Plotnikov hits hat-trick. March 2 round-up

Sergei Plotnikov scored three as SKA powered to victory against Barys. The home team scored seven goals on 24 shots to record a crushing 7-0 verdict. Avangard also enjoyed a big win, beating Spartak 4-1 in Moscow. Elsewhere, things were closer: Avtomobilist took a 1-0 result at CSKA, and Lokomotiv edged Severstal in a shoot-out. 

Late leveller not enough for Severstal

Severstal Cherepovets 2 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 3 SO (1-0, 0-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-1)

Despite letting its lead slip in the last minute of regulation, Lokomotiv recovered to beat Severstal in a shoot-out. The Railwaymen move seven points clear at the top of the standings, while the home team failed to draw level on points with second-placed Dinamo Minsk.

The win also restored Loko’s advantage in this season’s series between the teams. Bob Hartley’s team won the first two encounters before Severstal responded to tie things at 2-2. The teams meet again for the last time next Monday in Yaroslavl.

For much of the game, this was an even contest. Severstal got ahead in the first period when Vladislav Tsitsyura potted his first goal since October. But Lokomotiv was always in contention and Artur Kayumov tied it up in the second period.

Byron Froese put Lokomotiv in front early in the third. Then the visitor had a great chance to build on its lead when Ilya Kvochko followed Daniil Veryayev into the box. However, despite 30 seconds of five-on-three play, the defending champion could not put the game out of reach.

Later, penalty trouble undermined Lokomotiv’s efforts to close out the game. In the last minute Severstal was on the power play and Yanni Kaldis set up

Alexander Skorenov for the tying goal on 59:11. Kaldis extended his productive run to six games.

In overtime, Skorenov had a great chance to win it after Daniil Isayev was penalized for throwing his stick. The goalie atoned for that error by saving Skorenov’s penalty shot, but Yegor Surin was assessed a holding minor on the same play so Severstal spent the final minute on the power play. This time,

Loko held on – and Isayev’s save proved a precursor of the shoot-out. Severstal could not score, while Kayumov and Alexander Radulov were on target to win it for the visitor.

Plotnikov treble paces rout of Barys

SKA St. Petersburg 7 Barys Astana 0 (2-0, 3-0, 2-0)

Sergei Plotnikov hit a hat-trick as SKA overpowered Barys and moved ahead of Spartak into seventh place in the West.

Plotnikov is set to make his 1,000th KHL appearance this week (today’s game was #998) and he’s limbering up for that landmark in some style.

Today, he found the net in each period, assisted every time by Nikolai Goldobin. His first was a one-timer from the right-hand circle, doubling the lead that

Mikhail Vorobyov gave SKA a couple of minutes earlier.

After 32 minutes, he did it again: similar play, similar position, similar shot and identical result. And, after 51 minutes, he completed his hat-trick with another shot from the right-hand circle, this time slung low past Adam Scheel.

Goldobin finished the game with four assists, and there were also goals from Yegor Savikov, Matvei Polyakov and Matvei Korotky as SKA romped to victory with seven goals off 24 shots. At the other end, Artemy Pleshkov made 18 saves for his shut-out. SKA’s two games against Barys this season have brought two wins and a 12-0 goal differential.

Kizimov goal sinks CSKA

CSKA Moscow 0 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 1 (0-1, 0-0, 0-0)

A goal from Semyon Kizimov and 24 saves from Vladimir Galkin earned Avtomobilist a narrow victory at CSKA. The win extends the Motormen’s streak to four games, and Nikolai Zavarukhin’s men have just one loss in their last seven. CSKA was unable to build on two home wins last week.

The home team struggled to get into the game at the start. Avtomobilist had two power play in the first 10 minutes, although it was unable to convert either of them. However, at equal strength the visitor made the breakthrough in the 17th minute.

Daniel Sprong, whose prolific early-season form in Moscow wasn’t enough to keep him at CSKA, brought the play into the home zone and dished off a feed to the left-hand circle. Kizimov’s shot wasn’t the most powerful, but it was well placed to beat Dmitry Gamzin’s glove and find the top corner.

CSKA had a power play that straddled the first intermission, but could not turn it into a goal. Then, after 25 minutes, the home team enjoyed a five-on-three advantage but ran into a solid Avtomobilist PK once again. Nikolai Kovalenko was denied on two occasions, while a powerful Nikita Nesterov shot was saved by Galkin.

At the start of the third, Avtomobilist got its five-on-three chance, albeit only for six seconds. This time, CSKA’s PK showed its quality. At equal strength, the visitor played a strong defensive game. As the midway point approached, there had been just two shots on goal in the final frame, and both of them were at CSKA’s Gamzin.

In the last 10 minutes the home offense stepped up and tried to force the pace. However, Galkin’s glove hand stopped the most dangerous efforts that came his way. Even a power play in the final moments, enabling CSKA to finish the game playing six-on-four, did not force a breakthrough.

Prokhorkin, Okulov shoot down Spartak

Spartak Moscow 1 Avangard Omsk 4 (0-1, 0-3, 1-0)

Two goals from Nikolai Prokhorkin and three points for Konstantin Okulov led Avangard to a comfortable win at Spartak. The visitor opened a 4-0 lead in the first two periods, killing the game as a contest and snapping the host’s three-game hot streak.

The first period was even, and fairly light on chances. The teams traded 14 shots betweeen them. Okulov made the breakthrough in the 16th minute. He intercepted the puck in center ice, and in a single movement glided between two Spartak defenseman before beating Alexander Georgiyev.

The second period saw Avangard take control. The visitor had a significant edge in possession, and outshot Spartak 14-4. Prokhorkin turned that advantage into goals, converting a three-on-two rush before finishing off after another Okulov turnover in center ice sliced open the Spartak defense

Just before the intermission, Ivan Igumnov added a fourth, leaving the home team with little more than pride to play for in the third.

Spartak did at least manage to secure some consolation in that final stanza. A late power play goal from Daniil Gutik robbed Nikita Serebryakov of a shut-out. Gutik has now scored in four straight games and has 5+3 in his last eight appearances.