Vital win for Amur, Anas gets another point. March 15 round-up

A last-minute goal from Danil Yurtaikin gave Amur the win it needed to stay in playoff contention. The Tigers’ 3-2 success at Sochi means Sibir must win tomorrow to confirm its playoff spot. Elsewhere, Sam Anas moved to 86 points for the season with an assist in Dinamo Minsk’s 2-1 shoot-out victory over Lokomotiv. Anas is chasing Nikita Gusev’s 89-point record for a KHL regular season. Sunday’s other game saw Salavat Yulaev beat Shanghai Dragons 5-3. 

Tigers stay in playoff hunt

HC Sochi 2 Amur Khabarovsk 3 (0-1, 1-1, 1-1)

This was the last-chance saloon for Amur, with only a win enough to keep the Tigers in the playoff race. Although Alexander Andriyevsky’s team made hard work of its road game at the Western Conference’s basement club, a last-minute goal from Danil Yurtaikin was enough to claim a 3-2 verdict.

Amur remains ninth in the Eastern Conference, but closes the gap on Sibir to three points with two remaining games.

Yurtaikin was restored to the line-up for today’s game as Amur looked to improve on two games without a goal. And the visitor opened a 2-0 lead. Alexander Filatyev’s quick pass set up Andrei Krutov for the opener in the seventh minute.

Early in the second period, Amur increased its lead. The visitor’s power play was just coming to an end when Kirill Urakov redirected Yegor Rykov’s shot past Alexei Shchetilin.

Everything seemed to be under control at that point, but Sochi battled back. Dmitry Utkin’s bold surge took him between two opponents on his way to a backhand shot into the net. That was the 23-year-old forward’s first goal of the season.

And his second came in the 56th minute. Amur was looking to close out the game under pressure from the Leopards, but was undone by a fine pass from Kagalitsky on the end boards. Utkin converted and the home team went into the closing stages carrying the momentum.

But everything changed when Sochi was assessed a too many men penalty. Amur gained momentum on the power play and even after the home team returned to full strength, the pressure continued. Yurtaikin struck with 20 seconds on the clock and the Tigers had a vital win.

Kuznetsov worry after Ufa win

Salavat Yulaev Ufa 5 Shanghai Dragons 3 (1-0, 2-0, 2-3)

The good news in Ufa was that Salavat Yulaev snapped a three-game skid. Today’s win all-but confirms a fifth-placed finish in the Eastern Conference, which would bring a playoff match-up with Avtomobilist.

But the bad news saw Evgeny Kuznetsov leave the game late on with an injury. Initial indications have him doubtful for Wednesday’s meeting with Neftekhimik.

Earlier, Kuznetsov had two assists. His first helped Yegor Suchkov open the scoring in the second minute. That was the only goal of the first period, although Semyon Vyazovoi was busy in the home net, denying Nick Merkley and Kevin Labanc as Shanghai sought an equalizer.

The middle frame saw Salavat Yulaev build on that lead, with former Kunlun Red Star man Jack Rodewald involved. He assisted as Sheldon Rempal made it 2-0, then scored the third of the game himself, a shorthanded effort in the 34th minute.

The Dragons, beaten in their previous four, have nothing to play for following the end of their playoff hopes. But they began the third period strongly. Goals from Vladimir Kuznetsov and Doyle Somerby made it a one-goal game and raised hopes of a recovery for the visitor.

However, within a minute of Somerby’s effort, Salavat Yulaev claimed some vital breathing space. Evgeny Kuznetsov exacted maximum punishment after a turnover in center ice, setting up Alexander Zharovsky to make it 4-2 and chase Andrei Tikhomirov from the visitor’s net. It was also Kuznetsov’s last meaningful contribution; he finished his evening with the medics to establish the extent of the knock that forced him off the ice. For the Dragons, Dmitry

Shikin entered the game, but soon allowed a goal to another former Kunlun man, Devin Brosseau as the home team made the scoreline safe. Merkley potted a late consolation.

Anas keeps up record chase

Dinamo Minsk 2 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 1 SO (0-1, 1-0, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0)

Western Conference top dog Lokomotiv went to Minsk with an almost full-strength roster, but fell to Dinamo in a shoot-out. The home team snapped a four-game skid, and Sam Anas picked up another point as he chases Nikita Gusev’s record of 89 points in a season.

Anas is now up to 86 (30+56) points after assisting on Alex Limoge’s tying goal in the second period. The pair have combined effectively throughout the season, and the American’s fine pass set up a 24th marker of the season for his team-mate.

That effort cancelled out Artur Kayumov’s opener for Lokomotiv late in the first period. Maxim Shalunov had a secondary assist on that play, extending his productive streak to five games (5+2 points).

After tying the game, Dinamo looked to get on top. The home team had a five-on-three power play and created plenty of chances, but found Daniil Isayev in top form between the Lokomotiv piping.

The third period felt like a dress rehearsal for the playoffs. Rather than creativity, both teams played safety-first hockey, determined not to lose even at the expense of victory. So it was little surprise that it needed a shoot-out to determine the outcome. Anas was only successful player, while Zach Fucale saved three out of three to win it for Minsk.