Kovi back on the ice

Ilya Kovalchuk’s successful return for Spartak hit the headlines, but he wasn’t the only forward to have a week to remember. From club records to scoring landmarks, it was a good week for offense in the league.

Debut goal for Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk made his second Spartak debut, more than 22 years after leaving the Moscow club for the NHL. After signing terms recently, the 40-year-old got on the ice for Sunday’s 5-2 win over Kunlun Red Star. It was an eventful start: late in the second period, Kovalchuk was caught in possession and Red Star grabbed a short-handed breakaway goal. However, the maestro had the final word, completing the scoring in the last minute. That was also Kovi’s 14^th empty net goal in KHL play. He currently shares the lead for empty-netters with Ak Bars’ Alexander Radulov, although Kovalchuk has played 408 games against 607 for Radulov.

Kovi on target, Metallurg on top. December 24 round-up

Goldobin sets club record

Kovalchuk was not the only Spartak forward to catch the eye in that 5-2 win over Kunlun. Nikolai Goldobin had a goal and an assist in the first period to set his team on the way to victory and, as a result, advanced to 57 points for the season. That sets a new club record for Spartak, overtaking the performance of Branko Radivojevic and Alexander Khokhlachyov in previous seasons.

Shirokov joins elite club

Sergei Shirokov produced a game-winning performance for Avtomobilist in a 5-1 success at Lada. He scored two goals and became the seventh player to reach 500 points in the KHL. The 37-year-old achieved that landmark in his 778^th appearance in a career that has included spells with CSKA, Avangard, SKA and Spartak, as well as couple of seasons within the Canucks organization in Vancouver. The next target is 600 points in Russia’s top league, with Shirokov currently on 595 in KHL and Superleague play. Ahead of him on the all-time KHL scoring list are Sergei Mozyakin (928 points), Vadim Shipachyov (908), Danis Zaripov and Alexander Radulov (both 585), Nikita Gusev (564) and Nigel Dawes (550).

Radulov on the rise

Radulov’s move to equal third on that scoring list also happened this week. The Ak Bars captain drew level with another Kazan favorite, Danis Zaripov, when he opened the scoring in his team’s game at home to Avtomobilist. However, he finished the day on the losing team with Shirokov getting the winner goal. The assist on that play came from Stephane Da Costa, who moves to 400 career points in the KHL. The Frenchman has played here since 2014/15, representing CSKA, Lokomotiv and Ak Bars in that time as well as Avtomobilist.

Bolyakin’s first win

Barys Astana is on to its third head coach of the season. Oleg Bolyakin, who was GM at the start of the campaign, took interim charge of the Eastern Conference’s basement team during the recent pause. Although he dropped a 2-3 verdict at Barys in his opening game, Bolyakin quickly secured a first victory as a KHL head coach with an OT success against HC Sochi on Saturday.

Teddy bear toss

With new year fast approaching, Salavat Yulaev celebrated with its now traditional teddy toss. The ninth edition of the charity event proved to be the most successful yet, raising 4 million rubles to provide treatment for seriously ill youngsters. The cascade of plush toys was triggered by Ufa’s opening goal in its home game against Admiral. Unfortunately for the host, it wasn’t enough to finish on the winning side as the Sailors rallied to win 2-1 in OT.