Last second goals and Spartak’s century

Spartak Moscow became the first team to score 100 goals this season, with its closest rival back on just 88 at the time. It was a week that brought last-second game-winners, a first goal from a rising star and a Saturday showdown between the Conference leaders.

Lada wins battle of the Conference leaders

Saturday saw a headline-grabbing clash between Lada and Spartak, two teams on top of their respective conferences. It turned into a classic. Spartak, the league’s leading scorer, jumped to a 2-0 lead before hitting penalty trouble. That let Lada back into the game, and it finished 3-3 in regulation. Overtime could not separate the team, before ex-Spartak man Dmitry Kugryshev settled it in the shoot-out. Lada remains top of the East, but Spartak was overtaken by Dynamo after its Moscow rival won in Minsk on Sunday.

Lada wins battle of Conference leaders. November 11 round-up

Ton up for Spartak

The first team to score 100 goals in this season’s KHL was Spartak Moscow – and by a significant margin ahead of the competition. The Red-and-Whites reached the landmark with the first goal against SKA on Monday. At the time, Severstal was the next highest-scoring team with 88 goals. The game turned into a thriller as well, with Spartak snatching a 3-2 win thanks to a goal in the last second from Alexander Belyayev.

Last second goal sinks SKA, Dynamo stays on top. November 6 round-up

Last-second winner, and Shabanov’s record

That wasn’t the only SKA game to hinge on a last second goal. A couple of days later when Traktor came to Petersburg, Sergei Tolchinsky converted a penalty shot on 64:59 to give his team a 4-3 OT win. Tolchinsky became the 16^th player to score in the final second of the extras. In the same game, Traktor’s Maxim Shabanov extended his productive streak to nine games, matching a club record set by Petri Kontiola and Lukas Sedlak. On Tuesday he has the chance to set a new mark when Salavat Yulaev visits Chelyabinsk.

Simashev on target for Loko

Lokomotiv defenseman Dmitry Simashev was the first Russian player to be selected in the NHL draft back in the summer. Today, the 18-year-old Coyotes prospect scored his first KHL goal. It came early in the third period in Ufa, and proved to the be the winner as the Railwaymen took a 3-1 verdict over Salavat Yulaev.

Dragons beat Dynamo

On the face of it, Kunlun’s 3-2 overtime win at Dynamo Moscow was merely an eyebrow-raising scoreline. On closer inspection, though, it represented a little piece of KHL history. After joining the league in 2016, the Chinese franchise had never managed to win a game against the Blue-and-Whites. Brandon McMillan potted the overtime winner to snap an 11 game losing streak against the Muscovites. The Dragons have now recorded at least one victory against every team in the KHL.

Dragons stun table-topping Dynamo. November 8 round-up

CSKA signs Williams

Defending champion CSKA added Admiral’s Colby Williams to its defensive ranks. The 28-year-old Canadian moved to Vladivostok last season, and played 76 games as the Sailors made the second round of the playoffs. He had 18 (1+17) points in that campaign, and added two more assists through 21 appearances this term. In exchange, forwards Semyon Pankratov and Nikita Rtishchev left Moscow and headed to the Far East.

Camara moves to Barys

Anthony Camara parted company with Neftekhimik and moved on to Barys during the week. The Canadian forward arrived in Nizhnekamsk last season and produced 33 (14+19) points to help the Wolves make the playoffs. The day after his departure from Neftekhimik was announced, Camara signed a contract for the remainder of the season in Astana. So far this season, he had 25 games, with 9 (3+6) points.

All-Star coaches announced

The 2023 Fonbet All-Star Game is fast approaching – and the four coaches for the four divisional teams were unveiled during the week. Alexei Kudashov, whose Dynamo Moscow team currently tops the KHL standings, will look after Team Tarasov. His cross-town rival Alexei Zhamnov, whose Spartak team leads the league in goals, will take charge of Team Bobrov. In the Eastern Conference, Metallurg’s Andrei Razin will lead Team Kharlamov and Avangard’s Mikhail Kravets will head Team Chernyshev.