Kantserov line powers Magnitka to victory. November 29 round-up

Metallurg’s productive top line contributed three more goals as the league leader beat Barys 5-2 in Magnitogorsk. Maxim Denezhkin scored twice to give Avtomobilist the verdict at Sibir, and Spartak edged Lada by the odd goal in nine.

Denezhkin double downs Sibir

Sibir Novosibirsk 2 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 4 (0-1, 1-1, 1-2)

Avtomobilist defeated Sibir for the second time this season, with Maxim Denezhkin getting two goals to secure a 4-2 verdict.

The home team, playing without Vladimir Tkachyov after the forward was traded to Torpedo during the week, began in impressive fashion. The first 10 shots in the game all went to Evgeny Alikin in the Avto net. However, he kept them at bay and at the other end Alexander Sharov’s successful counterattack put the visitor in front with its first shot of the game in the 18th minute.

Early in the second, Ivan Klimovich missed a good chance to tie the game, then Yegor Chernikov doubled the lead after a spectacular combination.
It took a fight between Ilya Fedotov and Maxim Osipov to re-energize the home team. While the two sat out their major penalties, Sibir got on a power play and debutant Anton Kosolapov scored off an assist from fit-again Chase Priskie. That was a first KHL goal for the 23-year-old forward.

Another newcomer, Fedotov, also celebrated a debut goal to tie the scores at the start of the third period, raising hopes that Sibir could go on and get something from the game.

However, Denezhkin’s first restored Avto’s advantage in the 51st minute. Then a bench challenge saw Roman Gorbunov’s goal wiped out for offside before Denezhkin put his second into an empty net.

Kantserov paces Magnitka victory

Metallurg Magnitogorsk 5 Barys Astana 2 (1-1, 3-0, 1-1)

Two goals from Roman Kantserov and three points for Dmitry Silantyev led Metallurg to a third victory over Barys this season.

The home team bounced back from Thursday’s loss at home to Avangard, but once again allowed a very early goal. Barys got in front on the first shift of the day when Ilya Nabokov lost position and Tyce Thompson took advantage to find the open corner of his net. But it didn’t take long for Magnitka to get back on terms. After four minutes, Alexander Petunin redirected a Robin Press shot past Andrei Shutov for a power play goal.

There was no further scoring in the opening frame, although ex-Barys forward Niita Mikhailis was close to scoring on his former club with a one-on-one break in the final seconds of the session.

The middle frame saw Metallurg take control. The top line – Kantserov, Silantyev and Vladimir Tkachyov – found its form. Kantserov punished a defensive lapse to give Magnitka the lead after 24 minutes. And late in the frame that line was involved a two quick goals: Silantyev made it 3-1 before setting up Kantserov’s second just 40 seconds later.

Barys had a power play that straddled the second intermission and Thompson was close to getting his second of the game, only for Nabokov to deflect his shot to safety via the piping. Later the Kazakhs did reduce the deficit thanks to Maxim Mukhametov after Yegor Yakovlev lost possession behind the net. However, it didn’t take long for Valery Orekhov to restore a three-goal cushion for the home team, sealing a comfortable win.

Red-and-Whites edge to third straight win

Spartak Moscow 5 Lada Togliatti 4 (2-1, 1-1, 2-2)

A nine-goal thriller brought Spartak a third successive victory. Luke Lockhart’s empty-net goal in the 59th minute proved decisive on a night when Lada never gave up but could not escape a second straight loss.

There was entertainment from the start: Andrei Mironov put Spartak ahead in the fifth minute, only for Dmitry Kugryshev to tie the game 1:40 later. The game remained even and competitive, but Spartak regained its lead late in the opening stanza when a high press forced Lada to give up the puck in its own zone. Ivan Morozov set up Pavel Poryadin for a one-timer that went in off the post.

Lada responded at the start of the middle frame with another goal built on a strong forecheck. Andrei Altybarmakyan was the beneficiary of that effort. The visitor enjoyed a slight edge until a penalty on Taylor Graovac midway through the session. That power play saw Adam Ruzicka put Spartak up for the third time in the game; the Slovak added to a pair of goals against Avtomobilist last time out.

The visitor could not respond before the second intermission, but came out in determined mood at the start of the third. Spartak was unable to test Alexander Trushkov in the early stages and the pressure led to Anton Burdasov’s second goal since joining Togliatti. But the Red-and-Whites quickly regained the initiative and when Altybarmakyan lost possession, Danil Pivchulin took over on the slot and rifled home a fourth for the host.

That might have been the end of the story, but there was a flurry of late drama to come. Lockhart found the empty net to open a two-goal lead for the first time in the game, but Reilly Sawchuk struck back immediately to keep the game alive until the final hooter.