash between the three Washington Capitals stars of recent seasons, the on-ice action was settled by Mikhail Varnakov. His second period hat-trick – two on a powerplay, one shorthanded – ensured it was a memorable night for Torpedo.
Fedotenko 3, Malkin 1
Ruslan Fedotenko had the edge in Wednesday’s other NHL duel, scoring a hat-trick to help Donbass Donetsk to an overtime win against Evgeny Malkin’s Magnitka. His second goal, late in the second period, looked set to be the game-winner until Sergei Mozyakin made it 3-3 with just eight seconds on the clock, off a Malkin assist which left both players with 1+2 for the night. Fedotenko settled the matter on 64:07, while fellow locked-out NHL man Alexei Ponikarovsky had an assist in each of the four Donbass goals.
Around the league
A first-period blitz saw Spartak Moscow race into a 4-0 lead over Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, and the Red-and-Whites snapped a five-game losing streak with a comfortable 6-1 success.
Dinamo Minsk’s recently revival was halted by Yugra, with the Khanty-Mansiysk side winning 3-2 in Belarus thanks to Anton But’s 57th minute goal.
Avangard Omsk won 3-1 at Vityaz Chekhov, with Nikita Nikitin’s 35th minute goal proving decisive.
Niclas Bergfors got the shoot-out winner for Severstal Cherepovets after a 2-2 tie with Barys Astana.
