SKA halts CSKA hot streak, Dynamo blasts seven at Severstal. January 3 round-up

The first action of 2025 saw SKA overpower CSKA in St. Petersburg. The visitor’s 11-game winning run evaporated in a 3-6 loss. Dynamo Moscow also had a good day, romping to a 7-2 win at Severstal to bring a decisive end to a three-game wobble. Amur enjoyed a surprise OT victory at Traktor, Ak Bars left it late to beat Lada 3-1 and KRS took an OT verdict at home to Vityaz.

Grachyov hands surprise loss to Traktor

Traktor Chelyabinsk 2 Amur Khabarovsk 3 OT (1-0, 1-1, 0-1, 0-1)

Maybe a new year changes everything? In 2024, Amur could barely win a game while Traktor spent much of the season on top of the Eastern Conference. Today, though, despite leading twice, Benoit Groulx’s high flyers could not tame the Tigers. Amur tied it up and went on to win in overtime on a goal from Evgeny Grachyov.

In the first period, everything seemed to be following the form book. Traktor took the lead in the seventh minute when Denis Pochivalov punished a defensive error from the visitor. That was the only goal of the opening frame, although Alex Broadhurst had a good chance to tie it up when he got clean through on Sergei Mylnikov’s net. Amur also lost forward Ignat Korotkikh, who suffered an injury in the first session and could not return to the game.

Midway through the second, Amur managed to tie the game. Alexander Galchenyuk coolly finished off an extended spell of Tigers pressure. However, Traktor had a significant advantage in terms of shots and possession and it wasn’t long before the home team was back in front. Sergei Telegin produced a fantastic pass from his own zone to set up Vitaly Kravtsov and it was 2-1 at the second intermission.

In the third, Traktor started like it wanted to put the game to bed. However, Amur withstood that early pressure and – somewhat unexpectedly – tied the game five minutes into the session. Alexander Shchemerov’s point shot found its way past a startled Mylnikov and, ultimately, took this game to overtime.

The extras saw Amur look the sharper team from the start and it was no surprise that the visitor claimed the verdict. Grachyov grabbed the winning goal, pointing the way to a happier new year for his team.

Late flourish for Ak Bars

Ak Bars Kazan 3 Lada Togliatti 1 (0-0, 0-0, 3-1)

The home team had to dig deep here to get past Lada and consolidate its grip on third place. Although the standings suggested this should be a routine home victory, Ak Bars has been in uncertain form of late. Alternating wins and losses cost Anvar Gatiayatulin’s team the chance to push for top spot in the East, and gave hope of a valuable result for playoff chasing Lada.

For two periods, there was nothing to choose between the teams. Although Ak Bars had a slight edge in shots and attacking possession, Lada’s well-drilled defense effectively neutralized that advantage and it was goalless through 40 minutes.

The pattern continued in the third. Forty goalless minutes became 50. Then, at last, Artyom Galimov broke the deadlock. Even then, it took a video review to confirm that his effort crossed the line after he picked up the rebound from a teasing attack by Alexander Barabanov.

Not that the home team could relax. Just 30 seconds after falling behind, Lada tied the game thanks to Alexander Volkov and Ak Bars had to do it all again. This time, the goal came more quickly: Dmitrij Jaskin made it 2-1 on 52:35 and at last the lead stuck. The final stages saw Lada call Alexander Trushkov to the bench in favor of an extra skater. But that merely helped Barabanov to an empty-net goal that sealed the outcome. 

Dynamo starts new year with big win

Severstal Cherepovets 2 Dynamo Moscow 7 (0-2, 0-2, 2-3)

After ending the year with a trio of defeats, Dynamo was hoping for a change of fortune as the calendar rolled over. And, in Cherepovets, the Blue-and-Whites got exactly that. Severstal plays in the home region of Grandfather Frost, Russia’s traditional festive gift-giver, and the host showed the kind of generosity of spirit associated with the season as it allowed goals on a regular basis.

The visitor took control early on: Pavel Kudryavtsev opened the scoring in the third minute with a deflected shot, then Cedric Paquette doubled the lead on the first power play of the day. In truth, the balance of play was fairly even but Dynamo was far more decisive in front of goal.

That was the pattern in the second frame as well. Both teams continued to create chances, but the visiting offense always looked more dangerous. Midway through the session, a bench challenge denied Max Comtois a goal but a couple of minutes later Daniil Pylenkov’s feed to the back door clipped Yaroslav Dyblenko’s skate and snuck into the net. Then the defenseman got his second of the game with perhaps the classiest play of the night as he exchanged passes with Nikita Gusev before beating Alexander Samoilov.

In the third, Nikita Buruyanov extended the visitor’s lead before the home team belatedly found its scoring touch. A quickfire double strike saw Danil Aimurzin and Alexander Skorenov reduce the deficit, but there was no time left for a serious fightback as Dynamo closed out the win. Comtois’ added a sixth goal before Maxim Dzhioshvili finished off a comfortable win. 

Foo pots OT decider

Kunlun Red Star 3 Vityaz Moscow Region 2 OT (0-1, 1-0, 1-1, 1-0)

This battle between ninth and 10th in the Western Conference was as tight as you might expect. Both teams have ground to make up if they are to make the playoffs, and victory today also offered a chance to curtail the progress of an immediate rival.

Kunlun came into 2025 in good form after winning its last three games. The home team had the better of the first period, but could not find a way past Maxim Dorozhko in the Vityaz net. The visitor, meanwhile, was limited to just five shots at Jeremy Smith, but a wicked deflection took Ivan Vorobyov’s effort away from the home goalie to separate the teams at the intermission.

The Dragons continued to look the livelier of the two offenses, and tied it up midway through the second. Joe Duszak has been a model of scoring consistency since joining Red Star from Severstal and he potted the tying goal after circling the Vityaz zone to strike on the wraparound.

As the game moved into the last 10 minutes, Vityaz got back in front thanks to Dmitry Buchelnikov. However, Red Star was always competitive in this game and tied it up once more thanks to Danny O’Regan in the 57th minute.

That sent the action into overtime and, for the second game in a row, Kunlun won it in the extras. Spencer Foo’s goal, off a Duszak assist, makes it four straight wins for the Dragons. They moved ahead of Vityaz, and are now four points adrift of eighth-placed Torpedo.

Hot streak ends in Petersburg

SKA St. Petersburg 6 CSKA Moscow 3 (2-0, 2-0, 2-3)

CSKA’s 11-game winning streak came to a halt in St. Petersburg. SKA avenged its 5-6 loss in Moscow last month and announced its New Year’s resolution to the rest of the KHL.

However, this game had much in common with its predecessor. In the capital, CSKA roared into a 5-0 lead and almost allowed a sensational fightback. Today there was a similar story as SKA jumped ahead 4-0 but was left to fend off a CSKA revival before a couple of late goals brought some padding for the final scoreline.

The home team made a great start to 2025, opening the scoring in the fourth minute. Tony DeAngelo released Ivan Demidov and the young forward blazed past CSKA’s veteran defenseman Nikita Nesterov. With his sights on goal, Demidov advanced to the slot and placed a backhand shot beyond Ivan Prosvetov.

The visitor soon had a power play chance and new signing Rourke Chartier almost marked his debut with a goal. Instead, though, SKA doubled its lead midway through the session when Demidov struck again. This time he was the first to respond when Alexander Nikishin shot cannoned back off the boards. Late in the frame, CSKA was lucky to escape a third goal when Marat Khairullin saw his shot hit post and bar before dropping to safety.

In the second period, CSKA began to get on top after SKA ran into penalty trouble. But two power plays came and went without a goal and as the visitor’s momentum dissipated, the home team extended its lead. DeAngelo wrapped up a two-on-one break in the 33rd minute, then Pavel Akolzin celebrated his first goal since moving to Petersburg from Magnitogorsk.

At 4-0, Ilya Vorobyov decided to replace Prosvetov with recent signing Pavel Khomchenko – an unenviable circumstance for his CSKA debut. However, his team-mates got the start they wanted in the third period when Maxim Mamin pulled a goal back early. Then the visitor killed one penalty, and did even better with the next as Colby Williams potted a short-handed goal midway through the frame. Suddenly, a confident home crowd was starting to worry, and when Prokhor Poltapov made it 3-4 on 55:48 there was real anxiety in the building.

Roman Rotenberg responded by calling a time-out. However, the key intervention in the closing moments was a penalty called on Maxim Sorkin as he challenged goalie Yegor Zavragin. Sergei Plotnikov converted the PP, firing home from a tight angle, and the 5-3 lead was enough to see SKA over the line. Arseny Gritsyuk’s empty netter finished the scoring.