Three wins from three for Russia
Russia 25 wrapped up a successful Channel 1 Cup with victory over Kazakhstan. The Red Machine’s prospects – average age 25 – defeated all-comers in St. Petersburg to win the trophy. Earlier in the day, VHL Stars got its first win of the competition, edging Belarus in OT.
Zykov double lifts Russia past Kazakhstan
Russia 25 5 Kazakhstan 2 (1-1, 3-1, 1-0)
Russia’s rising stars completed their victory in the Channel 1 Cup after easing past Kazakhstan on the final day. The Kazakhs had a theoretical chance of securing top spot for themselves after Belarus lost earlier in the day, but after a good first period they fell away in the second.
That bright start saw Kazakhstan take the lead in the seventh minute. Nikita Mikhailis, who had three points in yesterday’s 3-1 win over VHL Stars, potted the opener here after a swift transition from defense to offense. However, midway through the first period penalty trouble gave Rusia 25 a five-on-three power play. Kazakhstan survived until one player returned, but could not kill both penalties. Ilya Safonov got the tying goal and the teams were level at the first intermission.
The start of the middle frame saw Kazakhstan get back in front on a goal from Adil Beketayev. This time, though, the Russians responded in emphatic fashion. Vasily Glotov tied the scores midway through the game, triggering a rush of three goals in five minutes. Maxim Sorkin and Valentin Zykov built a 4-2 lead and effectively took the game away from Kazakhstan.
Early in the third, Russia 25 was close to extending its lead when Nikita Grebyonkin tested Nikita Boyarkin in the Kazakh net. That reprieve was brief: within a minute, Zykov got his second of the game to make it 5-2. That proved to the be the final significant act of the game and the tournament. Russia 25 finishes with three wins out of three to top the table. Belarus claims second place with one win and two overtime losses, leaving Kazakhstan and VHL Stars with a solitary victory apiece.
Gritsyuk double downs Belarus
Belarus 4 VHL Stars 5 OT (1-2, 2-2, 1-0, 0-1)
Arseny Gritsyuk, arguably the biggest name on the VHL Stars roster, scored twice to lift his hastily-assembled team to victory in its final game at the Channel 1 Cup. Gritsyuk, 22, is the oldest of the KHL players on the team and the SKA forward celebrated his return from injury with a game-winning performance in Sunday’s curtain-raiser.
For Belarus, whose chances of defending the title it won last year were hit by defeat to Russia 25 on Saturday, this was a case of seeking to restore some pride after that loss. A first-minute goal from Igor Martynov but Konstantin Koltsov’s team in front, but the VHL prospects turned it around on tallies from Matvei Kabush and Ivan Zinchenko to lead at the first intermission.
Belarus made a fast start to the second period, with Vladislav Yeryomenko tying the game on the power play after 31 seconds. However, Gritsyuk quickly potted his first of the game to restore VHL Stars’ lead and Igor Shvyryov made it 4-2 on 22:25.
On Saturday, two late power play goals sank Belarus. Today, after Vasily Filyayev pulled one back midway through the game, a last-gasp power play went the other way. Maxim Sushko capitalized on a foul by Vsevolod Almetkin to tie the scores on 58:59. However, Gritsyuk had the final word with the OT winner. Despite Sunday’s success, VHL Stars finished fourth in the table after a head-to-head loss against third-placed Kazakhstan.
