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Spartak takes shoot-out win in Moscow derby. January 27 round-up
Spartak won its derby battle against Dynamo, despite trailing twice to its Moscow rival. For the fourth time this season, the teams were deadlocked through 60 minutes but the Red-and-Whites took a shoot-out verdict and celebrated back-to-back derby wins after a 6-3 success against the same opposition in its previous game on Tuesday.
Spartak Moscow 4 Dynamo Moscow 3 SO (0-0, 1-2, 2-1, 0-0, 1-0)
The first period was disrupted by frequent penalties – in total, the teams shared 12 minutes in the box. However, the best scoring chances came from counterattacks on the PK. First Ivan Muranov was close to giving Dynamo the lead, then in the final minute Alexander Pashin raced clear only to hit the post for Spartak.
When the breakthrough arrived, it came on the power play. Brennan Menell released Jordan Weal down the right, and the forward advanced to the face-off circle before shooting past Dmitry Nikolayev. Menell’s assist, his 31st of the season, set a new record for a Dynamo defenseman in the KHL.
Spartak tied the game a couple of minutes later. Rushan Rafikov’s shot was beaten away by Dynamo goalie Ilya Konovalov, but the puck rebounded into the net via Alexander Burmistrov’s leg. There was also a deflection involved as the Blue-and-Whites regained the lead, with Igor Chernyshov’s effort finding the net via Pashin’s skate.
After that, there was still time for one more penalty before the second intermission, with Eric O’Dell’s indiscretion ensuring Spartak would began the final stanza on the power play. Dynamo killed that penalty, but the Red-and-Whites rode the momentum to tie the game in the 43rd minute. Yegor Varyushkin, a 19-year-old forward playing only his second game in the KHL, made himself an instant fan favorite when he rifled home a one-timer off Nikita Susuyev’s feed.
The decisive moment arrived in the 52nd minute. Nikolai Goldobin, Spartak’s leading scorer, got clear of the Dynamo defense but was fouled by Daniil Pylenkov on his way to goal. The officials awarded a penalty shot and Goldobin stepped up to beat Konovalov and make it 3-2 with his first goal since Jan. 12.
Dynamo kept creating opportunities, but after Nikolayev produced big saves to deny Nikita Gusev, Weal and Artyom Ilyenko it began to feel like the visitor had run out of chances. However, a delay of game penalty for Nikita Sokolov in the 59th minute enabled Alexei Kudashov’s men to play six-on-four, and Menell blasted home a last-minute equalizer. For the fourth time in six encounters this season, these teams were heading to overtime.
The defenseman came close to winning it at the start of the extras, but his backhand effort brought a fantastic save from Nikolayev in the Spartak net. Then a too many men penalty handed the home team the advantage in the 63rd minute but Dynamo held on to take the game to a shoot-out.
That shoot-out was settled by fine margins. After Shane Prince put Spartak in front, Gusev fired his attempt against the post. Yegor Chezganov scored Spartak’s next shot and secured the win for his team.
