Zaripov ends career, Neftekhimik seals playoff spot. February 24 round-up
Today’s big news came from Tatarstan. Danis Zaripov, five-time Gagarin Cup winner, played his final competitive game. The 41-year-old bowed out as his Ak Bars team took on his former club, Metallurg. However, the visitor spoiled the party somewhat, taking a 6-3 win in Kazan. Neftekhimik, meanwhile, secured its playoff place with a 7-0 drubbing of Kunlun Red Star. The Wolves will face Ak Bars in the first round.
Other playoff pairings determined today include CSKA vs Severstal, Lokomotiv vs Vityaz and Torpedo vs Dynamo Moscow in the West. In the East, things are still wideopen, but Avangard moves into second place thanks to its overtime success against Torpedo.
Fast start helps Ufa avenge recent Sibir loss
Sibir Novosibirsk 1 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3 (0-2, 1-1, 0-0)
A week after Sibir edged a shoot-out verdict in Ufa, Salavat Yulaev got revenge when it visited Novosibirsk. Viktor Kozlov’s team had picked up a win at Avtomobilist en route to Siberia, while the host returned home and defeated basement club Barys ahead of today’s game.
The visitor made a flying start, catching Sibir cold on the first shift. Nikolai Kulemin opened the scoring after 16 seconds, shooting on sight after Alexander Kadeikin got the puck into the home zone. The host continued to struggle, failing to show much sign of tying the game and then falling further behind when Ilya Morozov fouled Alexei Pustozyorov. Although Sibir technically managed to kill that penalty, Morozov barely had his skates on the ice when Pustozyorov set up Danil Bashkirov to make it 2-0.
In the middle frame, we had two video reviews. The first spared Sibir’s Nikita Shashkov from a possible major penalty. However, as Shashkov sat out a minor, Alexander Chmelevski made it 3-0. Next, Trevor Murphy saw a goal ruled out for offside as Sibir’s day stubbornly refused to get better. Late in the frame, Anton Nazarevich pulled one goal back, but that was the highlight for the home team.
Hopes that Nazarevich might trigger a fightback came to nothing. Sibir first withdrew their goalie seven minutes before the hooter, but could not force another goal. Anton Krasotkin was on and off the ice frequently in the closing stages, with Sibir trying out a tactic that might be needed in the playoffs, but this time there was no success for the home forwards.
Sharipzyanov gives Avangard an OT win
Avangard Omsk 4 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 3 OT (1-1, 2-0, 0-2, 1-0)
Both of these teams are battling for the highest possible position in their conferences and, hopefully, an easier start to their playoff campaigns. However, it was the Hawks that moved up to second in the east after edging an OT verdict after an entertaining end to regular season play in Omsk.
Torpedo, who welcomed back Igor Larionov Jr for his first game since Dec. 21, started with wave after wave of attacks on the home net. Andrei Mishurov had to make some big saves in the first shift as the visitor looked to grab the early initiative. Avangard quickly got into the game, though, and it wasn’t long before the fans were enjoying an end-to-end encounter. Sergei Goncharuk missed a great chance for Torpedo, Reid Boucher went close for Avangard, but in the 14th minute Ivan Telegin put the home team ahead with his third goal in three games.
The visitor missed the chance to tie it up on the power play, but managed to score at equal strength. A high press paid off when Bogdan Konyushkov won the puck on the boards and set up the wideopen Denis Yan.
The second period started with Torpedo again pushing for a goal. However, it ended with Avangard up 3-1. Nail Yakupov and Alexander Dergachyov scored two in 35 seconds to give the Hawks a convincing advantage. That was the enigmatic Yakupov’s first goal since Sep. 25, while Dergachyov’s effort owed much to a scintillating rush from Sergei Tolchinsky. Yakupov then hit the post on a power play late in the session.
In the third, though, Torpedo found a way back. Anton Sizov made it 2-3 early in the session when his long-range effort bounced off a home defenseman and beat Mishurov. That encouraged the visitor to go for more, but it wasn’t until late in the frame that Goncharuk tied it up with a short-handed goal.
However, in the extras Mikhail Kravets withdrew his goalie and quickly saw his team wrap up the win. Damir Sharipzyanov’s shot was enough for the Hawks to take the verdict. For Torpedo, the point means fourth place is certain, and Igor Larionov’s team will face Dynamo Moscow in the opening round of playoff action.
Big win not enough for Traktor
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 1 Traktor Chelyabinsk 5 (0-2, 0-2, 1-1)
Traktor’s playoff hopes are in the hands of others: if Neftekhimik wins either of its remaining two games, Chelyabinsk will not go to post season. However, if the Wolves slip up, Traktor demonstrated that it is ready to take advantage. Today’s trip to Yekaterinburg brought an impressive victory against an opponent that has spent much of the season vying for top spot in the East.
The visitor wasted no time. After 15 seconds, Nikita Soshnikov got the opening goal and Mikhail Goryunov-Rolgizer doubled that advantage in the first period. For much of the session, Avto’s offense was anaemic, but Nick Ebert still went close when he rattled a shot against the piping.
Traktor’s lead jumped to 4-0 at the start of the second period. Mikhail Kotlyarevsky thumped home a Goryunov-Rolgizer feed to the back door, chasing Igor Bobkov from the game. Johan Mattsson did not last long without conceding, though: Soshnikov’s second of the evening spoiled the incoming goalie’s day and put the game out of Avto’s reach.
In the third period, the teams traded power play goals. Curtis Valk got the Motormen on the board in the 52nd minute, but Vladimir Tkachyov ensured that Traktor would have the final word. Unfortunately, though, this effort proved to be in vain as news came through from Nizhnekamsk that Neftekhimik had beaten Kunlun to secure eighth place.
Loko takes third in the East
Barys Astana 3 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 5 (1-2, 1-2, 1-1)
Lokomotiv finished its regular season with victory in Kazakhstan, and will take third place in the Western Conference. CSKA secured second place when it took Dynamo to overtime, while Torpedo cannot overtake its rival Volga city. Consequently, Loko can look forward to a series against Vityaz.
The game got off to a fast start, with the teams trading three goals in the first eight minutes. Loko struck first when Maxim Osipov found the net in the second minute. Mikhail Rakhmanov drew Barys level, but not for long. Pavel Kraskovsky restored Loko’s lead on 7:07 and the visitor never looked back.
In the second period, Osipov potted his second of the game and Sergei Andronov extended the lead to 4-1. A power play goal from Dmitry Shevchenko kept Barys interested, but the home team rarely looked like getting back into contention.
The third period brought goals from Rakhmanov and Stepan Nikulin to make the final score 5-3 to Lokomotiv. Barys, like its visitor, finishes its regular season today. However, Andrei Skabelka’s team is moored to the foot of the Eastern Conference and will return to competitive play in the fall.
Wolves secure playoff spot in style
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 7 Kunlun Red Star 0 (0-0, 3-0, 4-0)
It took Neftekhimik some time to solve Kunlun, but a strong start to the second period was enough to give the Wolves the win they needed. Today’s success secures eighth place for the home team and completes the playoff contenders for the Eastern Conference. Traktor, despite its 5-1 win at Avtomobilist, misses out while Amur’s loss yesterday had already ended the Tigers’ chances.
Red Star has little to play for, having dropped out of playoff contention some time ago. Instead, Greg Ireland’s team is looking to boost Team China’s World Championship hopes. That meant another start for goalie Sun Zehao, who produced a big save to deny Rafael Bikmullin in the first period. Zhang Zesen also caught the eye and only the thickness of the post denied him an opening goal.
However, Neftekhimik raised its game after the intermission. Ansel Galimov scored 55 seconds into the middle frame and Pavel Poryadin increased the lead a couple of minutes later. Bikmullin got his goal midway through the session, with Sun unable to eclipse that effort.
There was more to come as the home team celebrated its playoff spot. Vladislav Leontyev and Yegor Popov added two more goals in the third period to take the score to 5-0. There was more to come, with Vyacheslav Leshchenko scoring on his former club before Andrei Belozyorov completed the rout in the final minute. Neftekhimik marches into the playoffs in some style, and can prepare for a Tatarstan series against Ak Bars in the first round.
Sochi celebrates win over Steelmen
HC Sochi 4 Severstal Cherepovets 3 (1-1, 1-0, 2-2)
Basement club Sochi found the motivation to pick up another win in the closing days of the season. For Severstal, meanwhile, defeat here means a seventh-place finish in the West and a playoff opener against CSKA.
The damage in this game was done either side of the second intermission. The teams got to the end of the first period tied at 1-1 on goals from Artyom Nikolayev and Nikita Makeyev. However, Sochi stepped it up late in the second period. Vadim Kudako got the go-ahead goal in the 35th minute and the Leopards took that advantage into the final frame.
Then the home team built on that foundation. Vasily Machulin and Danila Galenyuk pushed the lead out to 4-1 and that winning feeling was back. Severstal triggered some nerves in the closing stages when Andrei Razin started playing with an extra skater. Adam Liska pulled one back midway through the third, then Daniil Vovchenko converted a power play to keep it interesting. However, Sochi held on.
Zaripov ends career, Magnitka beats old rival
Ak Bars Kazan 3 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 6 (1-1, 1-3, 1-2)
Veteran Danis Zaripov returned to the Ak Bars line-up for this game. The 41-year-old missed the previous 34 games since his previous appearance on Nov. 21 and today’s game was to be the last of his professional career.
This finale is surely no coincidence. Zaripov won three of his five Gagarin Cups with Ak Bars and the other two in Magnitogorsk. So the Steelmen were a fitting opponent for a possible farewell. However, that was the end of the fairytale as Metallurg skated to victory.
With both teams booked into the playoffs, and Ak Bars already assured of top spot in the East, the outcome of today’s game was not all that significant for the KHL standings. However, Metallurg’s recent form has been indifferent and a win here would be a big boost ahead of post season.
Ak Bars goalie Amir Miftakhov unwittingly helped supply that lift when he gifted Metallurg an opening goal in the fourth minute. His wayward clearance went straight to Nikita Korostelyov’s stick and the visiting forward needed no second invitation to open the scoring. The goalie’s blushes were somewhat eased when Kirill Panyukov tied the game four minutes later, but the home team was unable to convert a couple of decent chances to get ahead before the first intermission. On both occasions, Vasily Koshechkin denied Vadim Shipachyov.
Magnitka took control of the game with a couple of quick goals early in the second period. Brendan Leipsic restored the lead in the 25th minute, beating Miftakhov at the second attempt following a point shot from Yaroslav Khabarov. Then Korostelyov got his second of the game. There were further chances for the visitor late in the frame, but Ak Bars got a lifeline when Dmitry Yudin pulled one back in the 38th minute.
Then came a fracas that saw Kirill Adamchuk and Mikhail Fisenko get majors for fighting, with Alexander Radulov and Yegor Korobkin taking minors for their skirmish. Adamchuk also got a minor for a foul on Pavel Akolzin, handing Metallurg a power play that saw Korostelyov complete his hat-trick just before the buzzer.
At the start of the third, the arena announcer told the crowd that this was Zaripov’s last game, and he took to the ice to soak up the appreciation of the fans. On the ice, though, Metallurg continued to hold sway. Akolzin added a fifth and Danila Yurov claimed a sixth into the empty net – albeit after his initial shot hit the post and the officials ruled that he was fouled by Kirill Semyonov.
Dramatic conclusion to Moscow derby
CSKA Moscow 5 Dynamo Moscow 4 OT (0-2, 1-1, 3-1, 1-0)
These two Moscow rivals met for the sixth time and served up their traditional close game. For the fourth time, they finished level after 60 minutes, and only one game has ended with more than a single-goal margin.
This one also had a thrilling finish. Dynamo was up 4-3, and looked poised to tie the series at 3-3. However, with three seconds left on the clock, Mikhail Grigorenko tied it up and sent the game to overtime. For once, there was no opportunity for CSKA to deploy its preferred tactic of removing the goalie for the extras, but that did not prevent Vladislav Kamenev from grabbing the winner and confirming second place for the defending champion. That means a playoff series against Severstal, while Dynamo heads to Torpedo.
The Blue-and-Whites will feel they should have won this. Goals from Jordan Weal and Pavel Kudryavtsev gave the visitor a 2-0 lead in the first period. Vladimir Bryukvin, once a Dynamo prospect, pulled one back in the second, but Brennan Menell’s power play tally restored the two-goal advantage.
CSKA erased that lead with two quick goals midway through the third period. However, after Kamenev and Sergei Plotnikov tied it up at 3-3, Dynamo rallied to lead once again through Eric O’Dell. That seemed to be good enough until Grigorenko changed the script right at the end.
