Lada’s lacrosse goal helps to beat Dynamo. November 8 round-up

The so-called ‘Michigan’ is a rare move for any hockey player. For a defenseman, it’s almost unknown. Yet Lada’s young D-man Magomed Sharakhanov pulled it off to help his team to a 3-2 win at Dynamo. In Friday’s other game the visiting team also came out on top. Severstal edged Kunlun 4-3 in Mytishchi, overtaking Dynamo into fourth place in the West.

Lada back in playoff spots, Dynamo drops to fifth

Dynamo Moscow 2 Lada Togliatti 3 (1-1, 1-2, 0-0)

Victory on the road in Moscow lifted Lada back into the playoff places. The visitor recorded a third straight win, while Dynamo’s defeat saw it drop out of the top four in the West.

Lada helped Dynamo to a good start in this game. The home team got on the power play in the first minute after Mikhail Fisenko’s foul, then had a second stint with a man advantage after Nikita Popugayev went to the box. Neither PP produced a goal, but back at equal strength, the Blue-and-Whites took the lead when Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi converted a counterattack in the ninth minute.

But the Motormen came into the game as the first period went on, and managed to tie the scores just before the intermission. Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov fired home after Troy Josephs won an attacking face-off for the visitor.

Inspired by that strong finish, Lada went on to take the lead early in the second. Young defenseman Magomed Sharakanov produced the game’s most memorable moment with a lacrosse goal from behind Maxim Motorygin’s net. It’s a rare piece of skill from any player, and rarer still from a blue liner.

In the 34th minute, Lada increased its lead on a goal from Popugayev, reward for its extended spells of attacking pressure. However, Dynamo got one back late in the frame. Jordan Weal missed his chance from a solo rush, but Cedric Paquette picked up the pieces and presented Nikita Gusev with the chance to make it 2-3.

The seemed to set the stage for a Dynamo fightback in the third. However, this did not materialize. Lada defended well, and managed to pose enough of an attacking threat to ensure that the home team could not abandon all thoughts of defense. The Blue-and-Whites, meanwhile, struggled to create chances. Even a power play fell flat.

There was a big moment for Lada when Artyom Mikheyev followed Gusev into the box and handed the visitor a five-on-three power play in the 53rd minute. A goal from that might well have ended the contest, but Dynamo dug deep to kill the penalties and stay alive in the game. However, the home team could not find a way to tie it up once back at full strength and Lada held on to claim a second win of the season over Alexei Kudashov’s team.

Seven on the spin for Severstal

Kunlun Red Star 3 Severstal Cherepovets 4 (2-2, 1-2, 0-0)

Severstal posted a seventh successive victory, moving up to fourth in the West as a result. It was also a second win over Kunlun in as many games. The visitor’s previous game was a 7-2 home win over the Dragons a week ago; today’s encounter was a more competitive affair.

KRS, meanwhile, followed that heavy loss in Cherepovets with an overtime victory against SKA and was hopeful of a successful revenge mission that would keep it clear of the foot of the standings.

Over the course of the season, KRS has had several ‘firsts’ in games against Severstal. Jayden Halbgewachs got his first KHL goal in Cherepovets, as did Ian McCoshen in a later game. Kyle Keyser celebrated his first shut-out for the club. Today it was defenseman Martin Lefebvre’s turn. The Canadian opened the scoring in the fourth minute with his first goal since arriving in the KHL this summer.

That set the tone for a lively first period. Ivan Podshivalov put Severstal level, but Tyler Graovac restored the home lead in the 10th minute. Soon after, Podshivalov turned provider as David Dumbadze tied it up once again. Alexei Kruchinin got his second assist of the game against one of his former clubs.

The pattern changed in the second period. Severstal got ahead thanks to Ilya Ivantsov, and this time it was Red Star coming from behind to tie the game in the 32nd minute. Lefebvre got his second of the game, finishing off a play that started with a big save from Jeremy Smith, then saw Nail Yakupov bring play coast to coast before setting up the D-man to make it 3-3. However, it only took a few moments before Kirill Pilipenko, Severstal’s leading scorer, restored the visitor’s lead.

There was no further scoring in the third period. Yegor Stepanov had a great chance to give Severstal a two-goal cushion when he was left all alone in front of Smith’s net. However, the forward went too wide and allowed the goalie to cover the angle at his near post. Then, late on, Graovac fluffed a great chance to tie the game, getting to Jurco’s feed in front of the defense, but shooting straight at Samoilov.