Hat-trick heroes, freak goals and familiar faces return

The last week of September brought plenty of action, on and off the ice. High-scoring games, imports on the move and a bizarre empty-net goal all got the KHL’s fans talking.

Rendulic first hat-trick

Sochi’s Croatian forward Borna Rendulic got his first KHL hat-trick on Saturday, helping the Leopards to an impressive 5-2 win at table-topping Torpedo. The 31-year-old is back in the league this season for the first time since 2019, when he played the last of his 95 games for Vityaz. Since then, Rendulic has played in Germany and Sweden. However, Sochi seems to suit him: he has eight goals in 12 games so far this season, a big step up from his scoring rate at Vityaz (22 in 95 games).

Last unbeaten record falls

Sochi’s win in Nizhny Novgorod spells the end of Torpedo unbeaten start on home ice. Igor Larionov’s team won seven successive home games from the start of the season before falling to the Leopards. Despite the defeat, Torpedo remains on top of the Western Conference ahead of Dynamo Moscow and Lokomotiv.

Leopards end Torpedo’s unbeaten run. September 30 round-up

Aberg treble, plus hat-tricks of helpers

Meanwhile, Rendulic wasn’t the only import with a hat-trick last week. Pontus Aberg potted a treble for Barys in a 6-5 thriller against Neftekhimik. All three of the Swede’s markers came off assists from Riley Barber, and the KHL’s scoring leader also scored the game-winner. David Sklenicka also had a hat-trick of helpers in the highest-scoring game of the week, and that helped him move to 14 points, the best return for a defenseman so far this season.

Man of the week: Pontus Aberg

Freak goal for Sevostyanov

Trivia fans might want to remember the name of Alexander Sevostyanov. The young Avtomobilist defenseman achieved a rare distinction after scoring a goal on a delayed penalty. That might not sound so unusual, except that on this occasion Sevostyanov was the player heading to the box. It all happened as the Motormen faced Avangard. Sevostyanov fouled Vladimir Tkachyov in a tussle behind his own net, the official put his arm in the air and goalie Andrei Mishurov rushed to the sidelines to give his team an extra skater. Then it all went wrong. Ryan Spooner’s misplaced pass bobbled away from its intended target and found its way into the empty net. The last Avtomobilist player to touch the puck? That would be Sevostyanov, who was duly credited with the goal. The freak incident put Avto 4-1 up. Then came a shorthanded goal when Sevostyanov served his penalty and the home team finished with a 5-1 win.

Pulkkinen, McMillan return

Finnish forward Teemu Pulkkinen is back in the KHL. The 31-year-old signed up with Kunlun Red Star until the end of the season. Last term he had 27 (15+12) points in 63 games for Traktor, moving him to 173 (99+74) points in 282 games for Dinamo Minsk, Dynamo Moscow, Lokomotiv and Traktor. Pulkkinen is not the only well-known figure joining the Dragons. On Saturday, the Chinese franchise announced the addition of Brandon McMillan, previously of Medvescak, Torpedo, Dinamo Riga, Avangard and Neftekhimik, on a similar deal until the end of the campaign. McMillan, 33, spent the past two seasons with Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland.

Teemu Pulkkinen signed a 1-year deal with Kunlun Red Star

Import exchange

Traktor and Dinamo Minsk swapped Canadian defensemen. Rob Hamilton, who arrived in Chelyabinsk partway through last season is heading to Belarus, with Madison Bowey going in the opposite direction. This season, Hamilton had one assist in nine games for Traktor, having played 32 games last year for 18 (3+15) points. Bowey, who spent most of last season with Laval Rockets in the AHL, managed two assists in eight appearances after arriving at Dinamo last month.

September’s finest

The first month of the season is done, and it’s time to acknowledge September’s best players. Lada’s impressive return to the KHL was backstopped by Vladislav Podyapolsky (95.18% saves, 1.49 GAA), who gets the goalie of the month award. David Sklenicka’s 14 points for Barys make him the top defenseman, while Spartak’s Nikolai Goldobin (17 points) was voted best forward. Rookie of the month is Anton Silayev, the first 2006-born KHL player. The Torpedo defenseman averaged 17.33 minutes of ice time and had 6 (1+5) points in 12 games. He also became his club’s youngest goalscorer.

Best players of September