Shipachyov’s big week
We have a new record for KHL games played, and we’ve seen Sergei Mozyakin’s scoring record equalled. Now, Vadim Shipachyov is looking to set his own record points tally. His first chance of doing so comes on Monday against an opponent adapting to life under its third head coach of the season. Elsewhere, two Vityaz men caught the eye this week, while defensemen continue to make big scoring contributions.
Iron man Shipachyov
When Vadim Shipachyov suited up for Dinamo Minsk against Neftekhimik, he skated his way into KHL history. Saturday’s game was the forward’s 1,002nd KHL appearance, overtaking Evgeny Biryukov’s all-time record. They are the only two men to date to reach 1,000 KHL games and with Biryukov’s retirement at the end of last season, the path is clear for Shipachyov, 34, to set a big new record.
Shipachyov sets one record, ties another. October 19 round-up
Shipachyov ties Mozyakin
And that’s not the only big achievement for the Dinamo Minsk forward. In the Neftekhimik game, he assisted the final goal in a 4-1 victory to move to 928 career points in the KHL. That matches Sergei Mozyakin’s scoring record. Shipachyov’s next goal or assist will make him the all-time leader in KHL scoring – and he has his first shot at the record on Monday when Barys goes to Belarus.
Golovkov’s a loyal warrior
Shipachyov wasn’t the only player with an appearance landmark last week. Vityaz defenseman Igor Golovkov played his 700th game for the Moscow Region club after making his debut there in 2011. In that time, he’s played home games with the team at three different arenas, in Chekhov, Podolsk and Balashikha. Golovkov, 34, is only the fourth man to play 700 KHL games for one team. However, he has a way to go to catch any of the trio ahead of him. Evgeny Biryukov had 779 appearances for Metallurg, Artyom Lukoyanov played 780 times for Ak Bars, while Roman Starchenko leads the way with 794 games for Barys.
Barach’s goal rush
While Golovkov brings longevity to the Vityaz roster, American forward Derek Barach is supplying the goals. The 29-year-old has found the net 11 times so far in his second KHL season, putting him ahead of all others in the league. He’s also outstripped the 10 goals he potted in 68 games last season – and done so in just 17 appearances. While it’s early days, Derek is on pace for 44 goals this season. Only three players – Sergei Mozyakin, Reid Boucher and Dmitrij Jaskin – have managed 40+ goals in a season before.
D-men well-placed in scoring race
The 2024-2025 season has seen some notable scoring from defensemen. Sibir’s Trevor Murphy remains at the head of the scoring race with 18 (4+14) points from 16 games. Forwards Vitaly Abramov (CSKA) and Kirill Pilipenko (Severstal) are tied with 9+9 from 18 appearances. Meanwhile, Avangard captain Damir Sharipzyanov has 17 points, while SKA’s recent signing Tony De Angelo has blazed a high-scoring trail since his arrival. In nine games, he has 15 (2+13) points. Again, it’s early day. But if De Angelo continues that pace, he would reach 100 points in the regular season – surely enough to become the first ever defenseman to lead the KHL in scoring.
All change at Barys
For the second time this season, Barys announced a new head coach. Galym Mambetaliyev is back behind the bench in Astana, taking over from Vyacheslav Butsayev. In addition, the Kazakh club’s new GM, Nurlan Orazbayev, announced a radical change in the roster. All the North American players on the team – Will Butcher, Nathan Beaulieu, Alex Grant, Chase DeLeo, Mike McLeod, Connor Smith and Wade Allison – are to be released. Mambetaliyev, who previous had brief spells as head coach in 2018-2019 and again last season, began his reign with a 1-3 loss at Lokomotiv on Saturday. David Nemirovsky began the season in charge, but was dismissed after seven games. Butsayev replaced him in late September and lasted eight games. Barys is currently dea last in the KHL standings with seven points from 17 games. The Kazakh team has scored just 19 goals so far this season.
Sochi snaps 25-game streak
When Sochi took a shoot-out verdict at CSKA, it represented the Leopards’ first win over the Muscovites since 2016. That’s a run of 25 losses against the same opponent. Sergei Zubov’s team ended that miserable streak thanks to Timur Khafizov’s winner in the extras, but the visitor did it the hard way. Up 3-1 after 52 minutes, Sochi saw that lead evaporate after two goals from Vitaly Abramov, the tying tally coming 11 seconds before the hooter. But the Black Sea boys held on in overtime and won the shoot-out to move two point clear of the bottom of the Western Conference. CSKA, meanwhile, suffered a fourth successive loss, although all four games were tied in regulation.
CSKA recovers from 1-3, but Sochi wins shoot-out. October 20 round-up
