Warm-up wins for Minsk, Ak Bars

August’s first on-ice action saw games between KHL teams and VHL opposition in Belarus and Tatarstan. 

OT win for Dinamo

Dinamo Minsk 2 Magnitka (VHL) 1 OT (0-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0)

A youthful line-up went out for Dinamo in its first pre-season game. The most experienced players on an import-free roster were Sergei Kuznetsov, Daniil Lipsky and Daniil Sotishvili, with the remainder of Dmitry Kvartalnov’s team derived from youngsters with little or no KHL experience.

Despite that, the Belarusians had the better of a goalless first period against Metallurg’s farm-club and led the shot count 11-5 at the first intermission. Midway through the second, pressure finally produced a goal as Nikita Pyshkailo redirected a point shot into the net.

Magnitka tied it up late in the second through Alexei Fursa, a Belarusian-born player enjoying his return to his homeland. That inspired the visitor to take control of the game in the third period, helped by a couple of power play chances. However, there was no further scoring and the game moved into overtime.

The home team won it in the extras. In the 63rd minute, a two-on-one counter sent Miroslav Mikhalyov clear and he settled the outcome. 

Ak Bars survives fightback

Neftyanik Almetyevsk (VHL) 3 Ak Bars Kazan 4 (0-3, 2-1, 1-0)

Ak Bars’ traditional summer trip to Neftyanik saw Anvar Gatiyatulin select a strong roster for his team’s pre-season opener. That meant debuts for new imports Wyatt Kalynuk and Brandon Biro.

For much of the summer, the Kazan club’s lack of transfer activity has raised questions about the team’s prospects in the upcoming season. A victory over second-tier opposition in a warm-up game hardly addresses all of those concerns, but it offers some welcome cause for confidence in the Tatar capital.

A strong first period put the visitor in control. Artur Brovkin potted the opener, then assisted as Dmitry Katelevsky made it 3-0. In between, Mikhail Fisenko was on target.

Alexander Barabanov made it 4-0 late in the middle frame before Neftyanik made a breakthrough at the other end. Two quick goals in the final moments got the score back to 2-4 and kept the game alive going into the final stanza.

And Neftyanik got one more back midway through the third through Pavel Kulikov to keep the game tight until the end. However, Ak Bars held on to take a one-goal verdict.