All level in Ufa, late drama in Togliatti

A busy day of pre-season tournament play saw Ak Bars close on victory in the TANECO Cup, while the Republic of Bashkortostan Trophy is wide open after two game days.

TANECO Cup

Barys is still seeking its first win

Traktor Chelyabinsk 2 Barys Astana 1 (1-0, 0-1, 1-0)

Both these teams suffered single-goal losses in Thursday’s opening games. Traktor suffered a 3-4 reverse against Ak Bars, while Barys went down 2-1 to Lokomotiv.

Anvar Gatiyatullin responded to Traktor’s defeat by resting a handful of experienced campaigners and sending out a youthful first line of Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Vitaly Kravtsov and Nikita Tertyshny. Andrei Skabelka broke up his import line, resting Jeremy Bracco and separating Riley Barber and Pontus Aberg.

The first period, as often happens in pre-season, was dominated by penalties. The teams played in all possible formats, but the only goal came in good old-fashioned five-on-five play. It went to Traktor, with Kravtsov on target in the 13^th minute.

The middle frame saw more infringements, most notably a major for Traktor forward Alexander Rykov, who was ejected from the game for kneeing. That came after Barys tied the scores through Batyrlan Muratov, one of Kazakhstan’s leading prospects. He scored on a power play in the 23^rd minute.

Both teams had a spell of 5-on-3 hockey in the second period but could not score. However, Traktor managed to regain the lead in the third with another goal at equal strength. This time, Maxim Shabanov finished off his own counter attack to win the game.

Ak Bars leads the standings after seeing off Lokomotiv

Ak Bars Kazan 4 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 2 (0-0, 1-1, 3-1)

Two quick goals in the third period steered this game in the host’s favor after Lokomotiv led twice in Kazan.

This was another game with a big penalty count: Ilya Safonov’s third-minute infringement was the first of six offenses in the first period alone. However, neither power play could profit until the second session.

Loko was the first to get its special teams in order. Maxim Shalunov opened the scoring on 22:58. Ak Bars responded with a PP tally of its own from Stanislav Galiyev midway through the frame and the scores were level at the second intermission.

The Railwaymen regained the lead early in the third, but immediately took yet another penalty – Shalunov this time the guilty party – and Galiyev duly delivered his second power play marker of the day, assisted by Dmitrij Jaskin and Slava Voynov. Within a couple of minutes, Ak Bars was ahead for the first time when Nikita Dynyak deflected a Kirill Semyonov effort into the net.

There were chances for Lokomotiv to save the game, but two power plays went begging. And in the closing seconds Dynyak put his second of the game into an empty net to secure a second victory of the tournament for Ak Bars.

Republic of Bashkortostan Cup

It’s all to play for in Ufa with every team on one victory after day two of the tournament.

Dynamo Moscow 0 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 3 (0-0, 0-1, 0-2)

After Dynamo made a bright start against Salavat Yulaev, it was a swift return to reality for the Blue-and-Whites. With Nikita Gusev leading the Muscovite offense yesterday, goals flowed. Today, though, Avtomobilist slammed on the brakes to record its first win of the tournament.

Vladimir Galkin, the Motormen’s understudy goalie, got that shut-out – highlighting the depth that backs up Evgeny Alikin in the Yekaterinburg ranks. At the other end, the Avtomobilist offense always looked lively and came close to breaking the deadlock in a goalless first period.

The opening goal arrived early in the second when Daniil Romantsev fired home Sergei Shirokov’s cross-ice pass. Dynamo could not respond, and fell further behind in the final stanza. Anatoly Golyshev extended the lead before Shirokov added a third on the power play to wrap up a good win.

Salavat Yulaev Ufa 5 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2 (1-0, 2-2, 2-0)

For a long time, there was little between these two teams. Salavat Yulaev struck first when Alexei Vasilevsky celebrated his first goal since returning to Ufa. However, the middle frame showed that Metallurg was very much in this game.

Nikita Mikhailis tied the scores on a power play midway through the session, then young forward Roman Kantserov put Magnikta ahead with a solo effort. Ufa, looking to bounce back from Thursday’s loss to Dynamo, responded with two late goals: Vladislav Yefremov tied the game, then 20 seconds later Vyacheslav Leshchenko, promoted to the top line in place of Sergei Shmelyov, put the home team in front.

The outcome remained in doubt until the end. However, with five minutes left Ufa’s fourth line got a vital fourth goal. Forward Matvei Babenko, 17, was on target to take the game away from Metallurg. And the issue was settled when a two-man power play saw Leshchenko set up Mikhail Naumenkov to make the final score 5-2.

Lada Cup

There was late drama in both games in Togliatti.

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 4 Khimik Voskresensk 3 (0-1, 2-1, 2-1)

There was a dramatic finish to the opening game of the Lada Cup with two goals in the last minute. Khimik looked to have saved itself in unlikely fashion with a shorthanded goal, only for Neftekhimik to go back down the ice and grab a winner through Alexander Dergachyov 15 seconds later.

That typified a game in which there was little to choose between the teams. It took some time to get the opening goal, but Khimik moved ahead with a power play tally four seconds before the first intermission. Neftekhimik responded early in the second, with Danila Popov’s one-timer cancelling out the opener from Demid Mansurov. Pavel Anokhin had an assist on Popov’s goal, then scored for himself to put Neftekhimik ahead for the first time, but Khimik replied to tie the game going into the third.

Neftekhimik had recent signing Nail Yakupov on the first line, and the one-time #1 NHL draft pick got an assist as Danil Shestobitov restored his team’s lead. That looked like the winning goal until that final frenzy.

Lada Togliatti 2 Kunlun Red Star 3 (1-2, 1-0, 0-1)

Just as in game one, this one was decided late. However, after 90 seconds it had all the hallmarks of a blow-out.

The Dragons raced to a 2-0 lead on goals from Devin Brosseau and Spencer Foo, the latter celebrating his return to the club after a season in the AHL. At that point, it looked like it could be a long evening for Lada at its home tournament.

Hoewever, there is some depth to Oleg Bratash’s team and the Motormen fought back. Andrei Altybarmakyan halved the deficit in the opening frame, then Yegor Babenko tied it up in the 27^th minute.

The scoring tempo dropped, and fans were beginning to anticipate overtime when Kunlun snatched a late winner. There wasn’t much on when Jake Chelios collected the puck at the right point. However, his shot snuck past several players, deceiving goalie Alexander Trushkov and squeezing inside the post to give KRS the win.