Dynamo, CSKA win; Traktor books final spot

The Mayor of Moscow Cup got underway with shut-out victories for Dynamo and CSKA in the capital, in front of a five-figure crowd. The Chelyabinsk Governor’s Cup is approaching its conclusion, and Traktor secured its place in the final with a 5-1 thrashing of Lada. Amur will contest that gold-medal game despite a 1-2 reverse against Sochi.

Mayor of Moscow Cup

Mamin’s goal makes the difference

Dynamo Moscow 1 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 0 (0-0, 1-0, 0-0)

The final pre-season tournament of the summer got underway in the capital – but the opening game proved to be a low-scoring affair.

Both teams arrived at the Mayor of Moscow Cup looking for a boost. Dynamo won just one of its three pre-season games, and that against opposition from the Belarusian championship, while Torpedo lost both its warm-up games.

The early stages were dominated by power plays. Torpedo got the first chance in the fourth minute, then Dynamo had three in a row. However, neither team could make a breakthrough on a day when goalies Maxim Motorygin and Ivan Kulbakov were on top.

The opening – and only – goal came on 36 minutes, and it all stemmed from a defensive error. Torpedo made a mess of clearing its zone and Dynamo responded with a swift passing play that saw Maxim Comtois and Cedric Paquette set up summer acquisition Maxim Mamin.

Dynamo had a similar chance to make the game safe late in the third period, but Kulbakov was alert to deny Comtois and Artyom Ilyenko. However, that was one of few opportunities in the final stanza: much of the play was stuck on the boards as the Blue-and-Whites edged to victory in their opening game.

Sprong pots first goal for CSKA

Spartak Moscow 0 CSKA Moscow 2 (0-0, 0-1, 0-1)

There was a five-figure crowd at the Megasport arena as this Moscow derby took top billing on the opening day of the tournament.

However, like the fans who saw the opener, there was a long wait for a goal as Spartak took on CSKA.

The first period saw plenty of action, but no goals. CSKA outshot Spartak 15-8 and had the better chances. Denis Zernov failed to find an open net after Artyom Zagidulin couldn’t hold a Pavel Buchelnikov shot, then in the last minute Colby Williams jumped out of the penalty box and bore down on goal, but the Spartak netminder gloved the shot.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 36th minute and the goal went to Daniel Sprong. The KHL’s first ever Dutch player converted a power play chance with a wrister through traffic from wide on the left.

CSKA’s lead was a fair reflection of the play, with Igor Nikitin’s team enjoying a significant advantage in shots through 40 minutes. Spartak tried to change the script with a fast start in the third period, but could not force a breakthrough. Instead, the next goal went to CSKA after Buchelnikov won possession on the blue line, advanced to the center of the zone and dished off a pass for Nikolai Kovalenko to double the lead.

From then on, CSKA was able to close out the game fairly calmly. The only real alarm came in the final moments when a too many men call enabled Spartak to finish playing six-on-four.  But there was no way back for the Red-and-Whites.

Chelyabinsk Governor’s Cup

Two assists for Leivo as Traktor makes final

Traktor Chelyabinsk 5 Lada Togliatti 1 (2-0, 2-1, 1-0)

Traktor hit form in its home tournament, booking a spot in the final with a big win over Lada. Chris Driedger returned between the piping for the host, while Benoit Groulx continues to shuffle his lines and try out different combinations as he gets a look at his new players.

Josh Leivo was today on a line with Andrei Svetlakov and Mikhail Goryunov-Rolgizer, Pierrik Dube went on the third line alongside Yegor Korshkov and Alexander Kadeikin.

Although Traktor eventually won the game handsomely, it might have been different had Driedger not made a key stop in the first minute. He denied Dmitry Kugryshev in a one-on-one. Lada went close again when William Dufour and Reilly Savchuk seemingly had the goalie beaten, only for Jordan Gross to clear the puck off the line.

However, a five-on-three power play saw Traktor move ahead. Leivo was involved, assisting as Kadeikin opened the scoring. Driedger was still busy as Lada got a power play of its own before Leivo’s raid on the Motormen’s net saw the Canadian hit the post before Svetlakov potted the rebound.

At the start of the second period, Fyodor Kroshchinsky made it 3-0. The defenseman is on a try-out in Chelyabinsk and his goal will do his prospects no harm. Two minutes later, Lada got on the scoresheet at last through Vladislav Syomin, but Traktor quickly made it 4-1 when Semyon Ser-Arguchintsev redirected a Logan Day shot into the net.

Later in the second period, Syomin landed a big hit on Andrei Nikonov and triggered two fights: Arseny Koromyslov grappled with Savchuk, while Nikonov took on Dufour. When the dust settled, Syomin was removed from the game.

There was little drama in the third period with the result beyond doubt and passions apparently exhausted by those fights. However, Gross added a power play goal to complete an emphatic win. Traktor now faces Amur in Saturday’s tournament final.

First win for Sochi

Amur Khabarovsk 1 HC Sochi 2 (0-0, 1-2, 0-0)

Sochi got its first win at the Chelyabinsk Governor’s Cup, edging past Amur with a 2-1 verdict.

The Leopards brought back Daniil Seroukh after he missed the previous game and named recent signing Maxim Berezin on defense. Pavel Rudovich made his debut as starting goalie.

In a goalless first period, Sochi came closest when Danil Avershin got a chance on the power play but fired against the post.

Instead, the teams had to wait until the middle frame to open the scoring. Rudovich frustrated Amur’s Oleg Li in a one-on-one, then Igor Shvyryov stripped Ignat Korotkikh of the puck, advanced on the Tigers’ net and put Sochi ahead.

It took just two minutes for Amur to reply, with Alexander Galchenyuk tying the game. However, Vasily Machulin’s power play tally close to the intermission restored Sochi’s lead.

The third period brought no further goals, but a steady stream of penalties. It was rare for the teams to play at equal strength, but neither team could find the key to its power play and Sochi held on to take the win.

Despite today’s loss, Amur still advances to the tournament final on Saturday. Sochi will play Lada for third place.