Shalunov equals club record as Loko returns to second. February 10 round-up
Maxim Shalunov scored twice and equalled a club record as Lokomotiv downed Dynamo 3-0 in Yaroslavl. The forward’s two goals take him to 27 for the season, matching the club’s previous best goal return set by Andrei Kovalenko in 2001-2002.
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 3 Dynamo Moscow 0 (0-0, 1-0, 2-0)
Maxim Shalunov’s opening goal today had something in common with Kovalenko in his heyday. With his team on the power play, Maxim took up his position on the slot and refused to move, eventually managing to stuff the puck home from close range. That kind of solid center-forward play earned Kovalenko the nickname ‘the Russian Tank’, and it doesn’t do Shalunov any harm either.
The effort broke the deadlock in the 39th minute of this game. For long spells, there were few chances at either end. However, Lokomotiv looked the likelier scorer, picking up the pace towards the end of the first period and assuming control of the action in the second.
After Shalunov opened the scoring, Dynamo tried to raise the tempo in the third. Daniil Isayev had an anxious time of it when Pavel Kudryavtsev got to the slot and Ivan Igumnov twice got close range shots at goal. However, the home netminder kept his goal intact and Dynamo was frustrated. An unsuccessful power play from the visitor was followed by Lokomotiv doubling its lead once back to full strength. This time Maxim Beryozkin broke down the left, outwitted Yegor Martynov and cut inside to place his shot on the top shelf.
Another Dynamo power play came and went with little to show for it. Then, in the closing stages, Shalunov got his second into the empty net to move level with Kovalenko and seal Lokomotiv’s win.
Loko returned to second place in the Western Conference with today’s result. The visitor remains fifth, and has some work to do if it is to force its way into the top four before the end of the season.
