Sharipzyanov hits memorable hat-trick. January 18 round-up

Avangard captain Damir Sharipzyanov is the first defenseman to score two hat-tricks in the KHL. Today’s treble led the Hawks to a 5-2 win at Traktor. In Sunday’s other action, Lada won 4-0 at home to Sochi.

Captain leads the way for Hawks

Traktor Chelyabinsk 2 Avangard Omsk 5 (1-1, 0-3, 1-1)

Damir Sharipzyanov became the first defenseman to score two KHL hat-tricks as his treble helped Avangard win at Traktor. He also had an assist and a double minor penalty on a busy day for the Hawks’ captain.

The win moves Avangard to within a point of second-placed Ak Bars in the Eastern Conference. Traktor suffered a second successive loss and remains seventh, missing the chance to get in front of Salavat Yulaev.

Traktor got an early power play but was unable to convert that opportunity. Then Sharipzyanov got his first of the game, firing home from the blue line. That play survived a bench challenge for offside, but the visitor was unable to add to its lead on the power play that followed. Back at full strength, Traktor tied it up. Artemy Nizameyev’s pass released Alexander Kadeikin who sent his first shot wide but collected the rebound to score from a tight angle.

The middle frame saw Avangard take control of the game. Max Lajoie restored the lead on the power play in the 28th minute, assisted by Sharipzyanov. Then the captain sat for four minutes after catching Josh Leivo in the face with his stick. Traktor failed to take advantage of that opportunity and paid the price. Another goal for the KHL’s most effective PP saw Mike McLeod make it 3-1, and a minute later Sharipzyanov added a fourth with another long-range effort.

That prolific power play delivered once more in the third as Sharipzyanov completed his hat-trick. Andrei Svetlakov got a late consolation for the home team.

Assured display from Motormen

Lada Togliatti 4 HC Sochi 0 (1-0, 2-0, 1-0)

It was a four-some day for Lada: four unanswered goals on Sochi secured a fourth victory over the Leopards this season.

The home coaching staff responded to a 2-5 loss to Salavat Yulaev with a widespread reshuffle that left just one line intact. Notably, Nikita Mikhailov replaced Tomas Jurco on the top line, and Arsen Taymazov, on loan from Ak Bars, joined the fourth defensive pair. Sochi, victorious at SKA last time, restored Will Bitten to the top line in place of Denis Vengryzhanovsky.

The teams made a watchful start to the game before Sochi began to get the upper hand. The visitor won the first power play, but could not convert its chances. Lada recovered and got the puck in the net after 12 minutes, only to see it ruled out by the officials. The same play saw Sochi’s Artyom Volkov penalized for moving the net, and Riley Sawchuk converted scored on the power play.

Another Sochi penalty in the second stanza brought another goal. Ilya Sushko was back on the ice when Yegor Morozov’s shot hit the net, but the play started while he was still in the box.

A couple of minutes later, Ivan Savchik made it 3-0 when Andrei Altybarmakyan’s shot fell to Colby Williams then bounced in off Savchik’s skate. The officials reviewed the play and saw no illegal motion from the forward’s foot.

At the start of the third, Lada shut down Sochi’s game almost completely. Midway through the frame, Alex Cotton hit the post on a power play as the visitor looked spent. With five minutes to play, the home team finished the job when Andrei Obidin converted Andrei Chivilyov’s feed to make the final score 4-0.