Flying start for Metallurg

Magnitka played its first pre-season game at the Minsk Cup, and started in style with a 6-0 thrashing of Lada. Fringe players Pavel Tyutnev and Igor Nechayev led the way with two goals apiece. In Thursday’s warm-up game, Ak Bars beat Neftekhimik 4-1 in front of almost 8,000 fans in Kazan. 

Minsk Cup

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 6 Lada Togliatti 0 (3-0, 2-0, 1-0)

This year’s Fonbet Minsk Cup is effectively played in two phases. The first three game days saw a mini-league between Dinamo Minsk, Admiral and Lada, with the Motormen edging in front with one win and a shoot-out loss.

The next three game days will see Metallurg face all three of those teams – and the opening encounter suggests that Andrei Razin’s team could steamroller the competition in Belarus.

An emphatic 6-0 victory over Lada represents a flying start to pre-season for Magnitka. In particular, it was a big day for Pavel Tyutnev. The 23-year-old center is looking to establish himself in the KHL after managing barely 20 appearances since his debuting for Lokomotiv back in 2020/2021.

Tyutnev scored twice in the first period to make his case for more first team action this season. His contribution helped by a strong performance from Makar Khabarov, who assisted both his goals and scored one for himself in between.

Metallurg threatened to extend that lead either side of the intermission before Lada began to pose some offensive threat of its own. But instead of finding a way back into the game, the Motormen gave up a goal on the counterattack as 19-year-old Igor Nechayev found the net. The youngster went on to match Tyutnev’s double, with Daniil Vovchenko’s tally sandwiched between those efforts.

It all added up to a comprehensive win for Magnitka – and one that saw several fringe players press their cases for a chance in the big league.

Warm-up game

Ak Bars Kazan 4 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 1 (3-0, 0-0, 1-1)

This was a second summer outing for Ak Bars, which had to hold on to claim a 4-3 win over VHL neighbor Neftyanik in its opener. Neftekhimik was playing its second game as well, but the first with a full roster available after defeating Chelny back in July when only juniors and two-way players could be used.

Today’s game saw Ak Bars jump to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame on goals from Kirill Semyonov, Artyom Galimov and Mikhail Fisenko. Nikita Lyamkin contributed two assists. Neftekhimik steadied things in the goalless middle frame and even got one back midway through the third when Nikita Khorzhuyev found the net. But Alexander Barabanov added a fourth, with Lyamkin completing a hat-trick of helpers. Debutant goalie Mikhail Berdin started life at his new club with a win.