Fedorov beats Larionov in battle of ex-Red Wings. November 24 round-up
NHL fans of a certain age could be forgiven for feeling nostalgic today: Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov, stars of the legendary Red Wings three-time Stanley Cup winning team at the turn of the century, went head-to-head as coaches for the first time. Fedorov’s CSKA came out on top, defeating Larionov’s Torpedo 4-0. Thursday’s other big game went to overtime before Loko defeated SKA for the second time this season. Elsewhere, Dinamo Minsk edged Dynamo Moscow 4-3 and Severstal took a 3-2 verdict over Vityaz.
Suvorov leads Severstal to victory
Severstal Cherepovets 3 Vityaz Moscow Region 2 (0-0, 2-1, 1-1)
Two goals and an assist from Alexander Suvorov snapped a three-game losing streak for Severstal. Now, the Steelmen are just three points behind eight-placed Vityaz, with Spartak and Dinamo Minsk also within reach.
Suvorov, 19, is on something of a hot streak. The former Dinamo Minsk man scored in Tuesday’s 2-3 loss at home to Dynamo Moscow and followed that up with a game-winning display here. He started with an assist as Igor Geraskin opened the scoring early in the second period. Next came a power play goal as the home team consolidated its advantage.
However, Vityaz hit back with Ilya Arkalov halving the deficit midway through the period. The game remained in the balance as the visitor finished the middle frame the stronger and it was hard to pick a winner going into the final stanza.
Suvorov had the answer to that question, though. He got his second of the game in the 54th minute to give Severstal some breathing space. Vityaz pulled one back quickly thanks to Stepan Starkov, but could not find a tying goal in the remaining six minutes.
CSKA on top in clash of old team-mates
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 0 CSKA Moscow 4 (0-2, 0-1, 0-1)
Once, they were team-mates in the great Red Wings team of the late 90s and early 2000s. Today, Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov were opponents in their first ever meeting as head coaches of rival KHL teams. Both of them were legendary players, with Larionov arguably finishing his career with a slightly more impressive medal count. As coaches, though, Fedorov has the upper hand: a Gagarin Cup win in his rookie season, and now a head-to-head win over his old comrade.
However, CSKA did not have it easy in Nizhny Novgorod. Although the Muscovites eventually enjoyed a convincing shut-out win, the home team caused problems. In the first period, Torpedo had more time on the attack, and more shots on goal. But CSKA was more clinical with its chances. Matvei Guskov opened the scoring in the 10th minute, reacting fastest when the puck broke out of a scrum on the slot. Then came a short-handed goal from Maxim Sorkin, finishing off Andrei Svetlakov’s rush.
Having built its lead, CSKA went on to control the second period. Torpedo struggled to create chances, despite the team’s attacking philosophy, and a power play goal from Maxim Mamin extended the visitor’s advantage.
Torpedo’s efforts to turn the game around amounted to little in the third period. The home team made a positive start to the final frame but still found it difficult to get good looks at Alexander Sharychenkov. Gradually, CSKA was able to squeeze the life out of the game and Sorkin put the final touch on the scoreline with a fourth goal in the last minute.
Minsk punishes Mikhailov’s penalty
Dinamo Minsk 4 Dynamo Moscow 3 (1-0, 2-2, 1-1)
Minsk snapped a five-game losing streak thanks to a flurry of power play goals. The home team scored three on the PP in the space of five minutes, turning a 1-2 deficit into a 4-2 lead. That proved sufficient to halt the Muscovites’ mini revival at two wins.
Things started well enough for Craig Woodcroft’s men. The Belarusians could take confidence from improved performances in recent games, even if a win remained elusive after taking Sibir, Admiral and Vityaz to overtime. Here, Pavel Varfolomeyev opened the scoring in the eighth minute. This was not technically a power play goal; the home forward struck in the moment that Nikita Novikov left the penalty box.
However, the visitor responded with two quick goals at the start of the second period. Yegor Martynov and Alexander Skorenov, the latter a graduate of Gomel’s hockey school, put Dynamo in front.
Everything changed when Vladislav Mikhailov took a 5+20 for a reckless hit late in the second period. Dinamo took maximum advantage, parlaying the major penalty into three goals and securing a firm grip on the game. It took just 21 seconds for Vladimir Alistrov to tie the game, then Roman Gorbunov sent the host into the second intermission with a 3-2 lead. Early in the third, Vitaly Pinchuk made it 4-2.
That was a tough blow for the visitor to take and, for a time, Dynamo struggled to get back to its game. Late in the frame, Martynov’s second of the evening gave the Muscovites renewed hope, but Minsk held on to take the points.
Railwaymen knock SKA off track
SKA St. Petersburg 1 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 2 OT (1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1)
In a season in which few teams have managed to compete with SKA, Lokomotiv might have solved the league leader. Today’s game was the fourth meeting between the teams and the Railwaymen came from behind to grab their second win of the season against the Petersburg team.
Both teams have endured some awkward form of late. Loko snapped a five-game skid with victory at Sochi last time out, while SKA was hoping to build on an emphatic 6-2 victory over CSKA following a run of five losses in six games.
The home team got the first power play of the game and almost turned that into the opening goal. Daniil Isayev came up with a big save to deny Marat Khusnutdinov when the young forward met Damir Zhafyarov’s feed at the far post. The next home PP saw Zhafyarov set up Nikita Popugayev for a shot off the crossbar, then Khusnutdinov gave SKA the lead.
However, SKA’s fast start did not dislodge Lokomotiv from the game. It took some time for the visitor to threaten, but gradually the Railwaymen began to give Vladislav Podyapolsky something to think about. Popugayev’s misplaced pass gifted Alexander Polunin a shooting chance, which prompted a smart stick save from the home goalie. Then, on a Loko power play, Maxim Shalunov fired a shot into the netminder’s helmet. Podyapolsky may have been stunned by that: moments later he was beaten by Pavel Kraskovsky’s redirect on a Rushan Rafikov point shot to tie the game.
After an enterprising opening frame, the teams were more careful in the second period. Yaroslavl had slightly more possession, but SKA enjoyed a slight advantage in shots on goal. The best chance of the session came when Sergei Andronov tested Podyapolsky on the rebound from Nikita Cherepanov’s point shot.
In the third period, SKA had the better of the play. However, Lokomotiv got the puck in the net once more when Shalunov surged to the net and forced it past Podyapolsky. However, without even calling for a video review, the officials ruled that he impeded the home goalie and the play was called back.
The game went to overtime, and a Lokomotiv counterattack settled the outcome. Shalunov forced a turnover, then Artur Kayumov grabbed the loose puck and skated away to beat Podyapolsky and win the game.
