Ak Bars edges Avangard, Salavat Yulaev takes second. February 26 round-up
The big talking points from the final day of KHL regular season action came in the East. Ak Bars finished its season with an OT win over Avangard, and that result saw Salavat Yulaev sneak into second place thanks to a shoot-out success at Metallurg. Avtomobilist finished third after blanking Sibir. The Moscow derby saw Dynamo beat Spartak 4-2 in the West’s big game, while Severstal defeated CSKA in a warm-up for the teams’ playoff series. Matvei Michkov finished his season with a spectacular goal and a five-point game as Sochi beat Kunlun Red Star 5-3, while Vladimir Tkachkyov hit a hat-trick for Traktor in its big win over Torpedo.
Avto secures top four finish
Sibir Novosibirsk 0 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 2 (0-0, 0-0, 0-2)
Both these teams were looking to finish the regular season on a positive note after losing their previous games. There was also the chance to secure a top-four finish, and start the post season action on home ice, although that might require more than just a win here.
Avto had to cope without the services of Anatoly Golyshev for this game, but welcomed back defenseman Nikita Tryamkin and captain Sergei Shirokov. Sibir recalled experience in the shape of Evgeny Chesalin and Denis Golubev.
In the early stages, both teams had good chances on the power play. Avtomobilist sent the officials scurrying to review the video after a shot that proved to have stopped right on the goalline. Then Sibir came close when Taylor Beck narrowly failed to steer Alexander Sharov’s feed into the net.
The middle frame remained goalless, although Sibir improved significantly and began to control much of the play. However, not even a four-on-three power play could bring a breakthrough.
The game remained deadlocked until the 14th minute of the final frame. Then Shirokov found a way past Denis Kostin to give Avtomobilist the lead. Kostin immediately denied Alexei Makeyev a second goal and Sibir had a chance to save the game when it got a power play in the final minute. Instead, though, Avtomobilist grabbed an empty net goal through Danil Romantsev.
The win gives the Motormen a series against Metallurg in the first round of the playoffs. The teams will start their journey in Yekaterinburg on March 2.
Tkachyov treble sees Traktor finish with a flourish
Traktor Chelyabinsk 6 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 2 (2-1, 1-0, 3-1)
There was nothing riding on this game for either team. Traktor could not beat Neftekhimik to the final playoff place, while Torpedo already knew it would face Dynamo Moscow in the opening round of the playoffs.
However, Vladimir Tkachyov was clearly fully motivated for this one: he finished his season with a hat-trick, moving to 37 (16+21) points for the campaign and achieving a personal best, beating the 36 points he had for Ak Bars in 2017-2018.
Tkachyov struck twice in the first period. He converted a two-on-one rush to opening the scoring after seven minutes, then combined with Sergei Kalinin to restore Traktor’s lead after Vladislav Firstov tied it up.
In the second period, both goalies got through plenty of work before Traktor extended its lead thanks to Mikhail Kotlyarevsky. He followed up a goal on Friday by scoring again here, assisted by a great feed from Anton Burdasov who extended his productive streak to four games.
Tkachyov completed his hat-trick in the 46th minute, and Traktor added two more thanks to Maxim Shabanov and Sergei Kalinin before Kirill Urakov got a late consolation for Torpedo.
Ufa edges into second place
Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 2 SO (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-1)
Salavat Yulaev secured second place in the Eastern Conference thanks to a shoot-out win on the final day. Victory in Magnitorsk means Viktor Kozlov’s team will face Admiral in the first round of the playoffs.
Magnitka failed to secure a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference, and thus misses out on home ice advantage at the start of the playoffs. Instead, Ilya Vorobyov’s men will travel to Avtomobilist for their post season opener.
There was little to choose between the teams throughout this game. Salavat Yulaev slightly edged the first period, but could not convert that slight advantage into an opening goal.
Instead, it all remained deadlocked until early in the second, when Metallurg began to raise its game. A foul by former Magnitka forward Evgeny Timkin set up a power play chance for the home team. Ufa survived that, but fell behind shortly after Timkin’s return to the game. Alexander Burmistrov’s big hit on the edge of Ufa’s territory set up Semyon Koshelev, who fired his 12th goal of the season over Ilya Ezhov’s glove.
The visitor improved as the second session wore on, but had to wait until early in the third to tie the scores. Alexei Pustozyorov got away from the home defense and converted Alexander Chmelevski’s feed to the slot. That goal was the end of the scoring. In regulation, there was little to separate the teams, but in overtime Salavat Yulaev replaced Ezhov with an extra skater and dominated the play. However, it could not force a winning goal until the shoot-out, when Danil Bashkirov was the only player to find the net.
Dress rehearsal favors Severstal
Severstal Cherepovets 6 CSKA Moscow 4 (2-2, 3-1, 1-1)
These teams are booked to meet in the first round of the playoffs, giving Sunday’s game the flavor of a dress rehearsal. While neither side will read too much into this result, Severstal can at least claim a psychological boost after getting a high-scoring victory. Moreover, the win gives the Steelmen three successes from four games against the defending champion.
It made a sharp contrast with Severstal’s previous game, which ended in defeat at rock-bottom Sochi. CSKA, meanwhile, finished the regular season strongly with 20 goals in its previous three games.
That high-scoring form continued here. CSKA scored twice in the opening frame, with Vladislav Kamenev and Konstantin Okulov on target. Both goals, though, were in response to tallies from the home team and the first period finished tied at 2-2.
After the break, Kirill Pilipenko gave Severstal the lead for the third time, striking on the power play. However, the home team’s next PP was less successful and a short-handed tally from Matvei Guskov made it 3-3.
The game-breaking passage came either side of the midway mark. Ruslan Abrosimov added another power play goal, then Nikita Guslistov made it 5-3 to the host. Sergei Plotnikov got one back at the start of the third, but Severstal held on and sealed the win when Pilipenko found the empty net.
Sochi signs off with third win in four games
HC Sochi 5 Kunlun Red Star 3 (4-1, 1-0, 0-2)
Sochi’s rough season ended with a second successive victory, while Kunlun slipped to a seventh straight loss. With neither team in playoff contention, this was a question of pride and after 60 minutes’ play, both could take some positives.
For Sochi, it was all about a fast start. The home team scored twice in the first three minutes – Matvei Michkov collecting a goal and an assist – and went on to lead 4-1 at the first intermission. Michkov’s goal was impressive, a lacrosse style finish evoking his flamboyant announcement in international hockey last season. Perhaps soon this play will cease to be known as a ‘Michigan’ and be described as a ‘Michkov-igan’ instead. The first period spelled the end for starting goalie Sun Zehao, a Harbin native building his experience ahead of China’s World Championship promotion bid in April.
Sun was replaced with Matt Jurusik and the scoring slowed right down. In the 36th minute, Sochi added a fifth: Artur Tyanulin got his second goal of the game, Michkov assisted to collect his fifth point (1+4).
Red Star responded at the start of the third period. Jack Rodewald and Tomas Jurco scored twice 45 seconds to make it 3-5. Defenseman Zac Leslie got an assist, taking his points tally to 39 (8+31) and improving his club record for a blue liner.
Radulov shoots down Avangard
Ak Bars Kazan 3 Avangard Omsk 2 OT (0-0, 2-2, 0-0, 1-0)
This game still carried some intrigue. Could Avangard secure second place in the East? Could Vladimir Tkachyov pick up enough points to beat Dmitrij Jaskin in this season’s scoring race? Or would Ak Bars bounce back from its loss at home to Metallurg and finish the regular season on a high note? In the event, the answers were no, no and yes respectively.
From the opening exchanges, both teams created chances. However, Kazan looked livelier in a goalless first period. The home team went close when Kirill Petrov set up Kirill Panyukov, only for the latter to misfire when well placed. Moments later, Alexander Radulov was even closer, forcing a turnover in the Hawks’ zone and testing Andrei Mishurov in the visitor’s net.
However, it was Avangard that got in front after the intermission. Sergei Tolchinsky led a counterattack and set up Alexander Dergachyov for a one-timer that proved too much for Timur Bilyalov. Ak Bars continued to push forward and turned the scoreline around midway through the second period. Ilya Safonov tied it up when he intercepted a loose puck on the blue line and advanced to beat Mishurov. Then a stretch pass sent Nikita Lyamkin into the danger zone, where he set up Dmitry Kagarlitsky to make it 2-1.
The visitor wasn’t done, though, and Avangard’s counterattacks continued to pose problems. Nail Yakupov tied the scores when he put away the rebound from a Tolchinsky shot to send the teams into the second intermission at 2-2.
There was no scoring in the third period, although the visitor had to contend with a major penalty on Viktor Svedberg after his fight with Slava Voynov.
In the extras, Alexander Radulov was the key figure. From the first seconds he caused problems and when he burst clear, Ziyat Paygin could only grab the Ak Bars forward’s stick and give away a penalty shot. Radulov took the shot himself, beating Mishurov and giving his team the victory.
Defeat leaves Avangard third in the final standings. Omsk will stage a Siberian derby against Sibir on March 2 to start the first round series. Ak Bars begins against Neftekhimik on the previous day.
Dynamo finishes with a win
Dynamo Moscow 4 Spartak Moscow 2 (2-0, 1-1, 1-1)
Spartak’s playoff hopes ended with Dinamo Minsk’s win at Vityaz yesterday, but the Red-and-Whites still had a local derby to finish the season. Dynamo, meanwhile, wanted to improve a run of three losses in four games before taking on Torpedo in the playoffs.
It didn’t take long for Dynamo to get a grip of this game. Spartak, perhaps still feeling sorry for itself after missing out on the playoffs, struggled in the early stages. Vladislav Yefremov opened the scoring in the third minute, beating Patrik Rybar at the second attempt. Then Roman Starchenko was ejected from the game after hooking an opposing player beating the legs. That major penalty brought a second Dynamo goal, scored by Alexander Skorenov.
After 37 seconds of the middle frame, Dynamo had a third thanks to Andrei Mironov. By now, though, Spartak was showing signs of life. Shane Prince dinged the crossbar at the other end after more good work from Alexander Khokhlachyov cut apart the home defense.
A second player was ejected from the game in the 35th minute, with Dynamo’s Alexei Potapov following Starchenko for an early shower. Spartak pressed, Dynamo resisted and even managed to kill the major. However, 12 seconds before the hooter, Nikita Chibrikov got a deserved goal for Spartak.
At the start of the third, Vadim Fattakhov made it 2-3. The 19-year-old marked his KHL debut with a goal, firing the puck from the corner and bouncing it into the net off Ilya Konovalov’s leg. Now it was a one-goal game, and Spartak believed it could finish the season on a high note.
However, Dynamo had other ideas. Yegor Zaitsev restored the two-goal advantage midway through the third period and that was enough to subdue the visitor.
