Alpine Duels. July 31 Friendlies Round-up

Only two preseason friendlies featuring teams from the KHL were held on Sunday, and they took place almost within yodeling distance of each other  in the Swiss and Italian Alps.

The more northerly encounter was in Davos, Switzerland, where the local team attempted to avenge Friday’s 5-3 defeat at the hands of Barys. Despite brave resistance from the Swiss, the Astana men triumphed once again, albeit with a reduced margin of victory. The final score was 4-3, with Roman Starchenko, Nikita Ivanov, Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski on target for Andrei Nazarov’s team.

South of the border, in the Italian Tyrol, Vityaz took on Metallurg Magnitogorsk, who are yet to allow a goal in any preseason game. The Moscow Region men also defended stoutly, at least for the opening two periods, but a double from Danis Zaripov early in the final stanza sealed a 2-0 win for the Gagarin Cup champion.