Spartak's sorry run continues with a sixth successive defeat, this time at the hands of struggling Dinamo Minsk.
The Moscow team still attracted 4,500 fans to Sokolniki, despite its plight, and for a time it seemed like that support might give the Red-and-Whites a much-needed New Year boost. A well-worked goal on 25 minutes for Vladimir Peshekhonov gave the home team the lead, and an extended 5v3 powerplay saw Deron Quint rattle the frame of the goal.
But when a team's luck is out, the little things always seem to go against it: Dinamo had just one meaningful attack in the second period but found the net through Alexei Yefimenko. In the final session an uncharacteristic mistake from Jeff Glass presented Zbynek Irgl with a shooting chance and his effort crept over the line off a Spartak skate to seal yet another defeat. For Dinamo, meanwhile, it was the first away win in regulation this season.
Donbass back on track
Donbass strengthened its grip on third place in the west with a tight win over Medvescak to end a two-game losing streak.
The Ukrainian team fell behind to a Mike Glumac goal in the second minute but profited from a penalty to tie it up through Lukas Kaspar on 7:15. The second session saw Donbass dictate the play, but its domination only generated a solitary marker for Dmitry Kagarlitsky in the 26th minute.
At the other end Medvescak's powerplay was stuttering, most notably deep in the third when Donbass ran into protracted penalty trouble. With the exception of one anxious moment following a Mark Popovic piledriver from the point, however, Jan Laco and his defense found it relatively easy to absorb the danger before in the dying seconds Evgeny Dadonov found the empty net to seal a 3-1 victory.
All rights to materials posted on the website www.khl.ru (hereinafter referred to as the Website) and which are the objects of exclusive rights, including the registered trademarks and symbolics of the “КХЛ”/“KHL”, “МХЛ” / “JHL”, “ЖХЛ” / “WHL” (hereinafter referred to as the Trademarks), as well as on photo and video images, articles, etc., which are owned by CHL LLC, are protected in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. The placement and / or use of Trademarks and other intellectual property of CHL LLC without the direct consent of CHL LLC are considered and prosecuted as intellectual property rights violations of CHL LLC in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. It is forbidden to automatically extract information from the Website by any services without the official permission of CHL LLC. Quoting from the Website and satellite projects of the official messages of the Kontinental Hockey League is allowed only with a direct link to the site www.khl.ru.
КХЛ 2008—2021
KHL 2008—2021
All rights to materials posted on the website www.khl.ru (hereinafter referred to as the Website) and which are the objects of exclusive rights, including the registered trademarks and symbolics of the “КХЛ”/“KHL”, “МХЛ” / “JHL”, “ЖХЛ” / “WHL” (hereinafter referred to as the Trademarks), as well as on photo and video images, articles, etc., which are owned by CHL LLC, are protected in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. The placement and / or use of Trademarks and other intellectual property of CHL LLC without the direct consent of CHL LLC are considered and prosecuted as intellectual property rights violations of CHL LLC in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. It is forbidden to automatically extract information from the Website by any services without the official permission of CHL LLC. Quoting from the Website and satellite projects of the official messages of the Kontinental Hockey League is allowed only with a direct link to the site www.khl.ru.