Loko goes clear on top; Spartak, SKA keep up the pressure. September 23 round-up

With a 4-1 victory over Severstal, Lokomotiv consolidated its place at the top of the KHL standings. Igor Nikitin’s team is now two points clear in the Western Conference, with Spartak and SKA in pursuit. Those two both won today, the Muscovites on the road at Traktor before SKA spoiled Reid Boucher’s return to action for Avangard. Monday’s other action saw Metallurg defeat Salavat Yulaev 5-3 after paying tribute to long-serving defenseman Evgeny Biryukov.

Spartak survives Traktor scare

Traktor Chelyabinsk 2 Spartak Moscow 3 SO (0-1, 0-1, 2-0, 0-0, 0-1)

After three wins, with just three goals allowed, Traktor rested goalie Zach Fucale and gave Sergei Mylnikov the start. Spartak made a similar change, putting Dmitry Nikolayev in place of Patrik Rybar.

The visitor made the better start, pressing Traktor hard from the off. That pressure led to the opening goal when Alexander Pashin forced a turnover and set up Adam Ruzicka.

In the second period the hockey got somewhat bogged down and there were fewer clear chances for either team. That suited Spartak as it looked to defend a lead and the Red-and-Whites managed to increase the advantage when Pashin and Ruzicka combined to set up Mikhail Maltsev for a goal on the counter. Traktor, meanwhile, failed to convert almost two minutes of five-on-three power play, with Nikolayev standing up well under pressure.

Spartak had a similar big power play chance in the third but could not take advantage. And that proved costly in the closing stages. Three minutes from the end, Nikita Tertyshny pulled a goal back. Benoit Groulx immediately pulled his goalie and Vladimir Tkachyov duly tied the game.

Traktor might have won it at the start of overtime but failed to convert a solo rush. Spartak also wasted good chances, but eventually to the shoot-out verdict with Pashin potting the decisive effort.

Metallurg wins after paying tribute to former defenseman

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 5 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3 (1-0, 3-2, 1-1)

This was a big day for Evgeny Biryukov. The former defenseman was the first man to appear in 1,000 KHL games, dividing his playing career between Magnitogorsk and Ufa. Now on the Salavat Yulaev coaching staff, this was his first return to Metallurg since hanging up his skates and his former club paid tribute by unveiling a plaque in the club’s walk of fame and raising his jersey to the rafters of the arena.

While Biryukov enjoyed that spectacle, as a defenseman he may not have derived so much satisfaction from a game in which goals came regularly. Metallurg built on Saturday’s low-scoring win over Neftekhimik (1-0 in a shootout), adding goals to its mix. Salavat Yulaev, looking to take top spot in the East, battled back from 0-4 but lost out in a high-scoring encounter.

Magnitka began with three unsuccessful power plays in which it rarely troubled the visiting PK. That’s been an on-going problem for the defending champion this season, but at equal strength the home team got in front when Yegor Yakovlev kept the puck in play at the blue line and sent it to Dmitry Silantyev, who was perfectly placed to score.

In the second period, Salavat Yulaev’s power play showed some menace but could not beat Ilya Nabokov in the home net. At the other end, Alexander Petunin padded Metallurg’s lead, forcing one home from the slot before batting in his second of the night, baseball style. That prompted Viktor Kozlov to bring Alexander Samonov into the game in place of starting goalie Semyon Vyazovoi. It took less than four minutes for Yegor Korobkin to beat the new netminder and make it 4-0 after 30 minutes.

That looked like the end of the story, but Salavat Yulaev battled back. Sheldon Rempal reduced the arrears before the intermission with a power play tally and that persuaded the visitor that the game was not yet over. Inspired, Ufa pushed forward and claimed a second goal in the 40th minute when Silantyev sliced the puck into his own net while battling on the crease with Mikhail Naumenkov.

Another power play goal, this time from Josh Leivo, put Salavat Yulaev right back in the game. Leivo extended his personal productive streak to 13 games – all seven this season, plus Ufa’s six playoff outings last term. Now the visitor was on top, pinning Metallurg into its zone and looking the more likely team to score again. However, the host not only held on but managed to make the verdict safe late on when Korobkin put his second of the night into an empty net to complete a 5-3 scoreline.

Railwaymen move clear in the West

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 4 Severstal Cherepovets 1 (2-0, 0-0, 2-1)

These two met in Yaroslavl with top spot in the West at stake. Whoever won Monday’s encounter would lead the conference.

In the event, Lokomotiv got the result. The home team had blown a 2-0 lead in its previous game and lost in the extras against Salavat Yulaev. Today, though, Igor Nikitin’s team made no mistake.

The Railwaymen were clinical in an even first period. Although both sides had chances, Daniil Tesanov made the difference. He opened the scoring in the 13th minute, then added an assist as Geory Ivanov doubled the lead just before the hooter.

Saturday’s mishap notwithstanding, few teams as a comfortable as Lokomotiv when defending a lead. The second period saw Severstal struggle to get good looks at Daniil Isayev’s net as Loko easily maintained that two-goal advantage.

There was a moment of concern early in the third when Severstal pulled a goal back. Nineteen-year-old forward Timur Mukhanov announced himself with five goals in his rookie campaign last season and today he potted his first of 2024-2025 to put Severstal back in contention.

However, even with the visitor straining to force itself back onto level terms, Lokomotiv’s defense was seldom troubled. Instead, the home team put the game to bed in the 55th minute when Nikita Cherepanov made it 3-1. Artur Kayumov’s empty-netter wrapped up a win that put Yaroslavl two points clear at the top. Monday’s other winners, Spartak and SKA, are now the closest pursuers in the West.

New signing watches on as SKA beats Hawks

SKA St. Petersburg 4 Avangard Omsk 1 (2-0, 0-1, 2-0)

Ahead of Monday’s game with Avangard, SKA announced the signing of American defenseman Tony DeAngelo. The 28-year-old built a good reputation as a two-way blue liner in the NHL, although his time with the Coyotes, the Rangers, the Canes and the Flyers was marred by disciplinary issues. DeAngelo was unavailable for tonight’s action, but watched from the arena as his new team-mates looked to build on a three-game winning streak.

Avangard had its own exciting news with Reid Boucher returning to the team after injury ruled him out of the start of the season. With the team suffering four straight losses, new blood was very welcome for head coach Sergei Zvyagin. The leading scorer from last term went straight into the first line alongside Linden Vey and Cole Cassels, but Ryan Spooner was not available after he rejoined the Hawks last week.

The first period saw SKA open a 2-0 lead. More encouragingly, Sergei Tolchinsky potted his second goal in successive games, suggesting that he might be overcoming his slow start to the season. Tolchinsky, of course, is a former Avangard player; that detail might add extra space to his latest marker. Soon after, summer signing Mikhail Grigorenko potted his second of the season despite a bench challenge.

However, Avangard hit back at the start of the second period. The visitor got an early five-on-three power play and Alexei Makeyev converted a well-placed feed from Vey to halve the deficit. After that, SKA regained its composure and was closer to scoring the next goal. Kuzmin’s shot from the left clipped Pavel Khomchenko’s back and fell agonizingly close to the line before Damir Sharipzyanov got it clear. Then Vladimir Alistrov set off on a scorching breakaway, roasted his defenseman but could not beat the on-rushing Khomchenko.

SKA made the game safe midway through the third period with goals from Mikhail Vorobyov and Valentin Zykov. The two struck within a minute to open a 4-1 advantage that left Avangard with scant hope of recovery. The home defense was also noteworthy, providing strong support for goalie Arseny Pleshkov in the final stages, particularly while killing two penalties. That’s four straight wins now for SKA, but five successive losses for the Hawks; both clubs have seen their early season form turn around abruptly.