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Tkachyov keeps scoring as Hawks win again. December 4 round-up
Two goals in the third period turned this game around for Avangard and moved the Hawks to within two points of table-topping Metallurg. Amur blew its chance to close on a playoff place, while home forward Vladimir Tkachyov had a hand in both goals to go two clear in the KHL scoring race.
Avangard Omsk 2 Amur Khabarovsk 1 (0-0, 0-1, 2-0)
The first period was evenly-matched, with Avangard enjoying a territorial advantage while Amur looked to hit on the counter. Neither team could force a breakthrough, and the visitor killed the only penalty of the frame after Jan Drozg made an early visit to the sin bin.
In the second period, Amur got its first power play chances and converted one of them to open the scoring. Ivan Mishchenko found the net in the 32nd minute after taking a pass from Yakov Rylov and stepping up from the blue line to place a wrist shot through traffic and beat Ilya Proskuryakov in the home net.
Late in the middle frame there was controversy when home defenseman Sergei Boikov clashed with Evgeny Grachyov in front of Serebryakov’s goal. The Avangard man took a spearing major, while Grachyov received a double minor for his role in the impromptu fencing.
As a result, the Tigers began the third period on the power play, but could not extend the lead. Then, in the 45th minute, Avangard tied the scores when Reid Boucher redirected a Damir Sharipzyanov point shot past Igor Bobkov. Vladimir Tkachyov also had an assist on that one, extending his productive streak to 15 games.
There was more to come from the free-scoring Tkachyov. With 10 to play, he potted the winner to make it three victories in a row and 13 from the last 14 games for the Hawks. Boucher was involved again, producing a stretch pass to send his team-mate clear on Bobkov’s net. Tkachyov now has 29 (8+21) points on that run, moving him to 53 points, ahead of Nikolai Goldobin’s 51.
