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Neftekhimik steps up playoff push. January 18 round-up
After moving up to eighth in the Eastern Conference following a points deduction for Sibir, Neftekhimik won 2-1 at Dynamo Moscow to consolidate its newly-enhanced position. Sibir, meanwhile, suffered a 2-4 loss at home to Salavat Yulaev. Ak Bars enjoyed a 5-1 win at home to Lada, and Vityaz edged a 2-1 verdict at Torpedo.
Chmelevski leads Salavat Yulaev past Sibir
Sibir Novosibirsk 2 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4 (0-2, 2-0, 0-2)
Sibir’s week just got worse. Yesterday the team was docked four points after playing with too many imports in four games at the start of the season. The issue revolved around Fyodor Gordeyev, a dual national who holds a Russian passport but is not currently eligible to represent Russia in international play. Those lost points saw Sibir drop out of the playoff places, with Neftekhimik moving up to eighth place.
Today represented a first chance for Sergei Krivokrasov’s team to start clawing back some of those points. However, there was no galvanizing response to adversity. Sibir fell behind at the start of this game and, despite a second-period rally, suffered a 2-4 loss.
Salavat Yulaev opened the scoring after 28 seconds through Ivan Drozdov. The Belarusian forward has scored in 10 of his last 11 games, and before the intermission he added an assist as Alexander Chmelevski doubled the lead.
Things improved for the home team in the middle frame. Sibir’s imports combined to reduce the deficit during a spell of four-on-four play in the 27th minute: Trevor Murphy and Andy Andreoff set it up, Taylor Beck scored. Then Vladimir Mikhalyov tied the scores after 32 minutes.
However, Salavat Yulaev regained control in the final frame. Chmelevski and Nicholas Meloche orchestrated a power play goal for Alexander Sharov to restore the lead. Then, two minutes later, Meloche made it 4-2. Chmelevski had a helper on that one as well, taking him to three points in the game.
Valentsov double downs Torpedo
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 1 Vityaz Moscow Region 2 (0-1, 1-1, 0-0)
A victory in regulation for Torpedo in this game would confirm playoff spots for Dynamo and SKA. However, Vityaz, battling to break into the top eight, had other ideas. Last week, Dmitry Ryabykin’s team forced Lokomotiv to delay its post season presence; today produced a similar outcome thanks to two goals from Vladislav Valentsov.
The visitor dominated the first period, outshooting Torpedo 12-2 and neutralizing what can be one of the most menacing offenses in the league. Midway through, Valentsov got the opening goal, initially taking the play into the corner then reappearing on the slot in time to put away the rebound from an Ivan Yezhov shot.
At the end of the session a problem with the glass meant the hooter sounded early. The second period gained 37 seconds of game time to compensate. That didn’t greatly trouble Valentsov, who scored his second in the 27th minute. Ilya Arkalov was the architect, with Valentsov alert on the slot to tuck away the chance.
By now, Torpedo offered a greater offensive threat and it wasn’t long before the home team reduced the deficit through Mikhail Orlov’s goal in the 30th minute. However, that was an isolated opportunity as Igor Larionov’s men were held to just seven shots through 40 minutes.
In the third period, Vityaz protected its lead. Torpedo belatedly began to play like a home team, leading the shot count 12-6 in the final stanza. However, there was no way past Dmitry Shikin in the Vityaz net. The visitor posted its second win in three games, improving on the four-game skid it endured previously.
Kazan power play does the damage
Ak Bars Kazan 5 Lada Togliatti 1 (0-0, 3-1, 2-0)
Two of the East’s more unpredictable teams faced off in Kazan. Ak Bars lost two of its last three, including a shocker at struggling Sochi last time out, having previously won four in a row and seemingly put its immediate problems in the past. Lada, meanwhile, ended its skid with back-to-back wins at Avtomobilist and Barys to maintain its push for a top-four finish.
Neither team could break the deadlock in the first period, although the host had the better of the game. Ak Bars outshot Lada 12-6, but the most noteworthy incident came right on the hooter when a scuffle saw Riley Barber and Yegor Babenko go to the box.
The second period continued cautiously until the midway point. Then the goals began to flow. Nikita Dynyak opened the scoring after a bewildering display of passing hockey from the home team. The slick interchange put Dynyak in front of the net to beat Alexander Trushkov in the 31st minute. The home forward’s celebrations caused a break in play – and a break in the plexi – after he jumped against the glass and shattered one of the panels.
Thus, it was a long time in real time but a short time in the game before Lada tied it up. Sergei Shumakov charged into the Ak Bars zone and set up Alexei Volgin for a shot from the top of the circle. The home lead was gone in 28 seconds.
Gone, but not forgotten. Barely two minutes passed before Ak Bars was back in front. Artyom Lukoyanov claimed this one, stuffing the puck home at the second attempt after Dmitry Katelevsky’s shot bounced around in front of Trushkov’s net. Then, late in the middle frame, Dmitry Kagarlitsky added a third, converting the game’s first power play after Mislav Rosandic sat for tripping.
Once in front, Ak Bars took the game away in the third. Another power play saw Mitchell Miller get his first goal in the KHL with a coast-to-coast effort, while goalie Timur Bilyalov picked up an assist. Then Kagarlitsky claimed his second PP marker of the night to put the game out of reach. Ak Bars posted its first win by more than one goal since a 4-0 success at Avangard on December 19.
Dolganov denies Dynamo
Dynamo Moscow 1 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2 (1-0, 0-2, 0-0)
After Vityaz won in Nizhny Novgorod, Dynamo needed one more point to book its playoff ticket tonight. However, Neftekhimik thwarted that ambition an took a valuable two points in its own playoff race in the East.
Neftekhimik was the big beneficiary of Sibir’s points deduction. As a result of the revised standings in the East, the Wolves moved into a playoff spot. Today, Oleg Leontiev’s men looked to consolidate that position against a Dynamo team seeking a sixth straight win and mathematical confirmation of its own post season spot.
In the first period, the home team had a slight edge: shots read 15-11, time on attack was 5:22 against 4:22. And, fittingly, Dynamo got in front late in the frame on a goal from Jordan Weal. Cedric Paquette’s assist extended his productive streak to six games.
The balance of play did not change much in the second period. However, the score changed dramatically. Neftekhimik tied it up early in the session through Nikita Setdikov. Then the visitor got in front on the game’s first power play. The teams maintained perfect discipline until Brennan Menell shot the puck over the glass on 37:07. Neftekhimik saw its chance, and Dmitry Sokolov struck to send his team to the intermission with a slender lead.
Looking to save the game, Dynamo dominated the third. Despite firing 23 shots at Filipp Dolganov, the home team could not score. Dolganov finished the day with 49 saves to guide his team to victory.
