Biryukov’s millennium and first playoff contenders

Last week saw Evgeny Biryukov set a big KHL landmark, while the first three teams booked their places in the 2024 playoffs.

1,000 games for Biryukov

Evgeny Biryukov became the first man to play 1,000 games in the KHL, helping Salavat Yulaev to victory over Amur on Sunday. The 37-year-old made his debut in the league on Sep. 3, 2008 for Metallurg against SKA. He was aged 22 years, 137 days. After 15 years, 140 days, he completed his 1,000^th game. In that time he played 779 times for Magnitogorsk, winning 474, and 221 for Salavat Yulaev, winning 131. He has two Gagarin Cups (2014, 2016) and one World Championship (2012).

The man himself rated Sunday’s game as a career highlight. 

“It goes without saying that this is one of the top three games in my career,” Biryukov said afterwards. “I don’t think I was ever this nervous before a game, not even in a final!”

While Biryukov’s 1,000 games in the KHL is a league record, he remains sixth in all-time Russian top-flight appearances. Biryukov is currently on 1,149 games, but is close to overtaking Sergei Mozyakin and Alexei Kalyuzhny. If Evgeny returns for one more season he won’t catch all-time leader Danis Zaripov (1,324 games) but could move up to second ahead of Vitaly Atyushov (1,201).

1,000 games for Biryukov, 26 penalty shots in Kazan. January 21 round-up

First playoff contenders known

Last week saw three teams confirm their place in the 2024 Gagarin Cup playoffs. All three represent the Western Conference. Lokomotiv got there first, defeating Neftekhimik on Tuesday to punch that ticket. Next came SKA, defeating Kunlun Red Star 3-1 on Friday to maintain its record of reaching ever KHL post season. Finally, on Saturday, Dynamo Moscow secured its spot with a 4-1 win over Dinamo Minsk.

SKA books playoff spot; Severstal, Avangard claim seventh succes. January 19 round-up

Gusev sets records

Nikita Gusev had a role in all four goals in that Dynamo victory, scoring one and assisting the other three. That takes him to 70 points for the season, beating Vadim Shipachyov’s club record and putting him out in front in the KHL scoring race. Gusev also reached 51 assists, overtaking another Shipachyov club record and making him the first man to achieve 50+ helpers in two separate campaigns. He’s the second player to compile three 70-point regular seasons (Sergei Mozyakin leads the way with four, Alexander Radulov has two so far).

Dynamo joins the playoff party. January 20 round-up

Torpedo’s record-breaking goal rush

The second period of Tuesday’s game between Torpedo and Metallurg was a busy affair. After a goalless opening frame, the teams traded nine goals in the middle session. That’s the most productive single period in KHL history. It all started with Magnitka potting two shorthanded goals on the same power play before Maxim Letunov pulled one back on that PP. Letunov’s tally kickstarted a rush of six goals in 8 minutes, 27 seconds, a new club record and the second fastest six-goal salvo in KHL history. Metallurg got one back before the second intermission, but eventually lost 7-4.

Lokomotiv books playoff spot, Torpedo sets scoring record. January 16 round-up

More lessons from the Professor

Torpedo also made the news off the ice after sealing a new deal with head coach Igor Larionov. The Professor’s new contract will run until the end of the 2026-2027 season, giving him three more years behind the bench in Nizhny Novgorod. In his first campaign, Larionov took the club to the second round of the playoffs for only the third time, claiming a sixth-place finish overall. This season, once again, the Nizhny club is on course for post season and the management clearly believes that Larionov is the man to develop the roster’s current potential into a significant success.

Sibir hit with points deduction

Early in the season, Sibir Novosibirsk played four games with a fourth import included on the roster. The issue revolved around the status of Fyodor Gordeyev, a Russian passport holder but not currently a player eligible to represent Russia in international competition. As a result of infringing league rules, the Novosibirsk club forfeits all four games, it was announced last week. Sibir won two of the four games, both against Barys Astana, and therefore loses the four points it gained from those victories. As a result, Sibir dropped out of the playoff places in the Eastern Conference. Barys gained four points, and moves off the foot of the standings ahead of Admiral.

Sibir awarded four technical defeats for exceeding the limit on foreign players